I'm a little less worried about FIV, despite what the vet said, b/c I knew this about the bite wounds. And none of my cats fight like that- ever. Plus, by the time I took in the wimpy, frail, undernourished (anorexic) guys, they are so "slow" they don't even "play" fight. All were neutered at 2 lbs too so these little dudes don't even know they are male and don't have an aggressive streak to save their lives! So I've been trying to funnel this info to my mom to keep her from freaking out. Her cat Tally is fully vaccinated b/c she wanted Tally to have her Felv vaccines back when Monkee and I would come over to spend the night during holidays (last christmas...sigh- it's been a rough one without that little booger). Tally and Monkee hated each other so they never ever had contact and they took turns being out in the house- but my mom wanted Tally all protected just in case we ever had an accident where one escaped from their room while the other was out (we never did). Tally has never met the sickly fosters b/c she doesn't want to, so we don't torture her- she has the house and they have their room. And my other personal cat, Izzee, who now has the run of the house with Tally- they never touch other cats-- they don't like them- so they don't associate with the fosters/kittens. Tally and Izzee hang out together, but they don't even touch each other. It's actually really funny, but at least I know there is no fighting/biting going on in this house at all. Monkee was the only one that would have done that and that is why he was my only cat while I had him...which is why I always said it was no wonder he got Felv-- little fighter that he was! thanks! caroline
Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 15:23:27 -0500From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: Archiveshere's the short answer:FIV is almost always transmitted through DEEP, PENETRATING BITES (the kind that boy cats inflict in testosterone-fueled rages when fighting over girl cats--which is why almost all FIV are boys.....) it's NOT air-borne, water-borne, feces-borner. ie, it's not really a problem once a cat is neutered; considering this cat is ill and probably not mingling much, i expect he's not off taking bites out of people. FIP is not contagious, it's a MUTATION of one of the strains of FeCoV--corona virus, which, in most species, is the common cold. no way to predict in which cat the virus will mutate, tho there is evidence of a genetic predisposition, something that doesn't often come into consideration in rescue/situations. the information on what FIP is, and the value of what tests exist (and the very fact that there IS a highly effective, CHEAP test out there), has generally NOT reached the veterinary population--the lack of knowledge is very similar to that with FeLV, except that many cats are killed because they've been exposed to corona itself, in most cases a completely harmless virus. (human SARS is thought, last i heard, to be the people equivalent of FIP--a mutation that was deadly.) Get the power of Windows + Web with the new Windows Live. Get it now!-- Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors!Maybe That'll Make The Difference....MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: 289856892 _________________________________________________________________ Don't get caught with egg on your face. Play Chicktionary! http://club.live.com/chicktionary.aspx?icid=chick_wlhmtextlink1_dec
