Re: [FeLVPositiveCats] Re: Question - IFA vs. Elisa...............

[Susan Hoffman]

Thanks. I had no idea you posted this here. Well, I've just joined this group as well and can offer an update. Esprit did indeed test FeLV+ when retested with the IFA test. I am very surprised. She is so fat, healthy, sleek and well-muscled, and never a sneeze. Nonetheless, the search is now on for an adoptive home. She is being fostered by students and I only have till July. So if anyone knows of a possibility, please let me know. I am in Northern California and can be reached at susan_hoffman @ yahoo.com (just removes spaces around the @ symbol).Fwd: Re: [FeLVPositiveCats] Re: Question - IFA vs. Elisa...gblaneSun, 05 Mar 2006 15:04:44 -0800  FYI - if anybody is in California and can help, contact Susan Hoffman [EMAIL PROTECTED]   To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]From: Susan Hoffman [EMAIL PROTECTED]Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2006 11:02:06
 -0800 (PST)Subject: Re: [FeLVPositiveCats] Re: Question - IFA vs. Elisa...Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]  I am in the San Francisco/Bay Area and the cat is in a foster home near Sacramento. We should be having her retested within the next few weeks. If she is FeLV+ and a good adoptive home shows up then we will find a way to get her there so I don't think geographical location will be an issue.   Just as an FYI, this is a very sweet well-socialized black and white tuxedo girl. She loves people and is just a doll. She's about a year old, maybe a little less. So far she is the picture of health -- good coat and body weight, good appetite, not so much as a sneeze even after almost a month in a shelter cage. 

Re: positive

[Susan Hoffman]

No test is 100% accurate. Are you using ELISA or IFA? The ELISA test is far less accurate, has a much higher number of falses positives. I'm sure you can get false negatives too. Also, it is possible to get a negative on a blood test if the virus is in the bone marrow. (I have very little faith in the ELISA test, especially where a cat is very young or very old, or is ill or otherwise stressed.)hd cc [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  THIS IS GOOD NEWS, I HOPE YOUR RIGHT!  My cats are adults, healthy, vaccinated and vaccinated.  This makes no since!2 are at a year old and tested both neg  one tested neg in dec 27th, now
 positive...  Whatever has happened here has happened in the  last 3 months, this is how current it is that I know of, SO  with that said I have some hope, especially with my adult  cat 3 years old I think, maybe 4, he is BIG healthy and strong  No reason for this! The one I put to sleep has been tested 5 times  ALL neg and now positive! Her momma was FIV so when she was little  she to tested positive for FIV, every month I tested her, at 6 months her  and her sister were neg. Now her sister is still Neg for both and she is FELV  positive, my vet cant even make since out of this at
 all, no one knows what to think  Ijust know it has just recently started, no mating, no fightingCarrie- Original Message -   From: TenHouseCats   To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org   Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 10:20 AM  Subject: Re: positiveyeah, well, that IS the question70% of adult, healthy cats can be exposed to the
 virus and throw it off--it's generally believed to take 90-120 days for that to happen if it's gonna. therefore, unless you know EXACTLY where (and with whom!) the cat has been in the previous 90-120 days, you can't really believe either a negative OR a positive result this means that cats who have been exposed, but will throw off the virus, will be killed in the shelters/rescues/vet's offices because they don't have either the information or the facilities to hold the kitty for retesting; if also means that a stray from the streets who tests negative may still have been exposed in the recent past and may test positive later on even cats tested positive on the ifa can retest negative after a time--i'd found a reference once, tho it's no longer where it was originally!--that in rare cases the time for an IFA to go back to negative was up to 7 months following exposure. i have never heard of a documented
 case of a vaccinated negative cat turning positive from living, closely, with positivesi do know of a number of cats who originally tested positive (back before people knew to retest) who did indeed test negative months and even years after they'd gone to live in positive-only environments--so clearly, they were healthy enough to throw the initial exposure off, and to remain negative afterward. one specific cat in that category went through two major bouts of illness that were considered life-threatening--to the force-feeding stage--and the little brat bounced back from both those episodes, stayed in the FeLV colony, and two years later, was found to be negative after all... On 4/20/06, carrie chance [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   what the heck good is testing and vaccinating then?  - Original Message -   From: Hideyo Yamamoto   To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org   Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 6:20 PM  Subject: RE: positive  I hasn't happened to me – but statistically it's supposed to have 2/3 of cases – might it might take a few months to really know it, though. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of hd ccSent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 3:50 PMTo: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: positive  Okay anyone ever have a positive turn negitive?or am I screwed!Sincerely Carrie-- MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ:
 289856892

