Re: [Felvtalk] Best litter for FeLV?
I HAVE A DEDICATED COMPOST PIT FOR MY WORLD'S BEST. Jennifer Lewis wrote: > I love World's Best, but can't afford it right now. I'd rather spend $$ on > good food and care. > > For my FELV's I am using unmedicated Laying Hen crumble. Yes, chicken feed. > Available at any feed store, and these days urban chickens are tres chic so > it's easy to find. > I got it because one of my girls was only 2 months and we were scared she'd > eat clay, and we've stuck with it. It's very similar to WB (It's corn), > clumps, LIGHT, and 50 lbs is around $16 (and that's in LA). Low dust. > OH, and did I mention it is FLUSHABLE? > > I wish all the other kids would use it, but my diabetic won't so she will pee > everywhere, so only the girls get it. That clay s**t is heavy and dusty. > > Jen, Brynn and Munch > > PS. Brynn has a kitty cold :( > On Nov 13, 2013, at 4:11 PM, dlg...@windstream.net wrote: > > > I will still stick with World's Best. In fact the reason I switched to it > > is being able to sift out clumps and not the whole box. I have 5 cats and > > even in the winter months when they cannot go outside, it lasts a long > > time. It is also half the weight of clay. > > > > Lee Evans wrote: > >> I'm not very enthusiastic about clumping litter. If you use it properly, > >> you have to use the whole darn bag to get it to clump properly and not > >> turn into a cement block because you did not use enough. If you use the > >> whole bag, it's very expensive because when you scoop the clumps, the > >> litter MUST be replaced, again to get it to clump properly and not glue > >> itself to the litter box. If you replace it you spend more money. If you > >> use the generic store brand, you get 40 pound clumps that eventually bond > >> together and need to be disposed of in an industrial waste dump. LOL. Not > >> everything that is advertised is really as magical as it seems to be. > > > > > > > > > ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Best litter for FeLV?
Where do you get it? //so far have not seen it at Pets Mart. Avaykn wrote: > I use to use worlds best but just now switched to Dr Elsey precious cat, > works great so far. > > Sent from my iPhone. > > > On Nov 11, 2013, at 8:47, KG BarnCats wrote: > > > > We really love Dr Elsey Precious Cat multi cat litter. Lowest dust of any > > I've seen plus cats love it. Did side by side testing with numerous other > > brand incl Swheat and Worlds Best, my cats strongly preferred it. Clumps > > great. I use giant rubbermaid tubs so few clumps are by the sides making > > scooping fast and easy. There is a fax in rebate for a free first bag on > > their website also a 100% usage guarantee. Cant do better than that. > > > > Kg > > > > On Sunday, November 10, 2013, Beth wrote: > > > Or heartworms. > > > > > > Katherine Kershaw wrote: > > > > > >>May also want to consider pneumonia as a cause for coughing. Xray can > > >>determine it. Is it phlegmy sounding? My cat was swallowing, coughing, > > >>had a gurgly sounding purr and was diagnosed with a little pneumonia. > > >>Cleared up with antibiotics. > > >> > > >>Beth wrote: > > >> > > >>>They make sifting litter boxes just for the pine litter. you just sift > > >>>it to the bottom. And, yes, go to the feed store & get the equine once > > >>>you have determined your cats will actually use it. > > >>> > > >>>Beth > > >>> > > >>>Lee Evans wrote: > > >>> > > Feline does not have dust when pouring but it turns into a find yellow > > powder after it breaks down. It's nice and inexpensive where I am > > because I get pine pellets from a local feed store at $6 for 40#. But > > it takes a lot of sweeping up after it's used for a while. > > > > > > > > > > > > On Sunday, November 10, 2013 2:05 PM, Beth > > wrote: > > > > Hi Tina - > > > > > >SWeat Scoop also harden to a cement-like texture that is horribly > > >difficult to get out . I had to take a hammer to it. > > >You might want to try Feline Pine. Some cats don't like the texture, > > >but it doesn't have the dust. Also World's Best (corn based) or the > > >new Blue Buffalo (Walnut Based). My cats & I like the BB best. > > >I also if your litter box is covered, but that can cause asthmatic > > >problems. > > > > > >Beth > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Don't Litter, Fix Your Critter! www.Furkids.org > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: Tina Smith > > >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > >Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2013 9:56 AM > > >Subject: [Felvtalk] Best litter for FeLV? > > > > > > > > > > > >Hi all, > > > > > > > > >I have an FeLV+ kitty. He has been mostly healthy but is currently > > >going through something that is causing a lot of coughing. We have > > >noticed that he seems sensitive to the drier air of winter and perhaps > > >has some environmental allergies. In addition to other things we are > > >doing I am trying to find a dust-free cat litter for him. Last night > > >I spent a small fortune on SWheatScoop litter and was appalled to see > > >all of the dust that went flying when we put it in his litter pan. So > > >much for dust-free. Has anyone here had luck finding a litter that is > > >good to use for our FeLV+ sweeties? > > > > > > > > >I'll also tell you a little more about what he's going through in case > > >anybody has some insight into what might be causing it. The vet > > >wasn't helpful. Just gave him a Convenia antibiotic injection but > > >couldn't say what the problem might be except possibly pleural > > >effusion. Darwin is coughing a lot - a little like the "hairball > > >cough" but not exactly. He seems to be breathing mostly okay through > > >his nose, although I have noticed occasionally that there does seem to > > >be a little congestion. There has been no open-mouth breathing. He > > >had a bout of diarrhea for a couple of days this past week but seemed > > >to get over that. Now I think he might actually be constipated. When > > >he coughs nothing comes out but he does swallow as if he has coughed a > > >little something up and then swallows it. I have almost wondered if he > > >might have an obstruction but it does seem to be affecting his > > >breathing some. I haven't been able to pinpoint any triggers. He > > has coughed after drinking water, he has coughed when the heat was on, > > he has coughed right after using the litter box. But he has also > > coughed when he's just resting on the bed and nothing is going on. > > > > > > > > >Any insight would be so welcome. > > > > > ___ > > Felvtalk mailing list > > Felvtalk@felin
Re: [Felvtalk] Best litter for FeLV?
I love World's Best, but can't afford it right now. I'd rather spend $$ on good food and care. For my FELV's I am using unmedicated Laying Hen crumble. Yes, chicken feed. Available at any feed store, and these days urban chickens are tres chic so it's easy to find. I got it because one of my girls was only 2 months and we were scared she'd eat clay, and we've stuck with it. It's very similar to WB (It's corn), clumps, LIGHT, and 50 lbs is around $16 (and that's in LA). Low dust. OH, and did I mention it is FLUSHABLE? I wish all the other kids would use it, but my diabetic won't so she will pee everywhere, so only the girls get it. That clay s**t is heavy and dusty. Jen, Brynn and Munch PS. Brynn has a kitty cold :( On Nov 13, 2013, at 4:11 PM, dlg...@windstream.net wrote: > I will still stick with World's Best. In fact the reason I switched to it is > being able to sift out clumps and not the whole box. I have 5 cats and even > in the winter months when they cannot go outside, it lasts a long time. It > is also half the weight of clay. > > Lee Evans wrote: >> I'm not very enthusiastic about clumping litter. If you use it properly, you >> have to use the whole darn bag to get it to clump properly and not turn into >> a cement block because you did not use enough. If you use the whole bag, >> it's very expensive because when you scoop the clumps, the litter MUST be >> replaced, again to get it to clump properly and not glue itself to the >> litter box. If you replace it you spend more money. If you use the generic >> store brand, you get 40 pound clumps that eventually bond together and need >> to be disposed of in an industrial waste dump. LOL. Not everything that is >> advertised is really as magical as it seems to be. > > > > ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Best litter for FeLV?
