Re: New to list...kittens with FeLV

[Tad Burnett]

Hi Clarissa   Welcome to the group... This is the right place to ask your question... There are many points of view represented here... Since your post came between the 2 directed to me and in a nut shell that's what it all about... Last week I had to put OJ to sleep.. He was FeLV+ and probably as a result a huge cancer had grown on his kidney... I didn't treat the cancer but many people on here do... That's where it starts getting expensive and my vet doesn't believe that it is worth doing... My vet and I do believe that just because they test pos. its no reason to end their life... They have months to years of good quality life that they deserve a chance to live...   The expenses don't need to be that high for this... You need to have a vet that is FeLV friendly and knows that most ailments in the early stages are treated with antibiotics for URI or gingervitious and doesn't need an expensive office visit every time... Besides antibiotics they will need good food with vitamins etc. There will be lots of suggestions on here... This much doesn't add very much to the care of FeLV+ cats...    The sad part is the younger they are they shorter their life often is... And your are young...  And you don't know which one it will hit next... I am not sugar coating this... Its can be a lot of stress on you... But if it were me... I would keep them... Switter will make 11... And that is a good number for max... And there are many others on here that have rescued a number of kittens all at once on here and I am hoping you will join us in our mission to give FeLV+ kittens a life as long as reasonably possible...   Tad   clarissa- Floyd wrote: hi, i'm new to email groups and not sure about all of this. i just found out the 8 kittens ive been fostering are FeLV posative and would apreciate any information on what to expect with this illness if i choose to keep them. the vet and the humane society whom im fostering for want to put them down. the kittens are around 5 months old and from 3 different litters. 2 were born from a FeLV+ mom and 2 of the others nursed with them. the other 4 have been in contact with them from about 4 weeks of age. we found out they were FeLV+ when the humane society finally got them in to be "fixed" last thursday. the vet did not fix them and taked to me about not keeping them. the woman from the humane society has yet to call me about this. right now the kittens are in good health and have wonderful personalities. i don't know what to expect in the near future w this illness. ive gone from crying the last 5 days to sounding cold about this. one of my concerns is not being able to aford medical care or medication in the future which would not be fair to the kittens. the cost of fixing them and initial shots is going to have to be borrowed.  if anyone can let me know what to expect, what they have been through, any hope if we keep the angels we would apreciate it. Karen, Danielle (18), Robert (13) pogo, teddy, stitch, houdini, salem, bandit, boots, oreo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~