[Felvtalk] Survey Responses
AT WHAT AGE DID YOUR CAT BECOME FeLV POSITIVE? Bernie was 5 months old when he was adopted. The shelter told us he was negative for FeLV. He was sick the day we got him, be we didnt figure out it was FeLV until about 2 months later. WHAT TREATMENTS DID YOU DO/ARE DOING? Interferon, once a day. WHAT FOOD DO/DID YOU FEED? WHAT LIFESTYLE DO YOUR CATS LEAD, E.G; INDOOR, OUTDOOR/BOTH ? LIVE WITH OTHER CATS OR NOT? Science Diet Natural Blend Dry Food. it was the food they were feeding him at the shelter and although I would like to switch to a cheaper brand, for now I'm sticking with it until he is an adult. I have 1 other cat who was a 1 year 4 months old when we got Bernie. He tested negative the first time we found out about Bernie...but he has to go back to get re tested soon. They are both indoor cats. They get along great...love to chase eachother and play. HAS YOUR CAT HAD/HAVE ANY OTHER ILLNESSES AND OR STRESS IN LIFE? IF SO WHAT? No problems, yet, thankfully. His only real stress is going to the vet. He absolutly hates that and he is now afraid of other people ( i think because of the vet visists) This summer I am probably moving back home for a little bit, so there will be a change that I hope won't be too stressful on him. WHAT AGE IS YOUR CAT NOW? OR WHEN THEY DIED? WHAT DID THEY DIE OF? Bernie (Felv +) is 8 months old and Brady (Felv -) is 1 1/2 ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Survey
I have/had 4 FELV+ kittens. I was fostering large numbers of kittens and URI cats from the city shelter but all tested negative before coming home with me or after being in isolation, before mixing with negative cats. As far as I can guess, a pregnant Himi mom that tested negative after giving birth, passed FELV to her one surviving kitten, Lady Baltimore. That kitten was very sickly but with intensive nursing care, was taken to be spayed when she reached 3 lbs in weight and we were shocked to find out that she was FELV+. The kitten was in good health for only about 2 months then started losing weight and died about 6 weeks later. The other 3 kittens all tested negative when they came into the house but interacted with Lady Baltimore during the period before she was spayed. I just didn't dream that she could be positive coming from a negative mom. These kittens all tested positive at about 7-9 months of age. That was 3 months ago so they are all around 1 year of age now. Two were and are in excellent health. One came to me with a bad URI and has always been a chronic snuffler and has on and off periods of sleeping more than usual. His snuffling, congestion, and energy levels improved signifcantly when I did 3 Intranasal FVRCP vaccinations in the eyes and nose, 2 weeks apart, around Christmas according to the advice of a vet that heard about this at a vet conference last year. He has grown well throughout though. Next month when I have the money, I plan to get some blood work on him and talk to the vet about these down periods he has. Otherwise, so far I haven't been convinced about supplements for them. They all eat dry IAMS adult food with small bits of canned ProPlan occasionally. All are indoors and mixed with vaccinated negative cats. I am a research scientist and work for a pharmaceutical company although the immune system is not my specialty. So far, I am not convinced that supplements that are purported to stimulate the immune system have any efficacy. I joined this list to learn what I can from the anecdotal information and am trying to get to the meat of the reports of good results with various therapies. Thanks to all on the list for all of your information! Trissa in Philadelphia catatonya catato...@yahoo.com Sent by: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org 08-Feb-2009 15:01 Please respond to felvtalk@felineleukemia.org To felvtalk@felineleukemia.org cc Subject Re: [Felvtalk] Survey AT WHAT AGE DID YOUR CAT BECOME FeLV POSITIVE? CC was positive as a kitten. she was found in a parking lot, so I have no idea. DD was positive when I got her at about 2 years of age. WHAT TREATMENTS DID YOU DO/ CC got very sick at about 8 months and almost died. We used interferon, immunoregulin, she eye herpes and medicines for that and saw a homeopath.DD has never been sick but once and was put on antibiotics. I give her no special treatments. WHAT LIFESTYLE DO YOUR CATS LEAD, all indoors ? LIVE WITH OTHER CATS OR NOT? Yes, up to 10 at a time. there has been no contamination of my negatives. CC lived until about 8 years old, and died of herpes. CC is still fine at around 10 years old.t__ _ How fun is this? IMing with Windows Live Messenger just got better. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/messenger.aspx ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Survey
Survey Answers for Bailey: AT WHAT AGE DID YOUR CAT BECOME FeLV POSITIVE? Bailey was positive when I found him at 5 months of age. I had him tested several times throughout his life and he always tested positive. WHAT TREATMENTS DID YOU DO? I tried the interferon and vitamins and supplements but giving the stuff to him was very stressful, so I stopped all of that and just kept his life as stress free as possible. He would pout and stop eating when getting his supplements and the interferon made him lethargic and he didn't eat well on his 7 days on. WHAT LIFESTYLE DO YOUR CATS LEAD? Up until 5 or so years ago all of my furkids where indoor only. Then one day Bailey, Shelbee and KC pushed the screen out and got out in the front yard. Bailey decided he liked going outside so after a couple of months of him rolling in front of the door and crying and scratching trying to get out, we had built an enclosure off the back sliding door. We took the screen off the kitchen window and put a plexiglass doggy door in it's place. I can leave the window open and the cats can come and go outside into the enclosure via the doggy door. Or keep the window closed and they can't go out. Bailey loved being able to go out in his enclosure and it was directly because of him that we had it built. It is 21 by 22 feet and 8 feet high with chicken wire across the top, furkids don't get out and hawks don't get in. LIVE WITH OTHER CATS OR NOT? Bailey had a total of 8 house mates at any point and time in his life all negative. 5 are still with us, the others have joined Bailey on the other side now, none ever got FeLV from him and I had them all tested on several occasions throughout their lives. HAS YOUR CAT HAD/HAVE ANY OTHER ILLNESSES AND OR STRESS IN LIFE? Bailey was healthy until the last 6 months of his life, he stopped eating and had continuous diarrhea, tests determined he was anemic and had pre-cancerous cells in his bone marrow ... we fixed the anemia with epogen, but he never ate on his own again and we had a feeding tube put in. He seemed uncomfortable when I fed him and I asked my vet about pancreatitis, she said she didn't think so because his amylese and glucose was normal. In hindsight I believe that is exactly what he had going on and the untreated inflammation turned into cancer. We did test after test to try and find the cancer we suspected he had somewhere. We never found it and my vet didn't feel comfortable treating for cancer not knowing for sure he had it and if so what kind and where. WHAT AGE IS YOUR CAT NOW? OR WHEN THEY DIED? Bailey had just turned 11 years old on May 1st 2006, he passed away May 6th 2006. WHAT DID THEY DIE OF? Undiagnosed and untreated Pancreatic cancer found after he passed by necropsy. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... http://bemikitties.com http://BelindaSauro.com ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
[Felvtalk] Survey and Thankyou....
