There is no reason to kill a healthy cat. At this point, you don't even know if the kitty has the virus, or has just been exposed to it. As to whether or not your other cat has been exposed; if she goes outside then there's always a risk of exposure...from any disease...from any cat that wanders thru your yard. I assume your kitty has full vaccines? FeLV is NOT easily transmitted, but the decision to mix or not is a personal one. I have 6 that were mixed before I knew one was FeLV+. They had lived together, drank from the same bowls, ate from the same dishes, slept in the same beds, groomed each other, etc. for about 4 years before we found one to be positive. Because of the situation we know that she has been positive all along. However, the other cats are still negative. If you feel you can't keep her, then find a good home for her. Post where you live and perhaps someone knows of a rescue or shelter in your area that takes FeLV+ kitties.
Jo
In a message dated 04/23/2004 11:51:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Hi, a stray cat that I have become fond of has just tested positive for
FeLV. My vet wishes to have her put down. I also have a healthy non-FeLV cat
that has had very minimal exposure to the cat, but I am terribly worried.
Devastated is more accurate. The + cat is about a year old and not
symptomatic. I hate to put a very sweet and nonsymptomatic cat down, but it
would be very difficult for me to care for this cat responsibly and protect
my much loved and not + cat at the same time. Plus I am overwhelmed with
guilt for having put my normal cat at some, albeit limited, risk. (They have
had a few casual encounters in the back yard, but they don't live, eat, and
sleep together. It is possible that my healthy cat may have had some water
from the stray cat's dish in spite of my efforts at keeping everything
separated.) Advice anyone?
