RE: Pregnant women trying to get rid of her cats
Hideyo, For your coworker who thinks she has to get rid of her cats. Oh dear!! Has she talked to her doctor? We had the 2 cats when I found out I was pregnant, and then we got the 3rd FeLV-FIV cat. The doctor was more concerned that I take good care of my kitties than of anything happening. All the pregnancy books I have say just don't change litter, which corresponds to the advice I have recieved here, at the Dr., and from the vet. How awful of her husband! Maybe he just doesn't want to change litter. I will be hoping that you can help change her mind. I would urge her to talk to her doctor. That should be helpful... Erika
Re: Please add Snowball to CLS Belinda
Kerry, Oh my goodness... I am so sorry for both of your losses. I just stopped crying for Flavia, and here we go again. Prayers are coming for Mickey and Momcat, and you as well. It is unbelievable that this happened, but those 2 new angels will help you to be strong. I don't know what to say, but I will be sending prayers and good thoughts your way. Erika You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try. ~Beverly Sills
Re: cats and pregnant women
Hideyo, Wow, I didn't read that closely enough. She needs a new doctor! I would hope that she loves those kitty babies enough to at least get a second opinion! That doctor sounds like he or she is not quite up to date on research. Maybe she can check WebMD for reassurance? Erika You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try. ~Beverly Sills
Re: OT - 2 things
Hi Tanya, We had that problem with Tinkerbelle. The vet said as long as there is any urine smell at all, they will keep going there. We cleaned the carpet with Odoban (from the pet store), and use the Feliway diffusers. You don't need one in every room, I think they work for 600 sq. feet. We did plug one in next to her favorite non-litter box potty sopt, and that helped. The Feliway was empty ONE day, and she went right there. We buy them on ebay for pretty good prices (vendor overstock I think). Good luck!! Erika
RE: Update on the little blind kitten question
Hi all! Those little babies are SO adorable! Thank you, Kat, for the pictures!! Just a question for you all... I checked the website for a vet that actually knows something about FeLV (unlike our current one), but the closest 2 are at colleges 2 hours away. Fine for sometimes, but not all the time. If anyone lives near Chicago (I live in Indiana, but am very close to Chicago) and has a good vet, could you e-mail and let me know? Thank you so much! Erika, Tom, Bernie and Tink
FIV info publishing
Michelle and Hideyo, I am all for publishing something...If you are really interested, my stepmother is a freelance writer and my dad is an editor...Maybe I can talk to them? I think FIV/FeLV kitty owners would reep more benefits reading a book FOR them by people like them than any book in "vetspeak" as we call it around our house! Anyway, I think you 2 are on to something Erika When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
Flavia and George
Sorry I am behind in my postings! I am praying for George and Flavia... I don't know anything about what to give them to help, but I will be sending lots of positive thoughts their ways... I pray for everyone on this list and their kitties- I hope you all know what great things you do. Erika When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
Re: OT Tamara's Quintapus - Book
WHEN you get published, please let all of us know!!! :) Erika When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
Re:Misha
Melody, One of my 3 kitties is + also, and while he doesn't have "drippy butt" he is still fine to be around me (I am expecting too- the vet and the OB said no problem, as did the friends on this list!). The FeLV, from all the reading I have been doing and the help of these wonderful people, there is NO WAY a human can get FeLV or come to any harm from it. I am praying that something will help the intestinal problems. Keep Misha at home and love her, and your new baby will have a good friend too. Erika When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
Re: Transfer Factor
Nina, Thank you for the information. Is this a supplement for their immune system? How often do you use it? It sounds wonderful, I just want to make sure I understand what it is. Thanks!! Erika
Re: pls add Norman to the CLS
Robin, I am sorry to hear about Norman. What a lucky kitty to have had a caring person. Erika When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
Re: Please - I need another big prayer for George!!
Hideyo, Lots of prayers and thoughts for you and George. Let us know how it goes! Erika When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
This is what the vet said...
I just got back from the vet with Tom... You all know so much, tell me what you think about what he said. Tom originally tested + on last Friday, but I read an article that they should have a retest right away with a different type of test (IFA, since Tom had a ELISA snap test). The vet said that no, we cannot retest until 30 days, but then if it is negative, all that means is that it may have moved to his marrow. I was hoping to hear that some cats fight it off. I think I read that too. So all we really did was rabies/distemper and a heartworm test. Does all this sound right? There is another vet in the same office that is more specialized with cats, but he was in surgery today. Thanks for any tips! Erika Tom When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
Re: Transfer Factor
Michelle, That is great about the Transfer Factor! Thinking about your little guy! Does anyone know where I can buy TF for Tom? Erika When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
Re: This is what the vet said...
