Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
Gloria: I'm an old member, but don't get here as often as I'd like... or should.. but heres our experience. We found Lucky, at about 5 weeks old,the result of a "hit and run". She survived the weekend in the ER and the next Monday went to our vet for further evaluation and testing. She tested negative for everything. She was healthy for the next FOUR YEARS until she was infected with Haemobartonella and could not seem to fight it off. The (new) vet retested her and she tested positive for FeLV. She had not been exposed to any other positives, so the vet says she probably had it since birth. She says babies should not be tested that young as the test is unreliable. PS..Lucky is now 6 years old, and is still healthy.. although we are always on guard. Jo __ In a message dated 4/6/2005 10:28:59 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I've got a question - our group took in a kitten from animal control , 8 weeks old, in May 2003. He was tested for FELV/FIV (Elisa snap test) in November 2003, and tested negative. We adopted him out about March 2004. The new owner just reported back that he was havine URI problems, and he tested positive for FELV.I've heard that tests on kittens aren't dependable. Any insight into this?Gloria
RE: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
Did you use clinic in house test or has it been sent to a lab? I would ask them to send it to a lab to make sure when you test her again, may be? -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of MacKenzie, Kerry N. Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 8:56 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: need help - a negative, later positive - ? Gloria~~the test on one of my FeLV kittens wasn't dependable. Flavia tested negative the day I met her--she was 14 weeks. The rescuer and I were thrilled. A month later she was re-tested when she was spayed, and she came up positive. We were devastated. The vet had never said a word about the possibility of a reversal in the test result. (She has also re-tested positive again since then.) I've read since then that in kittens the test doesn't necessarily reveal the presence of FeLV as soon as it appears in the body, and that you need to re-test 3 months later. Certainly Flavia's experience reflects this advice. Kerry -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gloria B. Lane Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 9:29 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: need help - a negative, later positive - ? I've got a question - our group took in a kitten from animal control , 8 weeks old, in May 2003. He was tested for FELV/FIV (Elisa snap test) in November 2003, and tested negative. We adopted him out about March 2004. The new owner just reported back that he was havine URI problems, and he tested positive for FELV. I've heard that tests on kittens aren't dependable. Any insight into this? Gloria This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
You know, I tend to wish that, too. Gloria and I are part of the same rescue group and we both are really concerned that this issue has come up with one of our cats. Several years ago I was so freaked out by FIV and Feleuk that when Gloria and I first met over a couple of cats who'd always been indoor who needed a foster home - and, I know now, didn't even need a test - I wouldn't take them until tested. Thanks to what I have learned both from Gloria and from the group, I don't get all that concerned any more. If I didn't have rescue group fosters I'd let my negatives, vaccinated, mix with my positives. I now have a "feline leukemia suite' at my house and have room for about 10 positives. They are separated from the rest of my house only by a screen door - which wouldn't be there if I didn't foster. When I have room I also take really elderly cats in and usually put them in with the feleuks because it is a small, less iimposing group to get used to. I figure that old age will kill them long before feleuk ever would. I have too many to go all-out on expensive treatments - but thanks to our rescue group's vet, who makes everything he can do available to us for very little to no cost, they have great care. Like someone else said, I do subq, some interferon - good basic care, and when that no longer works, I let them go -- after as long and happy a life as I can give them. Would I like to do more? Sure - but like all the rest of you guys, I just have to do the best I can given the circumstances. Ah, in a perfect world...things would be different -- but in a perfect world we wouldn't have feleuk to deal with. I don't know what I was expecting the feline interferon to cost - but the amount surprised me - our vet is willing to do all the paperwork and run a study using it - but the cost may stop us. but negatives need to be retested too, because they may have been recently exposed. I just wish now that shelters didn't test at allTenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLVneeds to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is thatwhat rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for thisi've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmedFeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as fosterparents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retestas negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the termFeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven'talready a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm workingwith two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... )another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVsbecause we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional andfinancial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realisticallycan/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what theanswer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had bothrescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives oncethey're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, howit's transmitted etc.i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved!(yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?)