I will still stick with World's Best. In fact the reason I switched to it is being able to sift out clumps and not the whole box. I have 5 cats and even in the winter months when they cannot go outside, it lasts a long time. It is also half the weight of clay. Lee Evans wrote: > I'm not very enthusiastic about clumping litter. If you use it properly, you > have to use the whole darn bag to get it to clump properly and not turn into > a cement block because you did not use enough. If you use the whole bag, it's > very expensive because when you scoop the clumps, the litter MUST be > replaced, again to get it to clump properly and not glue itself to the litter > box. If you replace it you spend more money. If you use the generic store > brand, you get 40 pound clumps that eventually bond together and need to be > disposed of in an industrial waste dump. LOL. Not everything that is > advertised is really as magical as it seems to be. On , Lee Evans wrote: Have you had a check-up on his heart. Sometimes coughing is due to mild cardiac problems. Otherwise, do you use anything scented like laundry detergent. I always use free/clear because I don't like to breathe chemicals along with my blankets. Rug cleaning, change of dish detergent, anything that would add some sort of fumes to the air might be a problem for any cat, not only FeLv+. Cough can also be due to spasm in throat. Maybe he eats too fast or too much at a time. or something that sort of sticks in his throat. I get a spasm from eating certain foods, like bread or potatoes. > > > > > > >On Sunday, November 10, 2013 2:19 PM, Lance wrote: > >+1 for Feline Pine. >> >>On Nov 10, 2013, at 2:05 PM, Beth wrote: >> >>Hi Tina - >>> >>>SWeat Scoop also harden to a cement-like texture that is horribly difficult >>>to get out . I had to take a hammer to it. >>>You might want to try Feline Pine. Some cats don't like the texture, but it >>>doesn't have the dust. Also World's Best (corn based) or the new Blue >>>Buffalo (Walnut Based). My cats & I like the BB best. >>>I also if your litter box is covered, but that can cause asthmatic problems. >>> >>>Beth >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>Don't Litter, Fix Your Critter! www.Furkids.org >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> From: Tina Smith >>>To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2013 9:56 AM >>>Subject: [Felvtalk] Best litter for FeLV? >>> >>> >>> >>>Hi all, >>> >>> >>>I have an FeLV+ kitty. He has been mostly healthy but is currently going >>>through something that is causing a lot of coughing. We have noticed that >>>he seems sensitive to the drier air of winter and perhaps has some >>>environmental allergies. In addition to other things we are doing I am >>>trying to find a dust-free cat litter for him. Last night I spent a small >>>fortune on SWheatScoop litter and was appalled to see all of the dust that >>>went flying when we put it in his litter pan. So much for dust-free. Has >>>anyone here had luck finding a litter that is good to use for our FeLV+ >>>sweeties? >>> >>> >>>I'll also tell you a little more about what he's going through in case >>>anybody has some insight into what might be causing it. The vet wasn't >>>helpful. Just gave him a Convenia antibiotic injection but couldn't say >>>what the problem might be except possibly pleural effusion. Darwin is >>>coughing a lot - a little like the "hairball cough" but not exactly. He >>>seems to be breathing mostly okay through his nose, although I have noticed >>>occasionally that there does seem to be a little congestion. There has been >>>no open-mouth breathing. He had a bout of diarrhea for a couple of days >>>this past week but seemed to get over that. Now I think he might actually >>>be constipated. When he coughs nothing comes out but he does swallow as if >>>he has coughed a little something up and then swallows it. I have almost >>>wondered if he might have an obstruction but it does seem to be affecting >>>his breathing some. I haven't been able to pinpoint any triggers. He > has coughed after drinking water, he has coughed when the heat was on, he > has coughed right after using the litter box. But he has also coughed when > he's just resting on the bed and nothing is going on. >>> >>> >>>Any insight would be so welcome. >>> >>> >>>Thank you, >>>Tina Smith >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>___ >>>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] Best litter for FeLV?
I also tried Sweet Scoop. It is not only dusty, but when not scooped soon enough, gets moldy. I am and have been for several years using World's Best litter. It is a little bit dusty, but other than Blue Diamond's Walnut hull litter they are all dusty to some extent. I also like the Blue Buffalo, but it is heavier than Worlds Best. I have 6 cats now, 1 is felv and they all love World's Best and Blue Buffalo. Tina Smith wrote: > Hi all, > > I have an FeLV+ kitty. He has been mostly healthy but is currently going > through something that is causing a lot of coughing. We have noticed that > he seems sensitive to the drier air of winter and perhaps has some > environmental allergies. In addition to other things we are doing I am > trying to find a dust-free cat litter for him. Last night I spent a small > fortune on SWheatScoop litter and was appalled to see all of the dust that > went flying when we put it