Jenn, I have a few theories. My stepdaughter Jamie made her decision very suddenly to move back home (gave us a couple of days notice) and had already exposed her cat usually indoor adult cat Kuma (who died) to Cotton for a month or so prior to the move. They cuddled and groomed each other and were very intimate. Kuma really seemed to like Cotton. Kuma had lived with us for 6 months last year, and quarantined himself for the first few weeks. We have also cat-sit him for a week or so at a time. He was not fond of dogs, but was very friendly with us people.
When I told my stepdaughter that Cotton was positive, on questioning her further, she did admit to me that Kuma got out of her apartment for a few days a few months previously, and was found cuddling with a feral Siamese mix. My husband confirmed that there was a HUGE feral colony near her apartment. She did also say that she left the balcony open sometimes and let Kuma out, and he did have contact with other cats. So, I have two possible theories for how FeLV came into our lives, either Kuma or Cotton. Everyone including me decided that Kuma was at his wit's end for Jamie's moving so often and being gone days/weeks at a time and simply needed to have alone time to sort this all out. I was who saw that he started out his stay eating and pooping, and then noticed that he was terribly grumpy and was not eating/pooping/moving. His ultimate death was a complete surprise to us all. But fast forward to the future, and now I have these 4 to think about. I suppose my 5 year old Cricket could be positive from exposure. I had planned on proceeding next with the IFA for both cats. I suspect that Cotton will be positive, and I'm hoping Cricket's will be clear. I know a negative test doesn't mean she is FeLV free. But if she is, should I have HER boostered as well, or is it too late? Cricket is my smallest, youngest cat, very petite, and has never been sick a day in her life, unless you count the day Cotton came, because she hates him and is the most aggressive with him. I don't think she has bitten him, but it wouldn't suprise me. She does a lot of posturing and head-bopping with her paws and bullies him out of his food, that sort of thing. Stalks and terrorizes him. But it's getting less and less. Sandy ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 9:54 AM Subject: Re: Introduction > Sounds like there's not much you could have done differently other than to quarantine > new arrivals for a month and until after they have been to the vet and tested. I > wouldn't lose much sleep over it, could be that your 5 year old had it before now to > begin with, regardless, nothing you can do about it now but call it a learning > experience, and go on with life as best you can. Cats should be tested before > vaccination, if you choose to vaccinate against FELV. Not your fault, but possibly > something your vet missed the boat on. Did your vet test for FIV as well? Sounds like > your 5 year old has an immune deficiency of some sort. > > As far as the food brand goes, I use Innova (lite and evo varieties) and California > Natural (chicken and rice variety) exclusively here. > > Jenn > http://ucat.us > http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html > Adopt a cat from UCAT rescue: > http://ucat.us/adopt.html > Adopt a FIV+ cat: > http://ucat.us/AWrescue/FIV/ > "Saving one animal won't make a difference in the world, but it will make a world of > difference for that one animal." > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ > I collect KMR kitten formula labels for Bazil, a 3 yr old special needs cat who must > live on a liquid diet for the rest of his life. > Bazil's caretaker collects labels and sends them to KMR, where they add up until she > earns a free can of formula! > PLEASE save your KMR kitten formula labels for Bazil! > > If you use KMR, even just one can, please email me for the NEW address to send them > to! > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.8/161 - Release Date: 11/3/2005 > >