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
Hi Susan, I think you're doing a wonderful thing, helping as many, as best you can. Thanks to you and all those who take on so much. What else could anyone ask for? Ah, a perfect world... The cost of the feline interferon is high, $250 for a full 5 day treatment. Yes, that will exclude so many from it's benefits, but isn't that the way it is in the human world as well? I'm hoping the costs will come down, maybe when it's finally approved. Nina Susan Loesch wrote: You know, I tend to wish that, too. Gloria and I are part of the same rescue group and we both are really concerned that this issue has come up with one of our cats. Several years ago I was so freaked out by FIV and Feleuk that when Gloria and I first met over a couple of cats who'd always been indoor who needed a foster home - and, I know now, didn't even need a test - I wouldn't take them until tested. Thanks to what I have learned both from Gloria and from the group, I don't get all that concerned any more. If I didn't have rescue group fosters I'd let my negatives, vaccinated, mix with my positives. I now have a feline leukemia suite' at my house and have room for about 10 positives. They are separated from the rest of my house only by a screen door - which wouldn't be there if I didn't foster. When I have room I also take really elderly cats in and usually put them in with the feleuks because it is a small, less iimposing group to get used to. I figure that old age will kill them long before feleuk ever would. I have too many to go all-out on expensive treatments - but thanks to our rescue group's vet, who makes everything he can do available to us for very little to no cost, they have great care. Like someone else said, I do subq, some interferon - good basic care, and when that no longer works, I let them go -- after as long and happy a life as I can give them.Would I like to do more? Sure - but like all the rest of you guys, I just have to do the best I can given the circumstances. Ah, in a perfect world...things would be different -- but in a perfect world we wouldn't have feleuk to deal with. I don't know what I was expecting the feline interferon to cost - but the amount surprised me - our vet is willing to do all the paperwork and run a study using it - but the cost may stop us. but negatives need to be retested too, because they may have been recently exposed. I just wish now that shelters didn't test at all */TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED]/* wrote: bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven't already a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm working with two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... ) another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVs because we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional and financial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realistically can/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what the answer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had both rescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives once they're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, how it's transmitted etc. i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved! (yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?)
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
You're right, it is the same way. I hope our vet will go ahead with the paperwork - and maybe we can find a way to come up with some $$. I sometimes wonder if it would be better to take in fewer animals and be able to concentrate more time and money both on their care - but then along comes another for whom we are the only chance - and - what do you do. Hi Susan,I think you're doing a wonderful thing, helping as many, as best you can. Thanks to you and all those who take on so much. What else could anyone ask for? Ah, a perfect world... The cost of the feline interferon is high, $250 for a full 5 day treatment. Yes, that will exclude so many from it's benefits, but isn't that the way it is in the human world as well? I'm hoping the costs will come down, maybe when it's finally approved. NinaSusan Loesch wrote: You know, I tend to wish that, too. Gloria and I are part of the same rescue group and we both are really concerned that this issue has come up with one of our cats. Several years ago I was so freaked out by FIV and Feleuk that when Gloria and I first met over a couple of cats who'd always been indoor who needed a foster home - and, I know now, didn't even need a test - I wouldn't take them until tested. Thanks to what I have learned both from Gloria and from the group, I don't get all that concerned any more. If I didn't have rescue group fosters I'd let my negatives, vaccinated, mix with my positives. I now have a "feline leukemia suite' at my house and have room for about 10 positives. They are separated from the rest of my house only by a screen door - which wouldn't be there if I didn't foster. When I have room I also take really elderly cats in and usually put them in with the feleuks because it is a small, less iimposing group to get used to. I figure that old age will kill them long before feleuk ever would. I have too many to go all-out on expensive treatments - but thanks to our rescue group's vet, who makes everything he can do available to us for very little to no cost, they have great care. Like someone else said, I do subq, some interferon - good basic care, and when that no longer works, I let them go -- after as long and happy a life as I can give them. Would I like to do more? Sure - but like all the rest of you guys, I just have to do the best I can given the circumstances. Ah, in a perfect world...things would be different -- but in a perfect world we wouldn't have feleuk to deal with. I don't know what I was expecting the feline interferon to cost - but the amount surprised me - our vet is willing to do all the paperwork and run a study using it - but the cost may stop us. but negatives need to be retested too, because they may have been recently exposed. I just wish now that shelters didn't test at all */TenHouseCats <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/* wrote: bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven't already a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm working with two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... ) another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVs because we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional and financial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realistically can/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what the answer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had both rescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives once they're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, how it's transmitted etc. i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved! (yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?)