in his litter pan. So much for dust-free. Has > anyone here had luck finding a litter that is good to use for our FeLV+ > sweeties? > > I'll also tell you a little more about what he's going through in case > anybody has some insight into what might be causing it. The vet wasn't > helpful. Just gave him a Convenia antibiotic injection but couldn't say > what the problem might be except possibly pleural effusion. Darwin is > coughing a lot - a little like the "hairball cough" but not exactly. He > seems to be breathing mostly okay through his nose, although I have noticed > occasionally that there does seem to be a little congestion. There has > been no open-mouth breathing. He had a bout of diarrhea for a couple of > days this past week but seemed to get over that. Now I think he might > actually be constipated. When he coughs nothing comes out but he does > swallow as if he has coughed a little something up and then swallows it. I > have almost wondered if he might have an obstruction but it does seem to be > affecting his breathing some. I haven't been able to pinpoint any > triggers. He has coughed after drinking water, he has coughed when the > heat was on, he has coughed right after using the litter box. But he has > also coughed when he's just resting on the bed and nothing is going on. > > Any insight would be so welcome. > > Thank you, > Tina Smith ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] research on feline interferon alpha
Thank you for the recommendation. I'll check it out. Shelley On Nov 12, 2013, at 12:13 PM, trustinhi...@charter.net wrote: > Shelley, I have mentioned this before but I give my Pookie "Wei Qi" > recommended by my holistic vet for immune support. I give him (and the other > cats) one tea (tiny) pill a day for immune health. It is resonable in cost > and there are 200 pills in the bottle, so it lasts a lot. It is an Eastern > herb. Just a thought if you want to get some from a holistic vet. > > > On Tue, Nov 12, 2013 at 7:04 AM, Shelley Theye wrote: > >> Lance, >> Thanks so much for explaining the difference between the 2 interferons. I >> did not realize that there were 2 types. I had asked Leo's new vet about >> using it as a preventative, and since she could easily get interferon, now >> I know that it was the human one. Anyway, he is not symptomatic right now, >> so the only thing I give him occasionally is Lysine. Shelley >> Shelley Theye >> ve...@bellsouth.net >> >> >> >> On Nov 11, 2013, at 8:50 PM, Lance wrote: >> >>> I think the de Mari feline recombinant interferon omega study was done with >>> symptomatic FeLV+ cats. I think. If I already had interferon omega and >>> Ember was symptomatic, I would definitely try it. I know very little about >>> what is suggested with LTCI (symptomatic vs. asymptomatic for treatment). >>> Their website should mention this. >>> >>> To clarify, there are two types of interferon given for FeLV+ cats: 1) >>> interferon alpha (a product for humans that has anecdotally shown promise, >>> but studies have failed to verify this) and 2) feline recombinant >>> interferon omega (anecdotal evidence AND studies have shown promise). >>> >>> It’s easy to get #1 from pretty much any vet. They can write a prescription >>> and have it filled by Roadrunner or another pharmacy that does >>> drugs/compounding for pets. It’s also cheap. I think it’s ~$40 for a month >>> and a half supply using the 5 days on/5 days off protocol. >>> >>> It’s somewhat difficult and expensive to get #2.Your vet has to go through >>> an FDA program that used to be called Compassionate Use. This allows your >>> vet clearance to import feline recombinant interferon omega, which they >>> need, as it’s not sold in the US. There’s paperwork involved, though I >>> don’t think it’s horrible. A dedicated, compassionate vet will do this for >>> you. You then have to pay (through your vet) Abbeyvet In England for the >>> drug and the overnight shipping—overnight from England. When I last priced >>> this, it was ~$1300 for the drug and the shipping. I believe this is for >>> something like 15 doses, but that’s all you give in a year, according to >>> the established protocol. At least with feline recombinant interferon >>> omega, you know you have something that has been proven to work, unlike >>> other drugs I could mention. Will it produce results for a particular FeLV+ >>> cat? Maybe? >>> If Pookie is doing well, then I agree: don’t rock the boat. You might still >>> look into what it would take to get feline recombinant interferon omega >>> imported. Your vet might never have heard of it, and it might be useful to >>> ask them to look into it. If you decide to do it down the road, you have >>> that much less work to do to get it here. >>> >>> On Nov 11, 2013, at 6:48 PM, trustinhi...@charter.net wrote: >>> I took Pookie to the one of four vets in Wisconsin who has done LTCI injections, but Pookie was sick, running a temp, and not eating when he was seen. So he wasn't a candidate for the injection. Do the FELV+ kitties need to be symptom free before they administer this? Also is this the same with the interferon shots? And does anyone know who administers interferon in Wisconsin? My inclination is if it isn't broken don't fix it...If Pookie is doing well, I don't want to mess with him. And he is doing great now since he had acupuncture. Seems so hit or miss with all this?? On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 4:08 PM, Jennifer Lewis wrote: > Has anyone tried any other the other meds out there, like Lymphocyte > T-Cell Immunomodulator (LTCI)? > > Jennifer L, Munchkin and Brynn > > > > On Nov 11, 2013, at 12:54 PM, MaryChristine wrote: > >> http://goo.gl/uT6Evb >> >> not new to most of us, but always good to see things get the "official" >> recognition. tho it does end as most research articles do, "more >> research is needed." >> >> MC >> -- >> Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! >> Maybe That'll Make The Difference >> MaryChristine >> >> ___ >> Felvtalk mailing list >> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > > -- > > ___
