I know from experience about false positives, and false negatives! But how can kittens be FeLV+ if mom wasn't, unless she was exposed, kittens got it through birth or from milk, and she would soon test positive. I wonder, in that scenario, could she also turn out to be negative, not having succumbed to it. I am more of a FIV expert, because I have had too numerous to mention by case (since 1992), FIV+ mothers, whose kittens NEVER tested positive, UNLESS it was done when they were too young - then you wait, do it again, and many vets and people don't, they merely kill them!!! Natalie
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Beth Noren Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:55 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cali - 7 month old kitten Natalie, Just a note of caution, a mom cat can test negative and still have positive babies. Happened to me. Also, if they are tested immediately upon rescue, there can be false negatives because the virus is still incubating and hasn't had time to show up yet. Also happened to me. Even if a rescue or shelter has run tests on mom and all babies, they should warn people not to put too much faith in a single test, positive or negative, and emphasize the importance of quarantining until the adopter can get a second test run. In my case, I vaccinated my negs and mixed and they are still negative. One of the positives made it to 3.5 years, with no FeLV issues until the very end. He was a joy to have known, and I still miss him. Best wishes, Beth On Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 5:34 PM, Natalie <[email protected]> > I would definitely contact PetCo and advise them of this; it is totally > unethical to adopt out a cat that may be FeLV+ or FIV+- if there was a > mother cat, she should have been tested. Depending on the kitten's age at > the time of adoption, if old enough, she should also have been tested! Any > cat adopted from my group must be FIV/FeLV negative! > I'm sure you will hear more from others! > Best of luck and hang in there - I am so sorry for you and your dilemma! > Natalie _______________________________________________ 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
