anne, as others have said, FIV is really not a big thing at all. i've just spent two years at a sanctuary for FIV and FeLV cats, and based on my experience and that of the proprietors' 15-years working with FIVs, FIV is almost nothing. they are the healthiest population at the sanctuary (which includes a couple of hundred of "healthy" strays, former ferals, etc. who are neither FIV nor FeLV). when some ferals brought in distemper almost 3 years ago, they lost a huge number of cats to it--and not one of the FIVs was affected. they call the FIV room the "neighborhood bar," because all the FIVs just lay around playing cards, watching tv, drinking catnip beer, and talking about the mice they used to chase. FIV seems to cause former toms to turn into BIG, lazy, sweet, love lumps. you bring in a feather toy and they look at you like you're nuts--"what, me MOVE?" you bring in the food, and they say, "um, could you bring that bowl a little closer, please?" we LOVE to take FIVs in to see vets who think FIVs are sick--they see these 15-20# boys and can't believe it. many of the FIVs at the sanctuary end up going home with volunteers who fall totally in love with them. (of course, the few girls who get FIV, just walk around the room shaking their heads, wondering how the heck they ended up in a room full of toms...) i currently have one FIV baby (a flamepoint himmie who is the most timid thing i've ever met--how he ever got a deep, penetrating bite is beyond me: running away and getting bitten in the butt?), just lost one to old age, and most of my friends have at least one as well.
the FIVs seem more susceptible to herpes virii--held in check with daily lysine (which all the groups get, including the housecats), but when the inevitable uris go around, they are as receptive to treatment as any other cat. the percentage of serious illness--which cannot be ascribed to the FIV since there is no way of knowing these cats' history or what genetic baggage they brought with them--is lower than in the other groups. as you'll know from being in this group, there's no reason to euthanize FeLV cats, and ABSOLUTELY NO RATIONALE for doing so with FIVs! keep talking to folks who know the reality of the condition, not to vets who, sad to say, are NOT the best source of information on critters they find easier to put down than to learn about. how's that for my humble opinion? MC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anne Paparella" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 1:22 AM Subject: Does anyone know any sites like this for FIV? > Hello, > 2 years ago I had an FeLV+ cat, Ray, and was a member > of this group. I found the information and support I > received here to be priceless in helping me make the > best decisions I could for him. > > Today I found out that my newest kitty, rescued about > 4 months ago, is FIV+. He is one of the sweetest cats > I've ever known and I am trying to cope. I am also > trying to make educated and practical decisions about > what to do because I have 2 FIV negative cats that I > don't want to put at risk (if they haven't already > been infected, as they have been living with him for 4 > months). It breaks my heart to think of giving him up > and my other 2 kitties adore him.... > > To get to my point, I am looking for a similar group > that focuses on FIV+ kitties. Does anyone know of > any? > > Oh, and just FYI, I did have him tested before > allowing him to mingle with my healthy cats. I > thought I was taking all the necessary steps to > protect my kitties and now I feel like such an idiot. > He had obviously been in a fight within a week of when > I found him, so I think he may have been infected > then. It would explain why his test was negative the > first time. I only had the vet retest him because I'm > paranoid. I guess sometimes it's good to be paranoid. > > Thanks, > Anne > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. > http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail > > >
