I really need some advice
I recently adopted a 4 yr old cat from an ad on the local Detroit Metro Craigslist. I also have Velvet whom I adopted from the SPCA 16 yrs ago who obviously has been tested then and free from both FELV and FIV. I had been keeping the new cat, Binxy, totally separate in the bathroom until she settled down a little and stopped cowering behind the pipes under the cabinet enough for me to take her to the Vet. Of course I knew in the back of my mind that she could have either disease since the people who gave her to me had obviously done little to care for her--not spayed, nails unclipped, no brushing, ear mites, no vet visits in four years, etc. But, I have a soft spot for callies and I figured that an older cat had a far lesser chance of being adopted since most people want kittens. She is really cute. Anyhow, she tested positive for FELV today---the Vet himself did the test so there is little chance that it was not done properly. This leaves me in quite a dilemma. For Velvet's sake, keeping Binxy just isn't a realistic option and she can't stay in the bathroom much longer. I am living in a shared housing situation and although my landlord does allow animals, he let me know that the house needs the downstairs bathroom back. Plus what kind of life is that for a cat who is very loving and social? Now that she is over her initial fear and shock over being unceremoniously dumped in a strange place, her cuddly, loving personality is emerging. Were she a more offish or mean type, the thought of having her peacefully put to sleep probably wouldn't be as difficult. Aside from the ear mites (and most likely worms) she seems to be healthy and I'm sure could have a good quality of life in a home as an only cat or with another pos. cat---but how to find such a situation? I am at a total loss and don't know where to turn. I have already called several rescue groups in this area and been faced with the obvious---with the highly contagious nature of this disease, they just don't have the resources or facilities to deal with this and put all the other neg cats at risk. If I take her to the Humane Society, I'm pretty certain she would be immediately put down if they would even allow her into the building at all. I have never been faced with a situation like this as all of the cats which I have had throughout my life were from a Shelter, or rescue group and tested before they even came through my door. Do any of you have any suggestions or know of anybody or any group in this area which specializes in placing pos. cats? I really don't want to see such a sweet cat be euthanized, but I just don't have a clue what to do now and I must do something soon. I found this list as I was doing a google search for fel-pos rescue groups. Any other groups I have encountered are either way out of my area or only take animals from other shelter or from off the street---not from the general public. If there are no resources in my current area in Pontiac-Detroit-Metro in Michigan, if you know of any near Philadelphia, Pa or nearby New Jersey, I am scheduled to go back there to visit friends soon and could take her along. I am so hoping that some of you may know of some resources. Thanks in advance for any advice you could give me. I really appreciate it. Buttons -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Access your email from home and the web
A few more facts
When I wrote in yesterday, I was more in panic mode and not necessarily thinking too clearly. I appreciate the advice from all of those who responded and felt I should fill in the picture a little more. I have also followed up on all of the Iowa contacts and hope something can develop there. I was also contacted by a gentleman from the list here, Gary, and if we can get the transportation coordinated, that looks to be the best yet. God bless those of you who have dedicated your life to helping these Felv kitties. I've realized more than ever why it is pretty unrealistic of me to keep her. The house in which I currently live is not mine---it is a shared housing situation while I wait for my name to come up on one of the lists for subsidized Senior housing to which I have applied. The rest of the house would appreciate their bathroom back, which my landlord has informed me about. Caring indefinitely for a cat (or possibly two) with a major disease such as this is totally unrealistic for a low-income Senior living on SS only. Reading about the numerous tests, supplements, treatments, etc. it is obvious how quickly things can add up. Realistically, it's just not manageable for me at all. For those of you in different circumstances, I think it's wonderful that you have chosen to use the resources you have to make a difference for these kitties. My cat has not been vaccinated for this and even if she were, the vaccine is generally 90% effective. Even tho Velvet is currently healthy, that may not necessarily be the case and could change rapidly at any time. She is a very Senior cat at 17 yrs. old and has outlasted her two other sisters even with a heart murmur. However, I could not live with myself if she were in the unlucky 10% and ended up with this disease due to my decision to expose her to it. I guess I could be faulted by some for her not being vaccinated, but that's just a result of my risk-benefits ratio evaluation of vaccinations for