Hi Cherie! I'm so sorry to hear of your loss of Snowball...it's so devastating to lose them at such a young age...Unfortunately, this virus can be relentless at times. I've only been dealing with FeLV for a few years, but I can tell you that I lost one baby in a matter of days; he was perfectly healthy one day until I noticed that he was breathing just a little bit heavier than the others. Within a matter of a few days, he was diagnosed with a tumor in his chest and we had to let him go (the tumor was inoperable and he just couldn't breathe due to the build-up of fluid in his chest cavity). I still can't believe how quickly he went...
On the other hand, we had a cat, Charlie (also FeLV+) fight anemia for more than 6 months before finally succumbing to his illness. And then again, we still have Charlie's two brothers (who will be 3 years old this year) who are going strong. Generally speaking, cats who are born with FeLV or contract the virus at a young age don't typically have a life span greater than a few years...but there are always exceptions to the rules! :) We had a litter of 5 cats born with the virus...we lost 2 at arouond a year of age and 1 at around 18 months. The remaining two, like I said, are still going strong (knock-on-wood!)...I don't know why these two are able to live with the virus while the others just couldn't...but every day with them is a day that I will always treasure...all of my FeLV babies are my little heros and I'll always be their biggest fan... :) Anyway, again, I'm so sorry for your loss...you and your son will be in my thoughts! Jen ----- Original Message ----- From: Cherie A Gabbert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Friday, January 7, 2005 10:17 am Subject: Re: FeLV > Everyone has beed tested recently, my concern is that it happened > so fast and so consuming. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:In a message dated 1/7/2005 1:13:59 A.M. > Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Snowball was only 6 months old and his parents were clean, the > only stress aside from the normal would have been he ws fixed a > week or so prior to all of this. If I would have known this would > have happened I would have let him run wild and not get him fixed, > I have guilt over that.... > > It is possible that might be the cause..but not from the > stress..he could have gotten an infection!! Did you notice > anything unusual around that area..or did it seem to be heling > nicely? Have you thought of having an autopsy done on him? If > his parents were clean..is FeLV-..and you are 100% sure of > it...and he has not been exposed to any other cats...I dont see > how he could have gotten it...it has to come from DIRECT fluid > contact of an infected cat....you said you have other cats..have > they all been tested recently? How recent were the parent cats > tested? > > Lisa > and fur-brats > Akira--FeLV miracle baby www.geocities.com/anzajaguar > Indy-- Truley Indian Jones as a cat..FEARLESS > Lance- Mini wire haired dashchund > Bow-Tie- 2yr old (ssshhhh he doesnt know he is 15 :) ) jack russel > crossBennie Bird-- Vampire cockatiel > Anza-- sexist Senegal parrot..deffinantly a ladies bird :) > >