Re: positive

[Susan Hoffman]

Nothing is 100%. No test is always accurate. The IFA is just more accurate than the ELISA.If the cat appears healthy but tests positive don't worry about it.Do you have a stable population -- no new cats coming in and anyone who could be exposed has already been exposed? If so, then just let things be. I wouldvaccinate anyone who tests negative but I wouldn't suddenly separate positive and negative cats, nor would I euthanize a cat who seemed healthy and happy just because a test came back positive. (Oh, and the vet who recommended euthanizing the first ones who tested positive -- if you haven't already done so, get a new vet. I would also likely dump a vet who had me retest month after month, all with the ELISA test.)hd cc [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Sad, I euthanized the first one that showed positive, once more started showing positive  I decided to wait and not euthanize any! But now I feel s bad and s guilty having  her put down,SHAME ON ME, I didnt know. I want to cry 8-((  Yes they are all elisa test Working on IFA test monday. IF the IFA test is positive is that  A FOR SURE? If it is negative what does that mean?Carrie- Original Message -   From: Susan Hoffman   To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org   Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 11:52 AM  Subject: Re: positive  No test is 100% accurate. Are you using ELISA or IFA? The ELISA test is far less accurate, has a much higher number of falses positives. I'm sure you can get false negatives too. Also, it is possible to get a negative on a blood test if the virus is in the bone marrow. (I have very little faith in the ELISA test, especially where a cat is very young or very old, or is ill or otherwise stressed.)hd cc [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   THIS IS GOOD NEWS, I HOPE YOUR RIGHT!  My cats are adults, healthy, vaccinated and vaccinated.  This makes no since!2 are at a year old and tested both neg  one tested neg in dec 27th, now positive...  Whatever has happened here has happened in the  last 3 months, this is how current it is that I know of, SO  with that said I have some hope, especially with my adult  cat 3 years old I think, maybe 4, he is BIG healthy and strong  No reason for this! The one I put
 to sleep has been tested 5 times  ALL neg and now positive! Her momma was FIV so when she was little  she to tested positive for FIV, every month I tested her, at 6 months her  and her sister were neg. Now her sister is still Neg for both and she is FELV  positive, my vet cant even make since out of this at all, no one knows what to think  Ijust know it has just recently started, no mating, no fightingCarrie- Original Message -   From: TenHouseCats  
 To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org   Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 10:20 AM  Subject: Re: positiveyeah, well, that IS the question70% of adult, healthy cats can be exposed to the virus and throw it off--it's generally believed to take 90-120 days for that to happen if it's gonna. therefore, unless you know EXACTLY where (and with whom!) the cat has been in the previous 90-120 days, you can't really believe either a negative OR a positive result this means that cats who have been exposed, but will throw off the virus, will be killed in the shelters/rescues/vet's offices because they don't have either the information or the facilities to hold the kitty for retesting; if also means that a stray from the
 streets who tests negative may still have been exposed in the recent past and may test positive later on even cats tested positive on the ifa can retest negative after a time--i'd found a reference once, tho it's no longer where it was originally!--that in rare cases the time for an IFA to go back to negative was up to 7 months following exposure. i have never heard of a documented case of a vaccinated negative cat turning positive from living, closely, with positivesi do know of a number of cats who originally tested positive (back before people knew to retest) who did indeed test negative months and even years after they'd gone to live in positive-only environments--so clearly, they were healthy enough to throw the initial exposure off, and to remain negative afterward. one specific cat in that category went through two major bouts of illness that were considered
 life-threatening--to the force-feeding stage--and the little brat bounced back from both those episodes, stayed in the FeLV colony, and two years later, was found to be negative after all... On 4/20/06, carrie chance [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   what the heck good is testing and vaccinating then?  - Original Message -  
 From: Hideyo Yamamoto   To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org   Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 6:20 PM  Subject: RE: positive  I hasn't happened to me – but statistically it's supposed to have 2/3 of cases – might it might take a few months to really know it, though. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED

Re: mixing

[Susan Hoffman]

No, not necessarily. Are your negatives vaccinated against FeLV?hd cc [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  So is eveyone here saying it is ok to mix my pos and my neg?  Sincerely Carrie

Re: Mixing FeLVs and FIVs?

