Welcome Leslie! It's good to have you on board,
although I'm sorry for the reason you've had to find us.
I
think you just answered your own question.
I
think the capacity for heartbreak and pain that often accompanies a commitment
to our little FeLV souls varies according to the individual (I say
"often", by the way, because quite a few members have FeLV positives that
are a ripe old age, and happily still going strong). I have been humbled
and amazed and inspired in turn by the sheer dedication of so many of the
wonderful people on this list to the welfare of cats in need.
Many--most?--of them have suffered heartbreak over and over again but
somehow gather the strength to keep going, to do whatever they can for cats in
need. I know I could not have got through losing so many---4 sweet positives, 2
of whom I lost one after another on the same awful day, and months later, a
darling CRF cat, who I had "fostered-for-life" in the meantime--without the
support of the group. I know that I'll lose more (unless I go first!); but I
feel I'll get through it. Knowing I can perhaps do a little to help improve the
quality of life of a cat that is totally dependent on me has so far outweighed
any inclination I may have had to protect myself from further grief. But, I
have to add that for me, at any rate, it would have been much, much harder
without the tremendous support of this group.
We'll
be here for you, too.
My positives all enjoyed each other's
company for the short time (18 months - 2 years) that they had, and I know that
having each other added to their quality of life. I have scores of photos
of them playing and cuddling up together which make me smile now, even though
they're no longer physically with me.
I'd
say, go for it!
And
welcome again!
Kerry
PS On an even happier note, when I retested the 5th (and
only remaining) kitten of the original colony of 6, he tested negative---he's
thrown off the virus. Yes, that can happen too. I didn't really believe it until
I saw it for myself.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Leslie
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 3:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Introduction and new cat question
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Leslie
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 3:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Introduction and new cat question
Hello,
My name is Leslie. My cat's name is Satchmo. He's 6 years old,
I adopted him at 5 years old knowing that he had feline leukemia. My
question is about adopting him a friend.
Now the background. Four years ago I adopted Sushi, a 2 yr old DSH
that had been rescued from a house full of cats. She had been tested for
everything in the shelter and came back negative. A month after having
her, she got lethargic, I took her to the vet, she was retested and the test
came back positive for FeLV. I was devastated, but she already had my
heart so completely that returning her wasn't even considered, and she was doing
great, actually. Great coat, very spunky, I started researching how to
keep her around as long as possible. And on this optimistic vein, I
decided to adopt another FeLV+ cat to keep her company, Hepburn, a 10-month old
kitten that had had some health issues, but had been nursed back to health by
the vet.
Eight months after adopting Hepburn, Sushi passed on from a myocardial
infarction, the vet guessed.
I was heartbroken.
Four months later, I adopted Hepburn a friend. Where Sushi was
mischeivious, Hepburn was sweet. She was a cat that rewarded you for being
quiet and giving her time. The new addition, Satchmo, was a five year old
brown tabby with the manners of a dumptruck, but the charm to make you
laugh instead of scream. Again, a few months later, Hep took a turn for
the worse, appetite gone, the vet not being able to pin it on a specific
infection. We'd fought this off once before, but this time instead of
getting better, she jaundiced and her belly swelled up. She was diagnosed
with FIP.
Again, I was just crushed to lose her.
Now, nearly a year later, I have this wonderful cat, Satch, who
loves other animals and has so much life in him. He gets sneezy every
few months, but fights it back. He is on a vet-approved raw diet and
Feline Immune Support. His coat is beautiful, his eyes clear, he's a very
happy guy. I really do believe that cats benefit from being in pairs, but
I'm so scared to get another just to lose the first.
I volunteer at the Humane Society here in Portland (a really fantastic
organization) and there is a 2 month old kitten who is FeLV+. She's in
good health so far...and I've been tempted to adopt more at this point than
before in the year since Hep passed. What do you all think? Do
you adopt another? Can you keep giving of yourselves?
This is a weird question, I know, but any advice you might have would be
appreciated.
Thank you,
Leslie
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