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
That's why I say don't bother testing. There's no telling how many have been put down because they tested positive when they could have just been exposed and would havetested negative 90 days later. Also, there's no telling how many they've adopted that are positive because they tested negative but had actually just been exposed during their time at the shelterAnd people think they have a negative cat so they don't vaccinate their other cats. I think it's a waste of money, and causes a lot of problems. tTenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i think that is the best we can do--at times at the sanctuary, as all the info swirled around re: which tests do what, when they work, if they work, what they test for, how often they need to be repeated, is PCR the answer, is the IFA the best, the director wondered if there was a point to testing anyone at all... On Apr 6, 2005 9:00 PM, Gloria B. Lane [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Perhaps giving one test is going to be the best some shelters can do - andjust try to do the best we can...Gloria
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
Oh Susan, I understand completely. I've, sort of by default, opted for taking in fewer in order to do more for each one. The only way I can do that though, is to stay inside the house with the door locked. Sometimes when I'm driving down the streets of my neighborhood, I'm afraid of what I'll find, (I still look though!). One thing we can do, as far as the VO goes, is start a black market. Have as many of us as possible get our approval from the FDA, (that costs nothing but time, if you have a vet that will cooperate), then those of us that are able, can buy the minimum order and split the cost of the boxes between us. After getting the approval, it has taken about two weeks for it to come in. Hopefully when Canada approves the drug, the time lag will be shorter. If enough of us have enough of the VO on hand to spare, we could cut the waiting time for someone who is in desperate need. Nina Susan Loesch wrote: You're right, it is the same way. I hope our vet will go ahead with the paperwork - and maybe we can find a way to come up with some $$.I sometimes wonder if it would be better to take in fewer animals and be able to concentrate more time and money both on their care - but then along comes another for whom we are the only chance - and - what do you do. Hi Susan, I think you're doing a wonderful thing, helping as many, as best you can. Thanks to you and all those who take on so much. What else could anyone ask for? Ah, a perfect world... The cost of the feline interferon is high, $250 for a full 5 day treatment. Yes, that will exclude so many from it's benefits, but isn't that the way it is in the human world as well? I'm hoping the costs will come down, maybe when it's finally approved. Nina
RE: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
I hear you, Susan. I started out only one cat 12 years ago, and now have over 50 and it can be overwhelming sometimes especially when some one gets sick. When my Suzi died, I was so sad that and all I wanted to do was to cry and hide, and not to do anything but I really couldnt. Because I have all other kitties and doggies who depend on me to take care of, and I had to keep working, and that can get difficult sometimes. They all look worried, and look sad when I am, too. Anyway, but I often think of ones who are out there in the wild world more than the ones I have and thats why I ended up so many animals (and thats is probably my problem) There are just so many out there though, I decided last year that I wouldnt take in any more animals, but then , I met Ginger, and I met, Tabitha (Tabithas old owner used to leave Tabitha in a small carrier with no food or no water, at an outdoor upstairs porch no roof during freezing night the owner did not want her to be inside of the house because she pooped in the house can you believe this crazy lady? When I found her, she was pooping and peeing in the carrier and was soaked with her own disposals I couldnt believe what I saw - ), and I rescued her.. then Oh-Oh (oh) and then, Squeekie --- I just dont know what to do when a situation arises like this, but to take them in From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan Loesch Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 11:47 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ? You're right, it is the same way. I hope our vet will go ahead with the paperwork - and maybe we can find a way to come up with some $$. I sometimes wonder if it would be better to take in fewer animals and be able to concentrate more time and money both on their care - but then along comes another for whom we are the only chance - and - what do you do. Hi Susan, I think you're doing a wonderful thing, helping as many, as best you can. Thanks to you and all those who take on so much. What else could anyone ask for? Ah, a perfect world... The cost of the feline interferon is high, $250 for a full 5 day treatment. Yes, that will exclude so many from it's benefits, but isn't that the way it is in the human world as well? I'm hoping the costs will come down, maybe when it's finally approved. Nina Susan Loesch wrote: You know, I tend to wish that, too. Gloria and I are part of the same rescue group and we both are really concerned that this issue has come up with one of our cats. Several years ago I was so freaked out by FIV and Feleuk that when Gloria and I first met over a couple of cats who'd always been indoor who needed a foster home - and, I know now, didn't even need a test - I wouldn't take them until tested. Thanks to what I have learned both from Gloria and from the group, I don't get all that concerned any more. If I didn't have rescue group fosters I'd let my negatives, vaccinated, mix with my positives. I now have a feline leukemia suite' at my house and have room for about 10 positives. They are separated from the rest of my house only by a screen door - which wouldn't be there if I didn't foster. When I have room I also take really elderly cats in and usually put them in with the feleuks because it is a small, less iimposing group to get used to. I figure that old age will kill them long before feleuk ever would. I have too many to go all-out on expensive treatments - but thanks to our rescue group's vet, who makes everything he can do available to us for very little to no cost, they have great care. Like someone else said, I do subq, some interferon - good basic care, and when that no longer works, I let them go -- after as long and happy a life as I can give them. Would I like to do more? Sure - but like all the rest of you guys, I just have to do the best I can given the circumstances. Ah, in a perfect world...things would be different -- but in a perfect world we wouldn't have feleuk to deal with. I don't know what I was expecting the feline interferon to cost - but the amount surprised me - our vet is willing to do all the paperwork and run a study using it - but the cost may stop us. but negatives need to be retested too, because they may have been recently exposed. I just wish now that shelters didn't test at all */TenHouseCats <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/* wrote: bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for r
