Thank you all so much for your notes....they have really helped. David (my hubby) and I are still discussing things. After a few days of really watching Athena and trying to figure out her behavior (she's pretty quirky) I have again come to the same conclusion that she would really benefit from another cat. I think that it will have to be a perfect situation for us to make the decision to bring another cat into the house, but as of the last few days - it doesn't break my heart to think about. We are going to just keep our options open and see what happens. Thanks for the support - this network has really saved my sanity - I can't imaging the last couple of months with out everyone's letters - even the sad ones.
Beth On Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 10:47 PM, Dorothy Noble <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have to agree with Laurie. When Armond was left as the last cat > standing, I just couldn't bear for him to be alone. (I think that cats can > be solitary but I *know* how much Armond LOVES to have a friend. Someone > to groom and sleep with and wrestle with...) > > So, I set out on a long search to find him another positive kitty friend. > And, I found one - he is Preston and he is such a doll. I could not bear > the thought of infecting another cat by bringing in one who was negative, > when there are so many positive cats who are unadoptable out there. > Preston's first family had to give him up when he tested positive due to > their other cats - it was so wonderful to be able to tell them that we had > rescued Preston and that he had a happy home. > > The sanctuary where Preston was living has an entire room (old church > building) with about 40 positive kitties. No one had ever adopted a cat > from there - not ever, until we got Preston. Even though his life may not > be as long as other cats, I know that his life will be good and so will > Armond's and so will mine! > > Good luck with your decision... > > > *laurieskatz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: > > I'd be as worried about Athena catching something from the FeLV negative > cat as the negative cat getting FeLV. My understanding is the virus is shed > via body fluids ~ saliva, nasal discharge, etc. > > A friend had a negative cat living with a group of positives for 5 or 6 > years and he never got sick (and tested negative for FeLV after that time ~ > she mistakenly thought he tested positive in the beginning or he was a false > positive). SO, if you get another kitty who is not positive, you might want > to make sure that kitty is healthy when you bring it home. Also, it is > important that they get along so Athena isn't stressed out. > > You know, we really have no guarantees. I had 2 FeLv positive cats who > lived very long lives ~ 16 and 22 years. Squeaky was a "carrier". He was > never sick. Stripes was sick on and off. I was devastated when they died. > So, I adopted 3 (unrelated) cats from the shelter at once. Insurance, you > know. Keisha was age unknown and the other 2 were about 6 months. Teddy, one > of the young ones died 6 years later, of cancer. He got sick with IBD and > asthma within the first year after I adopted him and was sick his entire > life. Coco, the other young'un is still with me but has had 2 instances > where I nearly lost her. Frankie (a rescued feral kitten with asthma) lost > most of his vision a year ago at age 9 and was diagnosed with pancreatitis > which it seems he has conquered. Keisha died last summer, completely > unexpectedly, of congestive heart failure. I guess I am giving examples of > how we just never know. With my newest group (which grew to 7), I was sure > Keihsa would die first because she was oldest....not so. > > If it were me, I'd probably adopt another FeLV or no one. But that is just > me and by no means the "right" answer! Athena may never have a symptom. > Squeaky didn't. He outlived Stripes by another 7 years. I didn't adopt > another cat only because he was already older when Stripes died and he was > so upset when Stripes died. I never considered Squeaky sick since he never > was. > > Take care of yourselves...let your heart lead you. > Laurie > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* Beth Gouldin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > *To:* [email protected] > *Sent:* Monday, February 25, 2008 6:06 PM > *Subject:* update: Athena > > Hi all > So Athena just re-tested on ELISA a weak positive. This is 9 weeks from > the first testing that we did when we lost Orion to FeLV. I guess I'm just > disheartened... I had REALLY hoped (for her sake) that she would be negative > - she seems so healthy...no major problems or anything... and we really > wanted to get another cat for a companion for her. My husband and I have > talked and we just can't bring closure to ourselves to intentionally get > another FeLV + cat... which means pretty much she's gonna stay a single cat. > > I don't know, in my mind it just seems that it would be a perpetually > bleak cycle (and I know that it's not true simply because of the joy they > bring..but this is my bummed out- ness coming through) to have 'sick' cats > that can just die any time. > Do any of you have experiences bringing in another cat? Do you always > elect to get another FeLV +? How do kittens generally fare? Our vet > suggested bringing in a FeLV negative vaccinated adult...but I don't want > even the SLIGHTEST risk of exposing another cat to this. > Any feedback would help me out...I'm so frustrated with this whole thing. > Thanks for listening :} > > -- > Beth Gouldin > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 940.395.5393 > > God Bless!!! > > > > > ------------------------------ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! > Search.<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51734/*http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping> >
