----- Original Message ----- From: Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Friday, June 9, 2006 2:56 pm Subject: Re: "Light" positive? Help! To: [email protected]
> Hi Kelley, > A light pos indicates that a cat has been exposed to felv. It > doesn't > necessarily mean she'd test pos the next time. She could either > be in > the process of clearing the virus, in which case the next time > she's > tested, she will test neg, or it might even be a false pos. It's > like > everything else with this horrid disease, there are so very many > factors > and differing opinions that there's not a clear cut answer to just > about > anything to do with it. How old are these kittens? Do you have > the > mother? Has she been tested? I'm assuming that the little girl > was > tested in-house using the ELISA, when you retest, you could use > the IFA > test for peace of mind of a more accurate result. Again there are > varying opinions about when it is best to retest. If it were me, > I'd > wait 3 months. I realize that these are foster kittens and that > waiting > 3 months might hurt her chances of getting her forever home. Is > there > someone helping you with vet costs with your rescue efforts? I > would > test the rest of the kittens in her litter, and any other kittens > that > have been kept with her to see if anyone else tests pos. Just > because > one tests pos, doesn't mean the rest of the litter will. I have never had the mom of this litter. I have two other litters, both are isolated in different bathrooms. I have the mom of both those litters, both moms are neg/neg. These kittens have been kept in my bedroom. Their estimated DOB is 2/21/06. Yes, she was tested with ELISA in house. My foster group reimburses my vet costs when the kitten is adopted out. > > You said "these are kittens, and they do get out". Did you mean > "they > don't get out"? Even if the kittens actually have felv, your > other cats > are probably fine. It has been the experience of most of the > people on > this list that felv is not easily transmitted to healthy adult > cats, > (and a few studies that I've read). A great many of us have mixed > neg/pos cats for months and years without having our negs turn up > pos. > The biggest danger is to young or immune compromised, (old, or ill > cats) > whose systems aren't up to fighting off the disease. If your > other cats > are healthy, even on the off chance that they do test pos, there > is a > good chance that they will clear the virus. I would feel safer > about > your other cats had they been vaccinated however. I would have > them > tested and if they are neg, have them vac asap. The rescue group > that > has you fostering should have made sure your house cats were neg > before > placing kittens with you, esp since their advice is to not vac > against > it. All my house cats were tested neg/neg before this litter came in. This is the first time I have ever allowed an untested cat into my house. I actually have another litter that came to me from the shelter at 4 weeks that is too young to test. Never again, it is just too scary. > > Take a deep breath. What's done is done. Imo, you've found the > best > forum for support and information with this list. Please don't > hesitate > to ask questions and by all means, keep us informed about what's > going > on. Whatever you do, please, please, please, don't let anyone > tell you > that asymptomatic cats that test positive should be immediately > pts. > There are still many people, vets included, that just don't know > enough > about this disease and think that is the answer. These kittens > have > found their way to you. You must protect them from the ignorance > of > well meaning people and whatever their status, allow them to enjoy > their > life, for as long or short a time as that may be. > I already called my vet and asked about Interfuron (sp?). He says he will get me some if I want, but then I have read that some advise not to give it to asymptomatic cats and to wait until it is needed. If any of my personal cats (ranging in age from 8 mo to 11 years) get it I am just going to die.