[Susan Hoffman]

I have two FIV+ cats and I have been told not to vaccinate them against FeLV. I personally am reluctant to take in an FeLV+ cat because of these two boys, as well as a couple of seniors, and the constant stream of foster kittens.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi Guys!I'm so sorry I haven't been able to keep up with list as much as I wouldlike...seems I can't get a break lately!I just have a quick question for those who care for both FeLVs andFIVs...I just found out that a stray guy that we took in a bit ago isFIV+! This actually wasn't surprising to me as he seemed to have a fewhealth issues that just weren't clearing up! He's been hanging out inour spare room w/ all the amenities but I'd like to let him join the GP,if that is at all possible! My vet wasn't at all concerned...sheactually has a FIV
 guy who mingles with her crew...but she says that sheseparates food and water dishes as a precaution. Well, I don't know howeasy that would be for me...food is left out round the clock andeverybody shares the water bowl!So I guess I'm just looking for a little advice from those who care forboth...do you mix? It would be some time before he'll join the gang aswe need to address his health issues first (bad stomatitis for which hehas a "dental" scheduled next week--I wouldn't be surprised if a fewteeth need to be pulled!)...But all-in-all, he's the sweetest guy...somellow and only asks that you pet him 24/7... ;)Thanks so much, guys!Jen"But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will beunique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world; Youbecome responsible, forever, for what you have tamed..." --Antoine
 deSaint-Exupéry"If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will knoweach other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and whatyou do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys." --Chief DanGeorge

Re: Some good news--and thanks to Nina Hideyo!!

[Susan Hoffman]

Congrantulations. This gives me great hope as well for an FeLV+ I have in a foster home. Kerry MacKenzie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Here's some good news.   But first, the background for those who don't know it: of the feral colony of5 kittens (Caramel, Levi, Flavia, Snoball and Mickey) and I adultcat (Momcat) I took in in December 2003, 4 of the kittens ---Caramel, Levi, Flavia  Snoball--tested positive in Feb 2004 and all 5 kittens tested positive in July 2004. Momcat tested negative both times.   All were quarantined in my 2nd bedroom, away from my 3 existing negative cats. The 4 kitties that tested pos twice succumbed
 between November 2004 and July 2005. That left 1 pos, Mickey,and 1 neg, Momcat, both of whomI continued toquarantine. They were buddies and it would have been cruel to separate them, particularly as Momcat appeared immune to FeLV.   My dream has been that Mickey would revert to neg, and I could then integrate them both in my household. Hope springs eternal as they say-- I dreamed of that before, and it didn't come to pass.   Nonetheless for about 10 months, I dreamedand procrastinated over re-testing them for a variety of reasons, not least fear ofMickey testing pos again.  Today I trapped Mickey, had him re-tested, and..he's NEGATIVE!!!  Because I'm anal, I'm going to trap Momcat next weekend and have her tested. I fully expect her to have remained negative. But, if by some horrible twist of fate she is not (because
 she caught it from the pos kitties before they passed away) I plan at lastto vaccinate my negs and integrate them all anyway. There is a much better vaccination available now, and my vet has the special equipment to do it.  This is such wonderful news on so many levels, not least because it demonstrates -- again---that FeLV is simply not as contagious as most people believe. Mickey lived with his siblings all his life, tested pos once,but has thrown it off. And Momcat, who also lived with them all, never got it in the first place. (Andneither of them has ever been FeLV vaccinated!)  It's also something I'm going to highlight in the letter to Paula F in my lobbying for the new Chicago PAWS shelter to have an FeLV annex. I had intended the letter to be (finally) mailed on Friday. But I'm glad that it wasn't!  I now want to thank Nina for coming to my rescue when I
 called her at 11pm last night (1am my time) in a panic because Mickey walked into the trap way beforeI expected him to. How could I reasonably expect him to stay there all night? What was I going to do about his bodily needs?? Nina reassured me a) that she has had to do that too on occasion (so I stopped feeling like a monster) and b) advised me to elevate the trap and layer the floor with paper. Sure enough, everything fell through the wire mesh on to the paper so Mickey was not in the discomfort in which he would otherwise have been and he survived the night.  And I have Hideyo to thank for the success of the next stage--I was gearing up for a chase  catch battle in transferring Mickey from the cage to a carrier to take to the vet (I don't have a car; so carrier is easier for standing in street hailing cab). But Hideyo has a great technique that she shared---uncover the cage the cat is in, and cover (or provide dark-colored)
 carrier you want to transfer the cat to. The principle being that they will always prefer the dark option. (Correct me if I'm wrong about the principle Hideyo) Sure enough--my little feral Mickey WALKED from the cage straight in to the carrier. No battle necessary!!  So, today is a happy dayat no 603,to say the least.  Also, last but not least,Iwant to say, I'm sorry Icontinue to only post sporadically. I pray for all your sick kitties and send healing vibes. And my heart goes out to all those that have crossed the bridge.   I hope thatI will be in a position to post more regualarly when I get back from UK mid-June. (I go there midMay.)(I hada month's FMLA approved yesterday, tobe with my dad, who has Stage 3 cancer.) I *really* miss being part of the everyday list. This group is just the best
 EVER.  love and hugs to all of you and your furballs.Kerry  