Hi Everyone! Wow Thankyou so much for the time you all took to answer my questions! I will get back to you all soon, some I'd like to write an extra message to! soon!! I have also learned that maybe it also depends if the cat is symptomatic or a carrier and at what stage ect, I think my cat had it all the time, I just thought he had thrown it, but thats for anorther message! hugs and purrs to you all and I can really see that you all tried your best and are continueing to do your best for your precious FeLV kitties! Amanda and Tora and Angel Silver chan. ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
[Felvtalk] Survey
AT WHAT AGE DID YOUR CAT BECOME FeLV POSITIVE? Kitty (that's his name) was 2 years old. WHAT TREATMENTS DID YOU DO/ I groom him and show him love, (I was told this helps to relax him)changed his diet used oxygen 7 in his water, and 1 5mg of prednisone each day for 1 year..we now give him 1/2 (250mg) every other day..he is now 8 yrs old. he eats wellness and Fancy Feast. WHAT LIFESTYLE DO YOUR CATS LEAD, I keep all my cats indoors. ? LIVE WITH OTHER CATS OR NOT? Yes, I have a 13 year old Simba HAS YOUR CAT HAD/ Kitty broke his ankle when he was about 1 and a half years old..I still believe in my heart this is when he picked up the Felv from the Vet...but hey told me. Never. IS YOUR CAT NOW? Both are still alive ..and Kitty is as healthy as a horse.o sorry, but your time in answering would be really appreciated! thanks so much! hugs and good health to you and your fur babies, Amanda, Tora and Angel Silver chan. ___ _ How fun is this? IMing with Windows Live Messenger just got better. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/messenger.aspx ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Survey
AT WHAT AGE DID YOUR CAT BECOME FeLV POSITIVE? CC was positive as a kitten. she was found in a parking lot, so I have no idea. DD was positive when I got her at about 2 years of age. WHAT TREATMENTS DID YOU DO/ CC got very sick at about 8 months and almost died. We used interferon, immunoregulin, she eye herpes and medicines for that and saw a homeopath.DD has never been sick but once and was put on antibiotics. I give her no special treatments. WHAT LIFESTYLE DO YOUR CATS LEAD, all indoors ? LIVE WITH OTHER CATS OR NOT? Yes, up to 10 at a time. there has been no contamination of my negatives. CC lived until about 8 years old, and died of herpes. CC is still fine at around 10 years old.t__ _ How fun is this? IMing with Windows Live Messenger just got better. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/messenger.aspx ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Survey
AT WHAT AGE DID YOUR CAT BECOME FeLV POSITIVE? We have 3 FeLV+ kitties. All tested positive as kittens. We're taking Darcy, our baby, back to the vet soon for another test to confirm. WHAT TREATMENTS DID YOU DO/ARE DOING? We are giving interferon, a week on and a week off. I'm giving L-lysine in their food. WHAT FOOD DO/DID YOU FEED? WHAT LIFESTYLE DO YOUR CATS LEAD, E.G; INDOOR, OUTDOOR/BOTH ? LIVE WITH OTHER CATS OR NOT? We tried the more expensive, 'healthier' foods, but our cats just wouldn't make the adjustment. Now I'm feeding the Fancy Feasts that are higher in protein. With 8 cats and one dog, we just can't afford the more expensive foods, especially when our Felv babies are so picky about eating it. They all live indoors exclusively. We do have our Felv+ cats with our negatives. They all get along really well - no fights or scratching - and they were so unhappy being kept isolated from the others, and from us, that we decided to go ahead and mix. So far, so good...of course, we keep the negatives up to date on all shots. HAS YOUR CAT HAD/HAVE ANY OTHER ILLNESSES AND OR STRESS IN LIFE? IF SO WHAT? Only Bo, our four year old positive, has had any problems at all, and those have been limited to a couple of mouth sores. When treated, they went away quickly. We do our best to keep their lives as stress-free as possible. WHAT AGE IS YOUR CAT NOW? OR WHEN THEY DIED? WHAT DID THEY DIE OF? Bo is almost four. Seven is nearly two. Darcy is still under a year old. All are staying healthy and happy thus far. Hooray Jody -- This old world we're living in is mighty hard to beat...you get a thorn with every rose, but ain't the roses sweet? ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
