all these answers are right on: a single test, negative OR positive, means nothing because of the fact that the test is for EXPOSURE. cat's body needs adequate time to process the virus out of their systems if they're going to.
i, too, got into the FeLV community when a lovely darling who'd tested negative at the shelter came into my household (along with the shelter director, another story altogether)--they lived CLOSELY with my five (and the director's five) for six months or so, and two month's later, brownee was positive and dying..... i tested everyone, in a deep panic, too soon as it turns out--but my vet said i needn't bother until someone showed symptoms. we had both frail elders, AND 3-month-old kittens in the house--and it's now ten years later. the ones who haven't gong to old age haven't become symptomatic, either. when people say, "but my negative turned positive when i brought in a positive!," THIS is why i ask if the negative was ever tested to be sure it was negative to start with. that said, because the odds of a cat turning positive is so low, even tho i know better, i take negative results as true! MC -- Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! Maybe That'll Make The Difference.... MaryChristine Special-Needs Coordinator, Purebred Cat Breed Rescue (www.purebredcats.org) Member, SCAT (Special-Cat Action Team) _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list [email protected] http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
