If Cricket previously tested positive, and on retest is negative (WE HOPE SO!), NO I would NOT booster her with the FELV vaccine, as it will put excess strain on her already over-worked immune system, and could UNDO her effective natural immune response to the virus. If she had it, and then doesn't have it on retest, then she will likely be naturally immune (or at least it proves her body is WORKING on the immune response). You should repeat the tests in 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months, and then once a year after that, to be sure her result stays the same, or to know if it changes. Some cats have gone on and off with their results, being first positive, then negative, then positive, then negative. What you should do is keep giving her the Interferon-A (the oral kind available in the USA), and keep her as stress-free and healthy as possible. Stress is a big factor in proper immune responses and fighting the FELV. Limit vet visits and other stressors as much as possible, if she doesn't get along with the other cats, or seems stressed at home, get a feliway comfort zone diffuser, it releases cat pheromones that induce calmness and reduce stress in cats. Some people swear by an oral homeopathic remedy called "rescue remedy", you can find that at most health food stores or natural foods co-ops. I believe you just add a few drops to the water bowl (someone will correct me if I am wrong there). And of course, switch slowly over to a good premium food, but don't do it too quickly, add a little of the new food to the old one day at a time, until two weeks later, you've made the switch completely.
In addition... if possible, you should contact the caretaker of the feral colony that Kuma was hanging out with, and let him/her know that a FELV positive cat was known to be socializing with the colony. That person deserves to know, and will be able to keep a closer eye out for symptoms in the colony, and possibly to reduce some suffering in the colony. Most feral caretakers do not routinely test for FELV and FIV, but if you tell them it's likely to be there, some will want to test and remove the positives. It's certainly something that person should be notified of, so he/she can make that judgment call him/herself. I would be more than happy to speak to this person via email if they need or want more info. (I have feral and FELV experience, luckily not both at the same time, my ferals are negative) 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
