Cher- everyone on this list will help you and encourage you----no, being positive for FeLV is not a death sentence, I promise you- my kitty Sam (9 years old) was diagnosed in July of 99 and after a fight of 2 years looks really good, and apparently feels good---it will take love, work,prayers and medications for Sophie, but so many on the list will support you, and help you to fight the good fight. There are several maintenance medications that seem to work beautifully- interferon is one of them. Most people on the list give their kitties a cc of interferon by mouth 7 days on, 7 days off. Look at http://www.felineleukemia.org for more information. Perhaps a second opinion for treatment from another vet?????????????? Yours should not be irritated over your questions........... Helene
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 5:30 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Kitty tested positive for FeLV today Hi... I'm new here and I was hoping to get some advice about our dear Sophie kitty. We took her into the vet today to be spayed and during the visit they noticed she had enlarged lymphnodes and an infection in her mouth. I was told that she was too ill to be spayed today and that she tested positive for FeLV. They gave me antibiotics to give her and sent me on my way with only a small handout on the virus. After searching the Internet for the past few hours I've still got so many questions. I've called our vet 3 times and he seems irritated by the calls as if I should know this information. A little background... Sophie came to us from an animal shelter at 12 wks of age. She is now 5 months old. We took her to the same vet 2 days after I got her for a checkup and they said everything looked good. We all assumed that she had gotten tested for FeLV at the shelter but have since learned this shelter does not test. She has been the ideal cat for us. She is a look-alike to a childhood kitty that I had for 12 years and just lost 2 years ago. She has a great nature about her and gets along well with our 5 children and 1 puppy. I'm devastated at the thought of losing her. I'm also afraid of my children watching her go through horrible illnesses and skin problems and possibly even death. The shelter offered to take her back and give us a refund or exchange her ... as if she were a sweater that doesn't quite fit. How awful. I can't bring myself to do that ... in this short time she has become part of our family and I see her as one of my "f ur"-children. Am I right in thinking that this is something that she could possibly live with? Or is it a death sentence for her? Everything I read is so conflicting. She seems so healthy right now. I've been hearing and reading about how sick these cats are and our Sophie just seems fine. Is this the calm before the storm? Is there something I should be doing for her now to prevent some of these illnesses from happening to her? Anything anyone has to offer in the way of advice would be greatly appreciated. Cher & Sophie Kitty