Re: [Felvtalk] research on feline interferon alpha
Thanks Lance. I'll look into DMG. Shelley On Nov 12, 2013, at 11:59 AM, Lance wrote: > LTCI is an American-made product and is *not* an interferon. I’m referring to > feline recombinant interferon omega that has the trade name of Virbagen > Omega, originally manufactured by Virbac. Glad to hear that LTCI may have > helped your cat, Katherine. > > Shelley: You might consider supplementing with DMG. Vetri Science makes a > liquid and a chewable. The chewable also contains lysine. Ember likes the > chewable, but the liquid is easy to give via eyedropper (we used that for > many years). I don’t think it has any taste. Ember doesn’t seem to care. > Either form is fairly cheap, and certainly less expensive per dose than even > the human interferon. Amazon has both for sale. > > On Nov 12, 2013, at 10:51 AM, Shelley Theye wrote: > >> Thanks, I'll check out the link and archives. >> >> Shelley >> >> >> On Nov 12, 2013, at 11:05 AM, Katherine K. wrote: >> >>> No, I don't think so but honestly can't remember the difference without >>> looking it all up again. Try searching the listserv archives. You can find >>> out more about LTCI at http://tcyte.com/. >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Nov 12, 2013 at 10:58 AM, Shelley Theye wrote: >>> Thanks Katherine. So LTCI is the same thing Lance is referring to as >>> feline recombinant interferon omega ? >>> Shelley >>> >>> >>> On Nov 12, 2013, at 9:34 AM, Katherine K. wrote: >>> Hi Shelley and Jennifer, When my 10 yr old cat was first diagnosed in July, I found this forum to be helpful in learning about LTCI: http://910pets.com/forum/topics/feline-leukemia?xg_source=activity&id=2127871. It's not very active now, but it's a good resource and folks will still respond to you if you post there. My cat was running a fever, had gone from 13 lbs to 11.5, wasn't eating and was lethargic when he was first diagnosed. I don't remember his RBC count at the moment. We ordered LTCI for him and gave him 3 injections in the first week, then went to once a week for 2 weeks, then once every 2 weeks for a few weeks, and now he gets it once a month. He has returned to his normal self. He was also on a low dose of prednisone for a month. I don't know which medicine helped pull him out of the woods but I'm glad to keep trying the LTCI if it keeps him healthy. It costs me about $50 per injection though so it's not something I'm financially able to try on my 4 positive kittens. Katherine On Tue, Nov 12, 2013 at 8:04 AM, Shelley Theye wrote: Lance, Thanks so much for explaining the difference between the 2 interferons. I did not realize that there were 2 types. I had asked Leo's new vet about using it as a preventative, and since she could easily get interferon, now I know that it was the human one. Anyway, he is not symptomatic right now, so the only thing I give him occasionally is Lysine. Shelley Shelley Theye ve...@bellsouth.net On Nov 11, 2013, at 8:50 PM, Lance wrote: > I think the de Mari feline recombinant interferon omega study was done > with symptomatic FeLV+ cats. I think. If I already had interferon omega > and Ember was symptomatic, I would definitely try it. I know very little > about what is suggested with LTCI (symptomatic vs. asymptomatic for > treatment). Their website should mention this. > > To clarify, there are two types of interferon given for FeLV+ cats: 1) > interferon alpha (a product for humans that has anecdotally shown > promise, but studies have failed to verify this) and 2) feline > recombinant interferon omega (anecdotal evidence AND studies have shown > promise). > > It’s easy to get #1 from pretty much any vet. They can write a > prescription and have it filled by Roadrunner or another pharmacy that > does drugs/compounding for pets. It’s also cheap. I think it’s ~$40 for a > month and a half supply using the 5 days on/5 days off protocol. > > It’s somewhat difficult and expensive to get #2.Your vet has to go > through an FDA program that used to be called Compassionate Use. This > allows your vet clearance to import feline recombinant interferon omega, > which they need, as it’s not sold in the US. There’s paperwork involved, > though I don’t think it’s horrible. A dedicated, compassionate vet will > do this for you. You then have to pay (through your vet) Abbeyvet In > England for the drug and the overnight shipping—overnight from England. > When I last priced this, it was ~$1300 for the drug and the shipping. I > believe this is for something like 15 doses, but that’s all you give in a > year, according to the established protocol. At least with feline > recombinant interferon omega, you kno
