[Felvtalk] needing support
Hi there- I don't know if this is the right place, but I am hoping for some feedback. I recently adopted two kittens, a brother and sister. At 7 weeks, I had them tested for FeLV. The boy kitty is positive but the girl kitty is negative. Is that even possible? They have been living together for 7 weeks; wouldn't she be positive if he was at this point? I am taking them both in tomorrow so he can be re-tested with the IFA and she can be vaccinated. I am absolutely devastated. I am in love with both of these kitties and am looking for some hope. My boy kitty is active and playful, though he has had a little diarrhea today and is eating a little less. I'm totally freaked out. I am keeping the two apart, which is also killing me, because they are such a comfort for each other. Does anyone know what my odds are for his second test being negative? Is is weird that she's negative? If he is positive, do I have to keep them apart forever? If we have a baby and he is positive, do we have to get rid of him? I can't even bare thinking of all of this, as he snuggles on my tummy purring while I type. Any advice, support, guidance is sincerely appreciated. -- -Julie ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] needing support
Thank you so much, Kathi- I'm needing as much support as I can get. I love these two more than anything and can't stand thinking about them in pain. Yes, they have been playing and grooming each other for 7 weeks; I'm hoping that the test was faulty, because if not, it sounds like Maggie will soon be infected, as well. I can't stand waiting, yet that's all I seem to be able to do right now. I have them separated currently, as well, which both they and me are hating. Thanks again for your support. On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 8:05 PM, Kathi Clark wrote: > > Julie, > > > > I, too, freaked out when I found out my new kitty was positive. She lives > in a my household with 4 other cats and as far as I know, none of the others > have been infected. I do get each one of them (except for the + one) FeLV > boosted every year. She's now 4 years old and is a fun, playful cat with no > signs of sickness. You need to just try to relax because you may not have > that much need for concern. If you get the girl vaccinated and then boosted > every year, they may be able to live together for the rest of their lives. > His second test could be negative. She may be negative because there > wasn't that much physical contact between the two? Mine, that is FeLV > positive, played intensely with one of my young boy kitties and he tested > positive; however, I kept them separated and 6 weeks later, he tested > negative and, as far as I know, he is still negative. This was 4 years ago > and my healthy ones show no signs of disease. Good luck and try not to get > too upset. Just relax and enjoy them. > > > > Kathi > > > Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 19:26:55 -0700 > > From: juliegladn...@gmail.com > > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > Subject: [Felvtalk] needing support > > > > Hi there- > > > > I don't know if this is the right place, but I am hoping for some > feedback. > > I recently adopted two kittens, a brother and sister. At 7 weeks, I had > > them tested for FeLV. The boy kitty is positive but the girl kitty is > > negative. Is that even possible? They have been living together for 7 > > weeks; wouldn't she be positive if he was at this point? I am taking them > > both in tomorrow so he can be re-tested with the IFA and she can be > > vaccinated. I am absolutely devastated. I am in love with both of these > > kitties and am looking for some hope. My boy kitty is active and playful, > > though he has had a little diarrhea today and is eating a little less. > I'm > > totally freaked out. I am keeping the two apart, which is also killing > me, > > because they are such a comfort for each other. Does anyone know what my > > odds are for his second test being negative? Is is weird that she's > > negative? If he is positive, do I have to keep them apart forever? If we > > have a baby and he is positive, do we have to get rid of him? I can't > even > > bare thinking of all of this, as he snuggles on my tummy purring while I > > type. Any advice, support, guidance is sincerely appreciated. > > > > -- > > -Julie > > ___ > > Felvtalk mailing list > > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > _ > The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. > > http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3 > ___ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > -- -Julie ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] needing support
