current wisdom is that positive cats can remain asymptomatic for years, until the virus is triggered. no one really knows, however, what it is that activates it. culprits high on the list are serious illnesses, but i know that at the sanctuary, we had positive who got very sick, were treated (often surgically) and recovered quite fine to go on for a number of years. stress is another thing suspected of awakening the virus, but how do you define that? the best we can do is the best we can do: give them as calm and safe and loving an environment as possible, feed them the best food that your own research tells you to (that varies because everyone has their own opinion, and last year before the pet-food recall, some people were accused of murdering their cats because they didn't feed them things that others thought they should--things that turned out, in some cases, to ACTUALLY kill, while the other foods did not); be extra vigilant about any health concerns or behavior changes, and have them attended to right away--and did i mention love them as long as you have them, because no matter how long that is, it won't ever be long enough.....
there are no guarantees for any of us--the healthiest cat or dog or human can drop dead tomorrow--to worry about it all the time accomplishes nothing, and probably creates a level of stress that the cats can pick up. there have been FeLVs in my life who have only had five months to share with me, and other whom i've known for years--it's the quality that matters. (and take lots of pictures--i get incredible joy from looking at the photos of the silly little furcritters that aren't wandering this earth anymore--and i just grin when i see their faces looking out at me, and remember how they graced my life.) MC On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 12:28 PM, Laurieskatz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > YES. Squeaky tested positive at age 13 and lived to age 22, symptom free > except for his final 3 weeks. > Laurie > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sue Koren > Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 6:33 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Hi again :) > > Does anyone know if a positive cat who stays positive but not sick for a > certain length of time, if the chances are that they will not become sick? > Or could the sickness just come on them at any time regardless of how long > they have harbored the virus and remained healthy? (I hope that made some > kind of sense) > Sue > > ---- MaryChristine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > ============= > yes, cats can retest negative on IFAs if enough time has passed so > that the virus can work itself out of the system. just as with initial > exposure, the time period given varies from 60 to 120 days, depending > on who/what you read--i go for the 120 days or longer, so i don't > always wonder...... tho it's not mentioned in the current on-line > merck manual, and i never thought to keep the reference back when i > first read it in 2003 or so, it used to refer to a case where it took > a cat seven or nine (my memory is going) for a cat to revert to > negative on an IFA. > > generally, however, if 120 days or so has passed since last possible > exposure, i figure they're not gonna seroconvert--but until/if the > virus gets activated, they're just positive, not sick. > > my little pastel calico, lorelei, who came to me last summer solstice, > just retested positive on the IFA when she was spayed, so i'd say that > it's pretty definite that she's gonna stay positive..... but it didn't > really matter, because it wasn't going to change anything one way or > another, so there was no rush here to retest.... > > and for those who don't know, all my others are either vaccinated, or > were inadvertently exposed almost eight years ago, so she's no threat > to anything other than my peace of mind--calico, after all..... > > MC > On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 5:51 PM, Laura B <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> A few weeks ago I joined this list but couldn't post, so Belinda very > kindly >> posted an introduction for myself and my FeLV+ kitty, Laura. Thank so > much >> for the replies we got, we read them all. >> >> I wanted to send in a little update on Laura (still don't have a new name >> for her), she is doing very well. Most of her fur is growing back (she > had >> bald patches) and since being on the l-lysine she is not drooling nearly > as >> much (she had herpes lesions in her mouth). She seems to be settling in > and >> loves her room with a view. I spend as much time with her as possible, > and >> my nieghbor (another cat person) comes over daily to give her a snack and >> some lovin. >> >> I think she has also put on a little weight, which is good because she >> is quite thin, other than that she is doing well. My vet just had me > bring >> her in and restest her, (IFA), she came back positive again. Do cats ever >> test neg on an IFA after testing positive? Vet also retested the three > cats >> in her care that were positive on snap tests a month ago when she > discovered >> Laura's status. Out of the three only one retested pos on an IFA test. >> >> Anyway, just wanted to pop in and thank you all, also give a little update >> on my sweet girl. >> >> Best regards, >> >> Human Laura and furry Laura >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Felvtalk mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> >> > > > > -- > > Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! > Maybe That'll Make The Difference.... > > MaryChristine > > AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats > MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ICQ: 289856892 > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > [email protected] > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > [email protected] > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > [email protected] > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > -- Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! Maybe That'll Make The Difference.... MaryChristine AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ: 289856892 _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list [email protected] http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