Tonya, I didn't know there was a heartworm test either! They did a blood test that will take from 1-7 days (I guess they run 2 tests on it). There was an article in our paper that heartworm is particularly bad this year, and since he came in from outside, we wanted to be sure. It was marked in his records as "heartworm test antigen." Hope that helps? Erika Also, I didn't realize they could do heartworm tests on cats? I thought they could just give preventative, but there was not a test?
Re: New to felv have questions
Peggy, I am so sorry to hear what is going on with you and your kitties. I just joined this group too, after finding out one of my 3 in FeLV+. This is a great resource, and you will learn a lot. I am going to e-mail you some info privately that I have found helpful. You, Flower and Thorne are in my prayers. Erika When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
New Member
Hello, I am new to this service, so I hope I am doing this right... We just found out that our 3rd and newest kitty is FeLV and FIV positive. I am really overwhelmed, and not sure what to do next. You all seem so wise with this subject, and seeing your responses makes things seem more hopeful. Any help would be great. The other 2 were tested and came up negative. They will be rechecked in a few weeks. Tom (the FeLV cat) is being kept separated and indoors. I would really love any ideas! Thank you so much! Erika
Re: New member
Tonya, We think Tom is about 3. He has been hanging around our house for about a year and a half, and has never looked like he was sick. We found out about the FeLV and FIV when we took him to see about having him come in permanantly. Tinkerbelle, our female, is 6 and Bernie, the other boy is 4. I would love to know more about anyone's experiences with Interferon, or Vitamin C treatments. Thanks again! Erika When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
Re: New member
Chris, That makes me feel better. Thank you. Did you have to do anything other than the vaccinations for the negative kitties? The vet told me that it can be passed if they eat from the same food dish. I assume yours do, and no problems? You are right that the FIV requires a puncture bite, so I am more concerned about the FeLV. Thanks! Erika My Big Boy was also a stray that I fed for about 2 years==Saw him every day, he was never sick so I was floored when he tested Pos for FELV (when I brought him in). I mix him my other FELV with 3 other cats as the 4 others all lived with me together before I found out one was pos. I vaccinate the negs had no problems. I don't know much about FIV but I understand it is even harder to transmit then FELV-requires deep bite wounds. but again, I'm not an expert. Chris When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
Re: New member
I have to thank you all for the advice. I never expected to get so much response. I want you all to know that you and your kitties are in my prayers. I would like to know how to join the FIV yahoo group. I haven't even begun to research that one! So far we are all doing well here! Tom officially moved in to our extra bedroom today, and is getting used to it. Bernie and Tink seem ok with it too. They have their shots, but for now we are keeping them apart until we get more confimation on what is going on (Bernie and Tink need to be retested). They are inside cats, so Tom is really the only way they could have this. Again, thank you all so very much! Feel free to pass along anything else I should know- I am keeping a binder of all this info!! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Erika - have you joined the FIV yahoo group too - not quite as active as this one but still good to have. Have your Tinkerbell and Bernie had their shots? I've heard and read that too, about FeLV being spread by mutual grooming, sharing food dishes and litter boxes. I guess somewhere, somehow that was documented, but a lot of the folks on this list mix, myself included, and none of my negatives have turned up positive, (quick say a prayer!). There's no denying that keeping them separated is safer, but mine where mixed before I learned of my positives' status, (I don't think I'd have separated them anyway). If your house kitties haven't had their shots, I would definitely segregate them from Tom until they do, and for two weeks after. Do Tinkerbell and Bernie go outside? If they do, Tom is probably at greater health risk from them, then the other way around, (they could bring in illness from the outside world and infect Tom). If Tom is asymptomatic, (not showing any signs of illness), after having survived on the street for at least two years, then that's wonderful, and bodes well for him. What are the living arrangements now? Was Tom neutered before you brought him in? If he's intact, he'll be more likely to squabble with your other two. I also ask because the stress of surgery can be dangerous for our +s as well. Do Tinkerbell and Bernie get along with him? Is he already inside with the other cats? Take the transition slow, stress is a high risk factor for triggering problems with FeLV too. Welcome to the list and thank you for rescuing Tom, he's a lucky boy to have found you. Nina
Re: Great News! Hartz is withdrawing their awful Flea and Tick Drops!
Wow! That is great news! I am not sure of exactly what the problem was, but I know that we used it when we found out that our Tom is + and the other 2 were exposed and it was terrible! When the defining moment comes, either you define the moment, or the moment defines you.