Hi Chris, Again, thank you for your support and experience. I had cats all my life growing up, and this is my first experience with FELV, so I am certainly still learning. I certainly am waiting (and praying) for the IFA tomorrow. He's a tough little guy and I have to keep believing in him. Do you think I should keep the kittens away from each other? I feel like they hate it; they have been together every day since this morning. I'm not sure one day will change all of the exposure they've already had with each other, but I'm still afraid of risking her getting infected. Thanks again; Wish I had found the group 3 days ago! On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 8:12 PM, Chris wrote: > You are definitely in the right place! You'll get lots of good ideas > here... As someone owned by 3 FELV - & 1 FELV+ cat, I can understand how > frightening this all is. My Tucson is 8 + years old & I've had her since > she's a kitten. I never seperated them & no one has turned pos in all these > years. My Tucson had a neg Elissa (snap) test when she was a kitten & had > pos 4 years later--go figure! I had one other cat, Romeo, who I took in > after feeding him as a stray for a couple of years. He was the oldest cat & > lived w. me for several years, healthy & happy--sadly he succumbed to > lymphoma last fall. > > You might want to wait a bit for the IFA--its always possible he fights the > virus off. As for risk to humans, there is absolutely none. FELV is a > virus that suppresses cat's immune system--pos cats don't ever die from the > virus but they are much more prone to succumb to any sort of infections or > some forms of cancer. W. kittens, the riskiest things are upper respiratory > or urine tract infections or gum infections, etc. > > There are folks on this group who have used interferon & some other > experimental drugs. I have not though when my Tucson has had a couple of > bouts with really low white blood cell counts, my vet gave her some shots of > immuno regulin. Tucson could never handle more invasive sorts of > treatments--its just her personality. I give them all some decent food, > they're all inside cats & other than the occasional tussles among each > other, they lead a pretty stress free life! > > -Original Message- > >From: Julie Dalesio Gladnick > >Sent: May 31, 2010 10:26 PM > >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > >Subject: [Felvtalk] needing support > > > >Hi there- > > > >I don't know if this is the right place, but I am hoping for some > feedback. > >I recently adopted two kittens, a brother and sister. At 7 weeks, I had > >them tested for FeLV. The boy kitty is positive but the girl kitty is > >negative. Is that even possible? They have been living together for 7 > >weeks; wouldn't she be positive if he was at this point? I am taking them > >both in tomorrow so he can be re-tested with the IFA and she can be > >vaccinated. I am absolutely devastated. I am in love with both of these > >kitties and am looking for some hope. My boy kitty is active and playful, > >though he has had a little diarrhea today and is eating a little less. > I'm > >totally freaked out. I am keeping the two apart, which is also killing > me, > >because they are such a comfort for each other. Does anyone know what my > >odds are for his second test being negative? Is is weird that she's > >negative? If he is positive, do I have to keep them apart forever? If we > >have a baby and he is positive, do we have to get rid of him? I can't > even > >bare thinking of all of this, as he snuggles on my tummy purring while I > >type. Any advice, support, guidance is sincerely appreciated. > > > >-- > >-Julie > >___ > >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 > -- -Julie ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] needing support
Hi Tad- Thank you so much for your supportive words. I am so sorry to hear about your girl kitty, but it certainly does bring some perspective and reality. I think I will take your advice and let them be together at least until the second test; they are so much happier. I guess my hesitancy is that I don't think I could deal if they both were positive. Then again, I never imagined dealing with either of them facing this. Do anyone have any info on pregnant woman or babies and FeLV cats? I've obviously read that they should not be together, but does anyone have actual experience? I've been finding that a lot of info online tends to be pretty negative. Thanks again, I feel truly grateful. On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 8:40 PM, Tad Burnett wrote: > Hi Julie > You have come to the right place... We all have a similar story to tell... > Your story is exactly like mine.. Two black and white tux kittens.. Boy was > pos > and girl was neg... I didn't have room to separate them and the vet advised > that > she surely she had been exposed and she might be one of the few that have a > strong natural immunity or else she wouldgo pos at some time later... > Anyway > she got vaccinated but not separated > The 2 were very close and played together all the time.. I remember > thinking > how sad it was going to be when the pos one got sick and passed on leaving > her > As fate would have it the neg one stopped eating one evening after only a > month... > Took her to the vet 1st thing in the morning and she got some emergenct > treatment > but she died while still at the vets in the middle of the morning > The vet said it was FIP... The point is there are many things that can > take a cat > early... My pos boy lived on for seven years... During his life I got hms > several > other pos kitties and most of the he out lived too... > There is also a good chance that the 1st test is a false pos... Do get > that 2nd test > and we will all hope for the best... > If it were me I would let the stay together... Keep them happy and no > stress... > Feed them a good quality food and have a vet that approves of keeping a pos > kitty > and will give you an appointment in very short time if you think something > is wrong.. > They may have a weak immune system and need antibiotics quickly... > FeLV+ kitties seem to know that you are taking special care of them and > are extra > loving in return > > Tad > > > > Julie Dalesio Gladnick wrote: > > Hi there- >> >> I don't know if this is the right place, but I am hoping for some >> feedback. >> I recently adopted two kittens, a brother and sister. At 7 weeks, I had >> them tested for FeLV. The boy kitty is positive but the girl kitty is >> negative. Is that even possible? They have been living together for 7 >> weeks; wouldn't she be positive if he was at this point? I am taking them >> both in tomorrow so he can be re-tested with the IFA and she can be >> vaccinated. I am absolutely devastated. I am in love with both of these >> kitties and am looking for some hope. My boy kitty is active and playful, >> though he has had a little diarrhea today and is eating a little less. >> I'm >> totally freaked out. I am keeping the two apart, which is also killing >> me, >> because they are such a comfort for each other. Does anyone know what my >> odds are for his second test being negative? Is is weird that she's >> negative? If he is positive, do I have to keep them apart forever? If we >> have a baby and he is positive, do we have to get rid of him? I can't >> even >> bare thinking of all of this, as he snuggles on my tummy purring while I >> type. Any advice, support, guidance is sincerely appreciated. >> >> >> > > ___ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > -- -Julie ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] needing support
Hi Diane- Thank you for your note. I definitely agree to letting my kitties be together makes them the happiest. Of course, I am still praying that his first test was a false positive, but if not, will hope that Maggie has built some immunity and I can keep them both happy and loved as Iong as I can. I will certainly keep you all posted as to the results from his next test later this week. He is being tested tomorrow, so I hopefully won't have to wait too much longer. Thank you again for your care. On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 9:17 PM, Diane Rosenfeldt wrote: > Julie, you've gotten some great advice here already, but just one more > thing > I don't think anyone has mentioned at length: your boy is asymptomatic now, > and that's great. But as has been mentioned, he is more liable to pick up > opportunistic infections and the like, and they may be likely to hit him > harder than they would a negative cat. Since stress and poor nutrition make > basically every living thing more vulnerable, the best thing you can do for > him is get him the best foods and the most stress-free circumstances you > can, and that comes back to the issue of separating them. I don't think > that > is at all the way to go, since they are so fond of each other that > separating them would be a major stressor for him. I think that separating > them now won't keep her from getting infected -- I think if she were going > to, the time they've spent together already would have made it happen. > > Good luck with your babies, and wishes that they both stay healthy > indefiinitely. > > Diane > > -Original Message- > From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org > [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Julie Dalesio > Gladnick > Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 11:02 PM > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] needing support > > Hi Tad- > > Thank you so much for your supportive words. I am so sorry to hear about > your girl kitty, but it certainly does bring some perspective and reality. > I think I will take your advice and let them be together at least until the > second test; they are so much happier. I guess my hesitancy is that I > don't > think I could deal if they both were positive. Then again, I never > imagined > dealing with either of them facing this. Do anyone have any info on > pregnant woman or babies and FeLV cats? I've obviously read that they > should not be together, but does anyone have actual experience? I've been > finding that a lot of info online tends to be pretty negative. > > Thanks again, I feel truly grateful. > > On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 8:40 PM, Tad Burnett > wrote: > > > Hi Julie > > You have come to the right place... We all have a similar story to > tell... > > Your story is exactly like mine.. Two black and white tux kittens.. > > Boy was pos and girl was neg... I didn't have room to separate them > > and the vet advised that she surely she had been exposed and she might > > be one of the few that have a strong natural immunity or else she > > wouldgo pos at some time later... > > Anyway > > she got vaccinated but not separated > > The 2 were very close and played together all the time.. I remember > > thinking how sad it was going to be when the pos one got sick and > > passed on leaving her > > As fate would have it the neg one stopped eating one evening after > > only a month... > > Took her to the vet 1st thing in the morning and she got some > > emergenct treatment but she died while still at the vets in the middle > > of the morning > > The vet said it was FIP... The point is there are many things that > > can take a cat early... My pos boy lived on for seven years... During > > his life I got hms several other pos kitties and most of the he out > > lived too... > > There is also a good chance that the 1st test is a false pos... Do > > get that 2nd test and we will all hope for the best... > > If it were me I would let the stay together... Keep them happy and no > > stress... > > Feed them a good quality food and have a vet that approves of keeping > > a pos kitty and will give you an appointment in very short time if you > > think something is wrong.. > > They may have a weak immune system and need antibiotics quickly... > > FeLV+ kitties seem to know that you are taking special care of them > > and are extra loving in return > > > > Tad > > > > > > > > Julie Dalesio Gladnick wrote: > > > > Hi there- > >> > >> I don't know if this is the right place, but I am hoping for some > >>