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
I would have the cat retested on IFA. Cats can test negative if they are postive if it's during the intal virus incubation. We had a cat test negative in our group the kittens got adopted. One got really sick took to vet and he tested postitive. All the other did too. Retested the mom and she was positive. My guess the the cat was just infected and had not gone thru the blood stream. Or could just be a false positive meaning the cat was around a cat that was positive. Hard to tell I would retest and if + retest in 3 months. If it's early enough then maybe the kitten can through off the virus. Carla Date sent: Wed, 06 Apr 2005 09:29:00 -0500 To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org From: Gloria B. Lane [EMAIL PROTECTED] Copies to: Subject:need help - a negative, later positive - ? Send reply to: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org I've got a question - our group took in a kitten from animal control , 8 weeks old, in May 2003. He was tested for FELV/FIV (Elisa snap test) in November 2003, and tested negative. We adopted him out about March 2004. The new owner just reported back that he was havine URI problems, and he tested positive for FELV. I've heard that tests on kittens aren't dependable. Any insight into this? Gloria
RE: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
Gloria~~the test on one of my FeLV kittens wasn't dependable. Flavia tested negative the day I met her--she was 14 weeks. The rescuer and I were thrilled. A month later she was re-tested when she was spayed, and she came up positive. We were devastated. The vet had never said a word about the possibility of a reversal in the test result. (She has also re-tested positive again since then.) I've read since then that in kittens the test doesn't necessarily reveal the presence of FeLV as soon as it appears in the body, and that you need to re-test 3 months later. Certainly Flavia's experience reflects this advice. Kerry -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gloria B. Lane Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 9:29 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: need help - a negative, later positive - ? I've got a question - our group took in a kitten from animal control , 8 weeks old, in May 2003. He was tested for FELV/FIV (Elisa snap test) in November 2003, and tested negative. We adopted him out about March 2004. The new owner just reported back that he was havine URI problems, and he tested positive for FELV. I've heard that tests on kittens aren't dependable. Any insight into this? Gloria This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven't already a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm working with two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... ) another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVs because we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional and financial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realistically can/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what the answer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had both rescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives once they're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, how it's transmitted etc. i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved! (yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?)
RE: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
I think that's a great idea, but (and maybe I've misunderstood what you say) I'd be afraid a foster cat who might otherwise re-test negative would actually contract the virus while being fostered with the positives..? -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of TenHouseCats Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 1:32 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ? bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven't already a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm working with two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... ) another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVs because we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional and financial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realistically can/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what the answer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had both rescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives once they're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, how it's transmitted etc. i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved! (yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?) This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
well, this is where we have to get the science people in if a cat tests positive, it means it's been exposed to the virus. i would THINK that if it's gonna be able to throw the virus off (develop an immunity to the virus), it's gonna do that anyway. ie, if it's a healthy cat to start with who is in the process of expelling the virus (or whatever the technical term is), i don't think that further exposure is cumulative. i know of one cat who tested positive, went to live with a household of 20+ felvs, and was never retested. well, after major trauma, including a 1500-mile transport, said cat surprisingly gave birth to five heatlhy kittens--retesting her and all the kittens produced all negative results one of the rescues i'm working with re: felvs has an immunology doctoral student who is helping me understand more of the science--this is one of the things i need to run by her! obviously, we do NOT want to infect any negative cats! (tho part of the problem with all the mis-information re: FeLV is that even people with the facilities to segregate a possible-positive foster are afraid to--remember, there are still people relinquishing their beloved FeLVs to sanctuaries because their friends and family won't visit because they're sure that either they or their cats will catch the FeLV that way)education again--people who find out that FeLV is not transmitted by a glance across a crowded room WILL isolate a cat for the purposes of retesting when given adequate info...