Re: Question about home test kits

[Susan Hoffman]

You can buy the STAT Screen FeLV Testat RevivalAnimal.com at http://www.revivalanimal.com/product.asp?pn=99%2D033for under $8 a test (sold in lots of 10 tests). It is a whole blood test, not a saliva test.The Assure FeLv Leukemia Virus Antigen Test Kit is also available through Revival at http://www.revivalanimal.com/product.asp?pn=99%2D004 for a little under $10 a test (sold in lots of 25 tests).Revival also sells FeLV and other vaccines.   "Precious Pets, Almost Home" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:  Good question! I have not heard of any home testkits. The only quick test that I knew of was theIDEXX Snap test that most vets and shelters have onhand at their facilities. It is too bad that theshelter that you have been working with will not help!The rescue group that I work with helped me toqualify for the IDEXX Snap test program. This way my"partner in crime" and I could purchse the IDEXX Snaptest at a discount rate and test anywhere we want. Weorder the IDEXX Snap test kits from a veterinarysupply company. We did have to open an account withthe veteriary supply company. The Shelter Directorhad to fill out portions of the paperwork. Also, oneof the veterinaries that we work with helped us byfilling out the other portion of the paperwork. Itwas a real pain in the ass!! Pardon my french! Itwas
 well worth it in the end! We also end up orderingthe IDEXX Snap tests for Giardia too. This test canbe done anywhere as well!By the way, roughly, where are you located?Precious Pets__Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: new diagnosis (Sub-Q)

[Susan Hoffman]

As someone with a needle phobia let me assure you that Sub-Q is easy. You can learn to do this yourself. Don't worry about the size of the needle (18 gauge). The purpose of the large needle is so that the fluids flow in quickly. With a small needle it is actually more stressful for the cat and for you since you have to keep the cat relatively still while the fluids go in. I am eternally grateful to the person who showed me how to do this and gave me the stuff I needed. It's saved a couple of cats' lives and saved me a lot of money in vet bills. If I can do this, anyone can. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi Jen, you might consider having you vet show you how to give her Sub-Q fluids at home, this will save you quite a few vet visits for
 fever/fluids. You vet needs to show you and give you the supplies, but if you still need advise and reassurance, I have several website links on how to do it yourself. (I'll get those later tonight for you... I'll flag this message so I remember)  Phaewryn (was Jenn, changed name)http://ucat.us http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html Adopt a cat from Little Cheetah (UCAT) Cat Rescue:http://ucat.us/adopt.html PLEASE DONATE TO THE TANGLE FUND:Tangle is a cat in Greece that was severely injured when someone wrapped wire around his neck to strangle him,Little Cheetah Cat Rescue is raising funds to bring Tangle to Vermont to find him a good home!http://ucat.us/tangle-fund.htmlDONATE: We could really use a power saw (for construction), a digital camera (for pictures),
 and more towels! No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.5/333 - Release Date: 5/5/2006

Colorado divorce attorney w/military experience

[Susan Hoffman]

Take a look at this one. He has experience with miltary divorces and is based in Colorado Springs..http://www.carlgraham.com/