Re: [Felvtalk] needing support
Thank you so much, Sarah and Heather- Everyone's posts have really helped me, though I am still so worried about both Max and Maggie. It seems like I'm hypervigilant to everything he does. He sneezed twice in 24 hours and I'm freaked out. It's amazing how attached we can get to these furry people so quickly. Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement, experience, thoughts and prayers. We are getting the IFA test this afternoon for Max, so I imagine I will have the results in a couple of days. I will certainly keep you all posted. Warmest regards, Julie On Tue, Jun 1, 2010 at 6:44 AM, Heather wrote: > Oops, correction, people are often misinformed by their human doctors. My > vet said she can't believe some of the things people tell her that their > have doctors told them. > > On Tue, Jun 1, 2010 at 9:43 AM, Heather wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > I think you are referring to Toxoplasmosis, I too wondered if perhaps > Julie > > was misinformed and that was what she was referring to as I know of no > > reasons that any human being around an FELV+ cat is a problem. > > > > For anecdoctal value, I am somewhat immune compromised and have cared for > a > > Toxo+ cat with no problems. I mentioned to my vet how sad it is, the # > of > > people misinformed by their vets who think that pregnant women must get > rid > > of their cats and she agreed--she is a very cautious person and has had 2 > > babies of her own in the last 3 years, she said she even scooped her own > > litterboxes (not to mention all she does at their cat only vet practice). > > She indicated that it takes something like 48 hrs. for toxo to even begin > to > > develop after a cat has defecated (something like this) so it's mostly a > > risk for people who don't keep their boxes clean. > > > > Anyway, I would never want to steer anyone wrong so hopefully someone > else > > will pipe in, but to my knowledge there is no reason for anyone, > pregnant, > > baby or otherwise, to worry about being around an FELV+ kitty. > > > > Julie, you obviously care about these kitties very much and it is to be > > commended! I do resecue and all we seem to hear day in and day out is > > people who are NOT willing to even do the smallest thing to help a cat in > > need, let alone all you are doing. > > > > Wishing you the best with these special babies! Please do post the test > > results. > > > > Heather > > > > On Tue, Jun 1, 2010 at 12:24 AM, Tad Burnett >wrote: > > > >> There is a disease that pregnant women can get from the litter box > >> cleaning... > >> It is very rare and I think you have to stick your fingers in your mouth > >> after > >> handling litter in order to get it... > >> I don't think it has anything to do with FeLV > >> It can cause brain damage to the fetus if you should get it and that is > >> why > >> some doctors make such a big deal about it But if you wash your > hands > >> after cleaning litter box or wear gloves or even better get daddy to do > >> litter > >> duty than it is almost impossible that you will get it > >> > >> Tad > >> > >> > >> Julie Dalesio Gladnick wrote: > >> > >> Hi Tad- > >>> > >>> Thank you so much for your supportive words. I am so sorry to hear > about > >>> your girl kitty, but it certainly does bring some perspective and > >>> reality. > >>> I think I will take your advice and let them be together at least until > >>> the > >>> second test; they are so much happier. I guess my hesitancy is that I > >>> don't > >>> think I could deal if they both were positive. Then again, I never > >>> imagined > >>> dealing with either of them facing this. Do anyone have any info on > >>> pregnant woman or babies and FeLV cats? I've obviously read that they > >>> should not be together, but does anyone have actual experience? I've > >>> been > >>> finding that a lot of info online tends to be pretty negative. > >>> > >>> Thanks again, I feel truly grateful. > >>> > >>> On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 8:40 PM, Tad Burnett >>> >wrote: > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>>> Hi Julie > >>>> You have come to the right place... We all have a similar story to > >>>> tell... > >>>> Your story is exactly like mine.. Two black and w
Re: [Felvtalk] needing support
Hi everyone. Max has had really soft stool for the past 24 hours and Maggie had a little bit of diarrhea with blood on it this morning (she's the one who tested negative). They can't give Maggie the vaccination today bc of the diarhea but will test max with the ifa. I'm creaking out. I'm bringing in both stool samples today. They had their distemper vaccs and were deepened last Thursday. This just isn't right. They are both full of energy and eating well. On Jun 1, 2010 7:58 AM, "Gloria Lane" wrote: Good one! Sent from my iPhone On Jun 1, 2010, at 9:42 AM, Tad Burnett wrote: > Next time a doc warns... ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
