Re: New to the List, Cats, and FeLV!!

[Marissa Johnson]

Thanks!  Yes, it did seem that at least the vet was fairly positive.  Told me to try not to worry about it too much.  He said about 25% of the time, they "grow out of it", about 25% of the time, they have it all their lives with no affects, about 25% of the time they have it for several years before they start having symptoms, and about 25% of the time they start having symptoms fairly quickly.  So I'm hoping for the first (or even second) 25%!!!

 

Thanks for the welcome.  I've been so confused and frustrated!!!  I hope I'll get some good advice on the list.

 

Thanks again and good luck with Angel!!  Sending prayers and positive vibes your way.

 

MJ

kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Welcome!  You have definitely found the right place to ask questions! I am new myself, I started posting about a week and a half ago. Unlike your vet who seemed optimistic, my vet wanted me to have Angel euthanized. I was devastated, until I found this email group.

 

Karen

Marissa Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Hi all.  So I'm new to all of this!  I recently took in a stray that was living under my boyfriend's house (his mom gave birth there and we found homes for all the kittens...one being mine.  Mom still lives there and he feeds her).

 

My family had cats when I was in high school but they were indoor/outdoor (we lived in the country) and I never bonded with them too much.  They were mostly my step-mom's pets.  I've generally been more of a dog person.

 

But now i have this WONDERFUL, adorable little baby (about 14-15 weeks old) named Slinky.  He's a gray and white DSH and the sweetest cat ever.  And when I took him to the vet (last weekend...I just got him recently), he tested positive for FeLV.  :(

 

The vet said that he had about a 25% chance of "growing out of it" (or fighting it off or being a fals positive or whatever it is that causes cats to test positive as kittens and negative as adults), and about a 25% chance of having it his whole life and not being affected by it.  The only "symptom" he's had is that he had an upper resperatory infection about 3 weeks ago.  My boyfriend's sister took him to the vet (it was before I got him) and they gave him amoxicillan and eye drops and he seemed to recover pretty quickly.  He still sneezes a fair amount, but that's it.

 

So...I brought him home and I'm praying for the best.  He was kind of lethargic and quiet for a couple days after the vet visit, but I assume that's probably from the trauma and the vaccinations (other than FeLV).  He's been pretty much back to his normal self for a few days now. 

 

But his mom still has a TON of questions!!!  My first thought was to wonder whether vitamin supplements or diet or something might help to boost his immune system and either help him fight off the virus or keep secondary infections at bay.  The vet said as long as his diet is sufficient, he doesn't need them, but I'm not sure the vet is the best (I'm also new to the area, so trying to find a vet is a challenge!).

 

I was giving him dry Purina kitten chow (it was all I knew to get) and the vet said that was as good as anything.  I don't really believe him though.  So I went to a natural pet food store and the owner gave me some canned food and some dry...all natural, no grains (innova evo).  But he won't eat it.  He won't touch the dry food at all!  And the canned he'll only eat if it's the only option...and he won't really even eat it if I mix it with the purina.  Ugh!

 

I also bought a vitamin powder and something to help his digestive track (which he isn't too crazy about).  But I'm a little leary of using those.  Some articles I found online said that vitamin C would help him (esp. since he's only eating dry food right now), but others said too much could cause crystals in his urine, etc.  Some articles/websites said to only give him canned, others say raw, others say a mixture.  Everything contradicts itself!!!!  What am I supposed to do???

 

I love this little guy so much and I know he's totally dependent on me to make the best decisions for his care.  But I don't know what those are!!!  I'm doing my best to educate myself, but since so much of the information is contradictory, it's hard.  Is there anything I can do to help prolong his life? 

 

They're going to retest him in about 6 months the vet said.  Other than the upper resperatory infection, he's had ear mites (gone now) and he now has tape worm which they'll treat him for in 2 weeks when I go for his next round of vaccinations.  But beyond that, he's healthy, energetic, playful, and seems to have a healthy appetite.

 

Anyway...positive thoughts and prayers would be appreciated!  But I could REALLY use some advice/perspectives/information to help me make the right decisions!!!

 

Thanks in advance!  I'll be praying for all your special kitties.

 

Slinky's Mom (MJ)

 

p.s.  Sorry this is so long!!!!

 

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