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
Dear Delusional - No, MC, just kidding! It is a problem - how do you find those exceptions that pop up? And I'll bet it's harder on the breed rescues, when they encounter the FELV cats. Right now, we just have people who'll take them. Or, when They've already adopted and are in love, they keep the kitty. Right now I'm sold on interferon alpha, so waiting to see if my two FELV fosters to pass the 3 years of age mark, then I'll be totally raving about interferon. And, I'm waiting to see the Interferon-Omega cure for Nina's cat. I've also ordered some of Dr. Belfields vitamins. Gloria At 01:31 PM 4/6/2005, you wrote: bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven't already a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm working with two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... ) another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVs because we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional and financial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realistically can/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what the answer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had both rescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives once they're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, how it's transmitted etc. i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved! (yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?)
RE: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
Title: Message if a cat tests positive, it means it's been exposed to the virus.Is that always necessarily the case? I thought tests weren't 100% accurate---that they can givethe wrong result? (False positive?) -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of TenHouseCatsSent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 2:07 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?well, this is where we have to get the science people in if a cat tests positive, it means it's been exposed to the virus. i would THINK that if it's gonna be able to throw the virus off (develop an immunity to the virus), it's gonna do that anyway. ie, if it's a healthy cat to start with who is in the process of expelling the virus (or whatever the technical term is), i don't think that further exposure is cumulative. i know of one cat who tested positive, went to live with a household of 20+ felvs, and was never retested. well, after major trauma, including a 1500-mile transport, said cat surprisingly gave birth to five heatlhy kittens--retesting her and all the kittens produced all negative results one of the rescues i'm working with re: felvs has an immunology doctoral student who is helping me understand more of the science--this is one of the things i need to run by her! obviously, we do NOT want to infect any negative cats!(tho part of the problem with all the mis-information re: FeLV is that even people with the facilities to segregate a possible-positive foster are afraid to--remember, there are still people relinquishing their beloved FeLVs to sanctuaries because their friends and family won't visit because they're sure that either they or their cats will catch the FeLV that way)education again--people who find out that FeLV is not transmitted by a glance across a crowded room WILL isolate a cat for the purposes of retesting when given adequate info...This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
the good news is that vets aren't automatically euthanizing all cats who test positive for FeLV, the bad news is that vets aren't automatically euthanizing all cats who test positive for FeLV... outreach to rescues? it's not that hard to find breed rescues, and even if we all just individually spoke with the rescues we know/work with personally, we'd reach a lot of people. it's amazing to see how quickly reasonable people calm down and readjust their thinking once given accurate info. six years ago, i still thought that if my cats sniffed an FeLV cat through a screen, they were done for! vet outreach is another thing--i keep reminding people to list their vets on the FIV/FeLV-friendly vet list. i'd never discussed FeLV with my vet before he became the sanctuary vet--when i did, he said that he always tells people to retest, that that's what he was taught in vet school! i think a lot of vets have FeLV clients out there--are some of them potential list members/resources/fosters? part of the rescue outreach would be for them to discuss the issue with their vets before the situation arises there are a couple of net-accessible lists of vets--not to mention the phone books--could some of us take on the task of assembling a more widespread list of vets who are FeLV-friendly? (even if they are NOT up on all the newest treatments, if they're amenable to working and learning) i know we all have lives of our own, and what i'm talking about sounds huge--cuz, of course, it is. i'm a stay-at-home-cat-mom (on disability; ie, a member of the idle poor), so i've got time and (limited!) energy to give--if others can help out!
