One more note, Debbie....
Scientist do not know exactly when cats shed the virus and at what stage
they are most contagious. This is another reason why I recommend testing all
your cats eventually. I don't know where you live but my vet charges $50 for
the ELISA test (and no office visit fee). This can add up when you have
multiple cats. Perhaps you can have them tested a little at a time? Just a
thought!!
Again, I wish you the best of luck and I will remain hopeful for you!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Debbie Bendell" <dbendell1...@gmail.com>
To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 12:25 PM
Subject: [Felvtalk] FeLV Transmission
Yesterday my cat Tulo was euthanized. He'd been sick for a few days.
Bloodwork showed severe anemia and FeLV+. I took Tulo in as an abandoned
and abused kitten, approx age 3 mos. I didn't have him tested because he
wasn't sick, and in fact the illness this week is the first time he's been
sick in the 3-1/2 years I've had him.
I have several other cats. All except one were tested when I adopted
them.
The untested cat is Dexter, a neutered adult male who has been in perfect
health from the day I found him dumped in the woods. I'm having him
tested
on Monday, and if he is positive, I will never know if Tulo infected
Dexter
or vice versa. My vet and I decided not to test any of the other cats
besides Dexter. None of them are sick, and if anyone does get sick, I'll
have them tested at that time, since their FeLV status would affect the
treatment decision.
I've reviewed the symptoms of FeLV and none of my cats have those
symptoms,
but neither did Tulo until a few days before his death.
This is my question: One of my cats had a bad URI last fall and tested
negative at that time. Two others tested negative after I adopted Tulo
but
before I adopted Dexter. If a healthy cat lives with an FeLV cat for
months
to years, tests negative, and continues to live with a FeLV cat, is the
healthy cat still at risk of being infected?
Thanks for your help,
Debbie
--
*You may not change the world by saving one animal, but to that animal it
means the whole world and eventually, saving animals will change the
world.*
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