Re: [Felvtalk] FeLV testing protocols
Hi Georgetta, Yup, I understand how bitey an unsocialized singleton can be! My arms were SO scratched up from my first positive that lived in quarantine from 6-12 weeks. Others here may have better references, but I found one article that says that the time between infection and testing positive is normally 2-8 weeks. If funds allowed, perhaps one snap test when the litters are combined, and another prior to adoption? May not be practical or affordable for a real rescue, I've just done my private little rescues and kept more (10 total, 2 now deceased) than I've managed to adopt out (7). I'll see what other references I can find in the morning... Good night, Beth N. ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
[Felvtalk] FeLV testing protocols
Dear Beth, Thanks for the information. Let me add some information to my previous post. I typically take kittens that are neonatal, usually under about 3 weeks of age. I am one of the few fosters in my group who will foster newborns. I usually have them for a minimum of 3 weeks before I would even think of combining litters. When I have single kittens, I feel it is important for them to develop social skills with peer group kittens - about the same age. I find they develop bad habits otherwise - biting and too rough play. Waiting to socialize singletons until they are fixed and tested at 8 weeks doesn't work well. Since they have been in my home 3 or more weeks when they would be tested, none of the kittens would have any recent exposure to any cats who might infect them with FeLV/FIV. All my litters are carefully quarantined upon arrival, even though it is a lot of work and I have many many litterboxes and food bowls to clean each day. It seems reasonable to me that if they are exposed BEFORE they come to me, in 3-4 weeks, wouldn't they tend to test positive if they had prior exposure to FeLV? What do all you experts think? Thanks again for any input. Georgetta (got one adopted today, but took in 2 starved 5 week olds to stablize for another foster yesterday so numbers are up, not down.) ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] BOB
I am very sorry to hear about Bob - may he rest his little body, once again in good health, across the rainbow bridge! Natalie -Original Message- From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of a h Sent: Sunday, September 26, 2010 1:51 AM To: felvtalk Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] BOB I am SO SORRY. I know how bad you feel as I recently lost my little Sophie this summer. My heart breaks for you. Alice > Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:16:10 -0400 > From: putty...@gmail.com > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] BOB > > I am sorry too. It is always so hard. Remember the good times. He will > always be with you. > > Sally > > On Sat, Sep 25, 2010 at 7:56 PM, wrote: > > > BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS THRU AND SOMEHOW ALWAYS COMES BACK . MY BOBY DIED > > WEDNESDAY THE 8TH. HE DID NOT SHOW UP FOR FOOD AND WHEN I FOUND HIM, HE WAS > > ALREADY GROWING COLD. DECIDED NOT TO DO AUTOPSY, WOULD NOT BRING HIM BACK > > AND WOULD ONLY MUTILATE HIM. I MISS HIM. HE WAS SUCH A GENTLE SOUL AND > > TOOK SUCH GOOD CARE OF THE KITTENS WHEN I BROUGHT THEM HOME. HE BATHED THEM > > AND TAUGHT THEM TO HUNT AND WRESTLED WITH THEM AND THEY ALL SLEPT TOGETHER. > > I HAVE PICTURES TO REMEMBER, BUT NOT THE SAME. HE WAS ONLY 5 AND THERE WAS > > NO WARNING . > > > > ___ > > Felvtalk mailing list > > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > > > > -- > Sally(me), Eric (not a cat),Junior(angel), Tiny(angel) Fluffy(soul mate > angel), Lionel(angel),Speedy, Grey and White, Ittle Bitty, Little > Black(MIA), Lily, Daisy, Pewter, Junior Junior, Hotdog (newest) Silver, and > Spike > ___ > 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] FeLV misconceptions
I have never had to test kittens for FeLV, only for FIV. My vet says that under 10 weeks of age, chances for false positives are high. From my experience with FIV, one can tell if it's a true positive or maternal antibodies showing. I may have written it once in the past, but I have NEVER had any kittens from all the FIV+ mothers that were positive. I know that it probably isn't the same with FeLV - I have only had one kitten, about 15 yrs. ago; it died before age 3 months - I was treating him with Interferon. Now, I have two adult FeLV+ males with absolutely no symptoms, but would like to treat them with something other than the vitamins. Natalie -Original Message- From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Georgetta Brickey Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2010 10:03 PM To: FeLV List Subject: [Felvtalk] FeLV misconceptions Hi list, I think quite a few people get feline leukemia confused with panleukopenia. They sort of rhyme and may sound alike to the uninformed. Panleukopenia organisms DO persist for a very long time (years) in the environment unless very stringent measures are taken, including bleaching everything,etc. FeLV organisms are much more fragile and only survive more than a few minutes if the conditions are perfect, right temperature, moisture, etc. That is why unvaccinated cats can contract it through exchange of fluids (sex, fights, grooming) and to a lesser extent, from sharing litterboxes and water and food bowls. The Panleuk vaccine is extremely effective in confering immunity. The FeLV vaccine isn't quite as good but TONs better than doing nothing. There is an enormous amount of good information online about these and other conditions. This year I had my very first kitten in the 7 years of fostering kittens (200+) with a confirmed positive FeLV, followed later by another + kitten (both were isolated/quarantined at intake and the first was out of the house before the other arrived.) I spent quite a few hours searching and reading and learned amazing things from this list and from googling... and also found a great sanctuary for Wisp (Thanks a Trillion, Michael J!) here. The second kitten was transferred to another foster who combined 3 litters before getting each tested...not so good outcome... Lucky and another kitten from one of the combined litters were confirmed positive for FeLV and ended up at a wonderful sanctuary in SLO county. The other 4 kittens are now 6 months old and 2 are finally being shown for adoption (one got adopted today). The other 2 were adopted to a family who had no other cats and all 4 have re-tested negative repeatedly. It really reinforced the importance of TESTING BEFORE YOU MIX litters just my 2 cents... One question I have for the FeLV group - How young do you test for FeLV? I know there is the concern about maternal antibodies triggering a false positive, but if a Negative is really a Negative on the Snap (ELISA) test... shouldn't you be able to test pretty young/small kittens, provided you can draw the blood required? I know there might be a greater chance of a false positive, but taking the into account, you should be able to "clear" at a pretty young age, maybe 3-4 weeks? That way you could clear the negatives and relax a bit, then be supercareful to keep the + kittens in quarantine as long as necessary to clear or confirm! Any experience or insight would be greatly appreciated. (I am ccing to orphankittens and the feralcats groups for more input.) Thanks and good luck with your cats and kittens, Georgetta (back from today's PETCO adoptions - placed just 2 older kittens in 4 hours - neither were any of the 8 I took to show for adoption... sigh... wish me better luck tomorrow.) www.CatsCradleRescue.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