adult cats in general (kittens with undeveloped immune systems is a totally different scenario) With the accumulating evidence for the various cancers stemming from yearly vaccinations, I just felt that it was better for MY cats to by-pass being vaccinated for something they would not encounter. Other people do differently for their cats as is their right. For all the time I have had various cats over the years, they have always been totally indoor-only cats. It has always been a closed system The only way for them to be exposed to something is if I introduce it. And as unbelievable as it may sound, no cat of mine has gotten out of my door unawares even tho one was a dedicated escape artist who felt she just HAD to go thru every open door, even a closet door. :) Velvet has zero interest (I guess her time as a stray prior to the SPCA was enough of a trauma so the streets hold no allure.) The best and most realistic thing that I can do for Binxy is to make a reasonable attempt to find someone who can care for her and if that fails then be sure that she is euthanized peacefully via injection rather than that horrendous vaccuum chamber or gas which can cause such needless suffering. For me to do otherwise would be just plain foolish---I can't spend money I don't have to save one cat while there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of other healthy cats within an hours drive being euthanized every day for no reason other than no more room or no more time. I can't save all of them, but I can save one. This is why I don't adopt kittens--they have very little difficulty finding a home. Once they are past the cute stage, very few potential adopters want to deal with them. Anyhow, those are my thoughts after sleeping on it and thinking. I will do my best to find a caring and knowledgeable home for Binxy within the next week. That's the primary reason I wrote to this list. I think you folks who are raising these cats against great odds are wonderful, but I just don't have the resources to be able to manage it. But, I'm an optimist at heart and believe in the power of prayer and if it's meant to be, then it will happen. Thanks for caring. Caroline -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Access your email from home and the web
Another Important Question
One of the ladies in Iowa to whom I spoke mentioned the possibility that Binxy may only be a carrier of the disease since she is four yrs. old and healthy. So, is there any way (other than the passage of time) to definitively determine whether she is just a carrier? And, am I correct in the assumption that being a carrier only would give her the same life expectancy as any other cat who does not carry this virus? Or can a cat convert from being just a carrier to being actively infected for whatever reason?---just trying to get my facts straight. Thanks. Caroline -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Email service worth paying for. Try it for free
Re: OT - Thought for the day
I watched it also and had previously seen him on Oprah---really an amazing guy who knows how to live life to it's fullest---we could all take a page out of his book ! I will post an update on Binxy later---right now time is limited as I have tons to do before my trip to Philly. But thanks to both Linda and Gary (regular posters to this list) things will eventually work out. Thanks guys and thanks to all who took time to reply to my original posts and gave advice--much appreciated. Love, Caroline On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:44:46 -0500, Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: I watched an ABC News story last night and it was amazing. If you ever need a lift (sorry, nothing to do with cats) go to Youtube and check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo Blessings to my FELV+ family:) The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're there to stop the other people. -- Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time. http://www.rescuties.org Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home?tag=rescuties-20 Check out our Memsaic! http://www.memsaic.com/app/launch.cfm?sid=08D2CAB2A6E9 http://www.zazzle.com/rescuties* Please help Clarissa! http://rescuties.chipin.com/clarissasheart http://www.change.org/rescuties -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Email service worth paying for. Try it for free
Re: test
The exact same thing happened to me a few days ago. When I triedd to re-subscribe, it rejected that so I tried again at another addy which I have. We'll see what happens. Probably some kind of computer worm or virus or something. C. On Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:24:35 -0700 (PDT), catatonya [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: i got a notice saying i was bounced off the list. i rejoined, or whatever.I don't know what would cause my account to bounce. t Belinda Sauro [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Tonya, I never say a message about Bob's CRF, I did see a message asking me if I was around. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://www.bemikitties.com HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://www.hostdesign4u.com ForYouByUs.com [custom printing] http://www.foryoubyus.com -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Does exactly what it says on the tin
