Sally, there's no specific question in your post to be answered, that's why I didn't reply to it the first time it was posted (there's actually not a single question mark in the entire post). What is it you are specifically wanting to know or get feedback on?
I'll take a stab at it anyways: I'm glad comcast fixed your internet problems. Yes, cats do choose us, certainly much more than we choose them. I do think that focusing on Junior should be a priority, but don't forget to watch everybody. It's easy to get tunnel-vision and focus on the ONE cat we think is weaker one, and miss something in another cat because we narrowed our focus. The low-dose interferon they use for FIV is the same treatment as is used for FELV, and that's posted on our main website at http://felineleukemia.org on the treatments page. I'm sorry you can't afford your old vet anymore, perhaps pointing out that fact would be beneficial to both of you; you may get a discount as an "original client", and he might feel humbled enough to realize that he's alienating his old clients by his new found glory. My FELV+ cat was constantly groomed by another of my cats, and he NEVER caught the FELV from her, so just because they lick and bite each other doesn't mean they will contaminate each other with FELV. As far as your cats' previous felv vaccinations, health, and history goes, it certainly wouldn't hurt to have them all tested again, that way you could treat the felv and/or fiv positive ones with Interferon and keep an extra-close eye on them. I do think you should be treating the FELV+ ones that you already know about, if you aren't already. I'm sure Daisy just happens to have a really good immune system, and is healthy. I don't think it's a mystery, she's just been lucky and blessed with a good immune system. You can boost the other's immune systems by feeding good quality food, and supplementing with vitamin C and a good general multi-vitamin/mineral supplement (and giving Interferon to the FELV+ ones). Oh, and I'm sorry for your loss of Lionel and Pumpkin too! Is that kinda what you were looking for? Phaewryn Comcast came into the neighborhood and fixed whatever the problem was with the connection here. I was barely about to get a couple of emails out. For the past couple days I have cried, and reflected on my time with Tiny. Tiny was definitely my cat or more realistically I was his human. He chose me and that was very special. I am so glad he came to live with me. I will always wonder if I did this or that would the outcome have been different. Probably not and besides I cannot change what has happened. I now have to focus on Junior. I spoke to Beth at work today. She used to be a vet's tech. Her cat was diagnosed FIV. Well she was prepared to euthanize the cat. He was elderly however the vet knowing she did not want to do this tried an experimental procedure. I never could find out what it was other than it was interferon. Today her husband stopped by and described the procedure. It was low dose oral administration of interferon. She said the cat became almost kitten-like and asymptomatic. The cat later developed oral cancer and was put down, he was 18 years old. Now that I have this information, I will have my vet Dr Staunton call her vet Dr Elam to get the information. I already gave Dr Staunton the Italian study paper to read. I was told she took it home that day to read. Dr Elam used to be my family's vet for many years. I cannot afford him these days as he is the highest priced vet in town. It is funny, because he started out as a farm animal vet and was very reasonable. I still see him occasionally in the grocery store. I am thankful I was able to spend time with Tiny during his last hour here on earth. When I lost my Fluff Last February, I was able to spend time with him because I had a few days of vacation I had to use up. I knew Fluffy was declining and I was so lucky then to have spent his last week on earth with him. I did not know at the time that would be the end for him. He was the alpha cat and he trained all my cats on proper cat behavior. Although Ittle Bitty was Tiny's best friend and he trained Tiny in the art of lick and bite. Fluffy had trained Ittle Bitty.and so it goes. Just an observation. I have heard that older cats most likely have some immunity to FeLV. I also have read vaccines are most likely effective longer than stated. he is what I know about my cats. Spike age 10 tested negative - likely to have been vaccinated once for FELV and other diseases Speedy age 8 tested negative- likely to have been vaccinated once for FELV and other diseases Ittle Bitty age 7 tested negative -likely to have been vaccinated once for FELV and other diseases Little Black - age 5 she is not social at all with the other cats she is strictly outside and eats on her own. Grey and white- age 4 same mom as Junior, from a different litter.. also had less interaction with the sick cats this summer the exposure was less. Junior - age 4 hit by a car in April caught Tiny' URI in June, a mild case in August he became anemic and was treated. FELV positive received immuno-regulin. Has had uveitis and URI since testing positive. Lily - age 1and a half. Stayed outside much of the time she is social but during the URI outbreak was mostly outside Daisy- age 8 weeks at the time of the outbreak and age 4 months when tested negative, She was very social with a all the cats stayed inside during the outbreak.She is still healthy and has never been sick during all this. She was Lionel best friend. They played together and mutual grooming. All the inside cats ate from a mutual feeding station. Lionel deceased.age unknown- also got Tiny's URI and had a bad cough. He tested positive for FIV which I am guessing he had when he was adopted last March. No fighting with him so I am not worried about FIV in the other cats. I assume he caught FELV from one of the other cats. He became a strictly inside cat when he came to live with us. He has a broken leg that had healed without surgery. I feel good that he lived his remaining time like a King after a very rough start to life. Pumpkin- age 8 months he also caught Tiny's URI , but only a mild case.not tested developed anemia weight loss and was jaundiced.died at the vet's office after crashing,he was euthanized. Most likely was FeLV Tiny age 5 years. Got a bad URI and went to the vet in May later diagnosed FeLV positive ,died of respiratory arrest. Appeared to be asymptomatic up until the last week and even then did not appear to be serious Silver showed up on my doorstep the very day I started vaccinating all the negative cats, He was very emaciated but tested negative and joined the group. He is an inside cat. I don't know does any of this make sense? This is very brief.. I know all the positive cats actually spent more time inside than outside during the URI outbreak. Because Tiny really had it bad I kept him inside for two weeks. He was mostly and outside cat. Junior was already stressed from his accident and had become and inside cat for his protection. Lionel apparently was immuno-compromised, .Pumpkin was young and stayed inside during his last two or three weeks because he was not feeling well. The puzzle is Daisy. Good genes I guess. I hope she remains negative. Sally
