RE: Debbie's multible testing need

[Debbie]

I have also worried about bringing the disease in on our shoes and so forth. My aunt and grandma feed a large number of feral cats. They do the best they can with the limited means they have but most times you end up stepping in something when you walk through the yard. Crazy thing was we always went above and beyond to make sure we sterilized ourselves before coming home -and then we find out one of ours already had it.

Ironic, isn't it?

As far as ours passing something - they tend to lick us alot (not each other but us!) Sneezy and Patches tend to wash your face while you sleep and Sheba quite often gives VERY wet sloppy kisses. She goes for your mouth because that's where the sound comes from.

-----Original Message-----
From: "Rosenfeldt, Diane" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Mar 1, 2007 3:54 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: RE: Debbie's multible testing need

When you think about it, it's in the vets' best interests for you to test the whole kaboodle, especially since they're not willing to cut you a break for quantity.  And because of this, it's in their best interests to want you to think the disease is easily transmissible.  Either way, PTS or testing, they get your money.  This may be an oversimplification of their motives, they might not actually be *evil* -- but the point is that the new, enlightened attitude toward FeLV costs a lot less at the vet (though you may end up spending some of that for supplements and alternative meds).  The disease is transmitted chiefly by body fluids, which are most easily exchanged through sex and biting.  Speutered animals are not only less aggressive (hence less danger of fights ending in deep wounds), they also don't (usually) engage in sex (I've seen one of my neutered boys sort-of mount a girlkitty, and then stand there with a confused look on his face like "is there something else I'm supposed to be doing at this point?" -- but there's no penetration).  The bug doesn't survive outside the body for very long, so more casual contact, like sharing food bowls, isn't usually a factor.  For some reason this explanation of how venereal disease is transmitted (I think it was in "Everything You Always.....Sex....Ask") seems appropriate.  The question was, can you get VD from a toilet seat.  The answer was, if you sat on it with your diseased, open-sored genitals pressed right up against the front of the seat rim, and then someone came within 1 minute and also pressed his/her open-sored genitals up against that exact spot, then yes, there's a chance they might get it.  (I know, gross -- but straightforward!)  So if you're worried about maybe having some positive-kitty drool on your jeans and going over to your mom's and giving FeLV to her cats, or some such scenario -- ain't gonna happen. ;-)

 

You sound like you have a wonderful fur family.

 

Diane R.

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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Debbie
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 1:40 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: Debbie's multible testing need

I suppose the main reason we would like to know is so we can try to help keep them healthier longer. Also, my aunt has alot of cats and so does my sister, neighbors,  - I would hate to somehow transmit this disease. I feel a bit confused because we have had some people say "it is hard to catch", but others say it is easily transmitted. With where we live I am sure we will eventually accumulate more cats. We just aren't the type to turn a blind eye if we see them suffering. I think we should know if we would be exposing them. It was the vets idea to test them all. Seems to me they could be a bit cheaper but the ones in our area aren't.

We definitely enjoy the ones we have. They are our babies: Their names are as follows:

Frodo, Arwen, Daffodil, Tigger, Algernon, Koko, Lady, Sneezy, Petey, Patches, Cassie, Fuzzy, Solomon, and Sheba. Seven were found in Dayton Ohio in a trash bin. The first 3 were long hair, the next 4 still had the unbilical cords attached. Solomon and Sheba we brought back to Ohio from Missouri. They were kittens living in a field with horses. They were eating horse feed and insects (starving). Sneezy was a neighbors cat we think. They went away for the winter and left her outside. She came to our house and was pregnant. She gave birth on our new loveseat!
We also have a black lab called Charlie and at Christmas my husband found a chocolate lab puppy (around 4 weeks old) in a box alongside the road. He called her Tegan. She is now up to 26 lbs!

There are days when we feel like we live in a zoo, but we would not trade them for anything. Funny thing is my husband came to the U.S. from England. He never really liked cats (much more of a dog person). Now wherever he goes they all follow him. He can not even use the restroom without Daffodil going with him! She paws at the door until he leaves her in. I call him the Pied Piper of Yorkshire.

 

Debbie

-----Original Message-----
From: tamara stickler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Mar 1, 2007 1:14 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: Debbie's multible testing need

Debbie,

 

Let me ask you this:  if you are planing on keeping all the cats that you currently have, why the rush to test?  They've already been exposed, yes?  Folks on this list have proven that positive cats can have great lives...and many of them have households where they've mixed both positive and neg. cats....

 

Why not just cut yourselves a break, and take it day by day?  Enjoy the ones you have (whatever their health status), try not to add more, of if you do, get them vaccinated first, and just go on with your lives.  What is the point of rushing to have them all tested? 

 

If you feel you NEED to know....shop around for a compassionate vet.  I have one that cuts her clients a break on households with multible pets.  Some mobil vets will agree to only charge for 1 "office" (house) visit if you get more than one animal looked at at once...OR...is there a cat rescue organization that would help you with the costs of testing?

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