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
again, this is where my grasp of the medical falls short. i don't know what research has been done re: prevalence of false positives, how/if they relate to the tests used, and other factors. which, again, brings up the issue of whether a healthy, adult cat that's exposed to the virus (even if originally a false positive) is necessarily going to retain it if subsequently exposed
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
I say "The Bottom Line" is what I just read on another listEvery 9 seconds an animal is put tp sleep becouse there is no one to care for it...And most of those are FeLV neg The bottom line is that we should encourage anyone to care for an animal however they are comfortable doing...If you do isolate a pos for 90 days or 180 days and it goes neg are you then going to adopt it out without telling someone that it once tested pos ?? Personaly I have gone the other way...3 or 4 cats that have all run together and one test neg...The shelter will put them all to sleep...I have kept them all together...I have a lot of cats...All would be dead now if I hadn't taken then...They all are well feed and have plenty of space to run inside my house and enjoy their life...They will get antibiotics and liver shakes sub-Q but when this low cost doesn't work I will let them go... The point is this is the way I feel good about what I am doing...If somebody put pressure on me to do another way I might feel burnt out and quit... Just my thoughts Tad TenHouseCats wrote: bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven't already a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm working with two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... ) another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVs because we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional and financial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realistically can/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what the answer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had both rescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives once they're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, how it's transmitted etc. i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved! (yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?) No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.3 - Release Date: 4/5/2005
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
i don't think the issue is trying to convince people to do what they cannot or are not comfortable doing--but you were able to do what you have done because you adequate information to make the decision i am grateful that i have learned what i have about FeLV, and discovered things about myself i wouldn't have otherwise known. re: having a cat retest negative and telling someone about the original test? my understanding is that a negative test in such a situation is a confirmed negative--the cat is NOT FeLV+, and the original result was either a false positive, or based on his/her EXPOSURE only. it gets muddy when there's a positive snap, a negative snap, then a positive IFA; or a positive snap, a negative IFA and a second positive snap--in those cases, i WOULD tell folks the history.
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
but negatives need to be retested too, because they may have been recently exposed. I just wish now that shelters didn't test at allTenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLVneeds to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is thatwhat rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for thisi've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmedFeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as fosterparents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retestas negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the termFeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven'talready a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm workingwith two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... )another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVsbecause we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional andfinancial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realisticallycan/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what theanswer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had bothrescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives oncethey're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, howit's transmitted etc.i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved!(yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?)
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
Perhaps giving one test is going to be the best some shelters can do - and just try to do the best we can... Gloria At 07:57 PM 4/6/2005, you wrote: but negatives need to be retested too, because they may have been recently exposed. I just wish now that shelters didn't test at all TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven't already a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm working with two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... ) another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVs because we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional and financial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realistically can/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what the answer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had both rescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives once they're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, how it's transmitted etc. i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved! (yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?)
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
i think that is the best we can do--at times at the sanctuary, as all the info swirled around re: which tests do what, when they work, if they work, what they test for, how often they need to be repeated, is PCR the answer, is the IFA the best, the director wondered if there was a point to testing anyone at all... On Apr 6, 2005 9:00 PM, Gloria B. Lane [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Perhaps giving one test is going to be the best some shelters can do - andjust try to do the best we can...Gloria
Re: need help - a negative, later positive - ?
I agree Tad. If you adopt or take in a cat that has ever been exposed to another cat you really have no idea. My opinion is vaccinate your cats/kittens when you get them, and hope for the best. If someone gets sick, test. If positive, treat as best you can. I don't think there's any way you can bring in a stray or shelter animal and know for sure what it's been exposed to and if it's going to turn out positive or negative. tTad Burnett [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I say "The Bottom Line" is what I just read on another listEvery 9 seconds an animal is put tp sleep becouse there is no one to care for it...And most of those are FeLV negThe bottom line is that we should encourage anyone to care for an animal however they are comfortable doing...If you do isolate a pos for 90 days or 180 days and it goes neg are you then going to adopt it out without telling someone that it once tested pos ??Personaly I have gone the other way...3 or 4 cats that have all run together and one test neg...The shelter will put them all to sleep...I have kept them all together...I have a lot of cats...All would be dead now if I hadn't taken then...They all are well feed and have plenty of space to run inside my house and enjoy their life...They will get antibiotics and liver shakes sub-Q but when this low cost doesn't work I will let them go...The point is this is the way I feel good about what I am doing...If somebody put pressure on me to do another way I might feel burnt out and quit...Just my thoughtsTadTenHouseCats wrote: bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven't already a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm working with two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... ) another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVs because we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional and financial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realistically can/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what the answer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had both rescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives once they're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, how it's transmitted etc. i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved! (yeah, right and how long have i been delusional?) No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.3 - Release Date: 4/5/2005
