[Felvtalk] Can Humans Make FELV+ cats sick?
Just wondering if anyone knows if humans who are sick with a cold, the flu, etc can make a FELV+ cat sick. Magic is currently still asymptomatic (other than her diagnosis). I'm just wondering when we are sick if they are more susceptible with their weakened immune system. Thanks, Stephanie ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Question About Integrating Positive and Negative Cats
Thanks Everyone. I am lucky in that my vets have never recommended over vaccinating. Other than rabies, which is required yearly by law in our state, we have never done additional vaccinating on my cats (current and prior) as they are indoor cats only. It's part of the struggle with figuring out what to do. Separately, Magic had a watery eye this morning that she wasn't opening as much as the other one. So we need to keep a watch on that for her as I've also heard treating her symptoms early is key to her quality of life. Thanks again. Stephanie ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Question About Inegrating Positive and Negative Cats
Thank you everyone for all your comments and feedback. It is definitely helpful and encouraging. For those that have asked, the FELV+ kitten is Magic and she is about 5 months old and healthy other than her diagnosis. I have three other cats. Leroy and Zoe are 2 1/2 and had their FELV boosters when they were kittens, but have not had them since - just rabies and distempter. My biggest concern is my oldest cat, Ally, who is 13 1/2. She has only received her rabies shots since she was a kitten as she had a nearly fatal reaction to her vaccines when she was a kitten. Since she is an indoor cat, the vet recommended against further vaccines many years ago. The vet at my practice who suggested potentially integrating after vaccinating also seemed to be in the camp that this disease is not passed as easily from cat to cat as we might be led to believe. She told me that it generally takes prolonged consistent contact to be passed. My FELV+ kitten is currently separated from my other three negative cats and I had been concerned about accidental exposure to my negative cats. She also emphasized that it does not survive long in normal household conditions. I won't be able to talk to my regular vet until late Thursday or Friday. My husband is leaning towards wanting to vaccinate and mix if possible. I'm still on the fence. Again, I'm very appreciate of everyone's insight and perspective. It definitely helps. Thanks, Stephanie ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
[Felvtalk] Question About Inegrating Positive and Negative Cats
Hi Everyone, I am new to this site and new to the world of FELV. My husband and I recently took in a stray kitten, Magic, who had been coming into our yard and on our porch. We've had her inside and separated from our FELV negative cats for six weeks now and love her dearly. At her first vet appt about five week ago she tested positive on two different snap tests. She also recently tested positive on the IFA test. Magic is about five months old and is healthy (other than FELV), active, growing and gaining weight, loves to play and is the sweetest girl. For now, she lives in our master bedroom separated from our other cats. One of the vets at my practice suggested it was possible to integrate her with our other cats if we had them all vaccinated. She did tell me that the vaccine isn't 100% so there was some risk to our other cats. Right now, I do not feel like is the option for me as it doesn't seem fair to expose my FELV negative to cats to the risk of the vaccine itself or exposure to her. However, I thought I would ask if anyone has gone this route and what their experience has been. The vet who suggested this to me isn't the vet I usually see and I am waiting for my regular vet to come back to work later this week. Assuming we don't integrate her with the other cats, she is currently living in our bedroom. She doesn't seem unhappy and while it's not an ideal set-up for us, it is something we could manage long term. I struggle with what is fair for her - to stay with us where we love her so much, but her space is limited or to find her a home where she can have more space and possibly time with her owners. If she stays with us in our bedroom, should we still vaccinate our other cats as a precaution? Any thoughts or experience anyone has on either of these issues would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Stephanie ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