Re: OT: heartbroken

[Susan Hoffman]

Is there a safe place to relocate momcat? I have a mini-colony of ferals in my back yard and two were relocated from another place to there.Hideyo, are you a member of the feral cat group yet? You may want to join. It's at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/feral_cats/Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I've done this with kittens and their Momma. I too was upset about having to put the kittens through the experience, but it worked like a charm and the kitten did fine. I didn't use all the kittens, just the strongest guy. If you continue to trap, you'd be doing the ferals a great service by having them s/n and then returning them to the site. I know you have problems with the "return" part of TNR, but please think
 about it, you would be saving kitties suffering down the line.Love to you sweetheart,NinaJoan Doljan wrote:   A good way to catch the mother is to put the kittens in a closed carrier directly infront of an opened,baitedtrap.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, everyone, I wanted to share a couple of new things –  I rescued three baby cats yesterday who were living under the crawl space of the abandoned house, which is now bought and be ready to be renovated.. the new owner was planning to get rid of the kittens along
 with all the kitties who live under the crawl space and I offered to take them. The babies were actually under the hole under the crawl space which only the size of my entire hand and thought I and Kathy (my rescue friend) were never going to be able to get them out… but finally using a little fish net to get one by one out – they were only 6 weeks old, one calico, one tabby and one turtleshell (?) and they are all so cute.The one sad thing is that their mama came to look for the babies while we were under the crawl space, she was so worried about us doing something to the babies.. one time, I thought we should just leave and have the mama take care of the babies
 and I worry that later on, she might take babies some other crawl space near there (there a few, unfortunately), and people might close the crawl space without knowing that they were there.. the mama came back several times (while we were there as we were there for about 5 hours).. I felt very bad for mama but I decided to take the babies from her..I tried to trap the mama kitty last night but I couldn’t – there are several kitties there.. I trapped one who looked like mama.. but she must be from mama’s previous litter – she is less than a year old..Anyway, I wanted to ask you to pray that I will be able to catch mama soon (I probably could, if I don’t mind catching all other kitties who live there.. but I don’t know where I could put them now as I am running out of crate) --- and the mama will stay safe and she will not be worrying too much about their babies. I am heartbroken for the mama –I feel very badly for taking the babies from their mama…I know that this is probably the right thing.. but I still cannot not think about the mama…  

Re: OT: heartbroken

[Susan Hoffman]

Several years ago when I trapped Cutie-Pie's babies one by one and brought them inside, she cried and ran around the house looking for them at first. But when she saw them in my foyer through the screen door she was fine. She knew I had them. (They screamed like crazy for her but she was fine with it.) Cutie-Pie was later trapped and spayed and then returned to my backyard. She is an untouchable feral girl. Now she is a plump plush little feral queen who presides over a colony of herself and 4 neutered feral boys. They live in my backyard and basement, are spoiled rotten (canned and dry food, catnip), and are very happy and safe there. In all these years Cutie has never allowed me the pet her, even once, but she will sit near me when I am outside and blink her eyes at me (throwing kisses).janine paton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I've also trapped moms using kittens for bait. It'sheartbreaking until you see the mom weeks after thespay and she looks so much better and relaxed. Think of it this way - if you didn't try this - thekittens will get bigger, she will have a harder timecaring for them. They will start wandering andsomething could happen to them. She will get pregnantagain and not want that litter anymore. When I've brought a feral mom in with kittens and momsees I'm willing to take care of the kittens, she isrelieved and it's probably the first break she's hadin a long time. I've had mothers who are sick but youwouldn't even know it until they understand they nolonger have pretend to be fine just because they havekittens. I also will show the kittens to the mom when I can butI always tell her it's OK, her babies are fine.Take a deep breath and go for the spay - it will
 makea big difference in her quality of life.--- Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: I've done this with kittens and their Momma. I too was upset about  having to put the kittens through the experience, but it worked like a  charm and the kitten did fine. I didn't use all the kittens, just the  strongest guy. If you continue to trap, you'd be doing the ferals a  great service by having them s/n and then returning them to the site. I  know you have problems with the "return" part of TNR, but please think  about it, you would be saving kitties suffering down the line. Love to you sweetheart, Nina  Joan Doljan wrote:   A good way to catch the mother is to put the kittens in a closed   carrier directly infront of an opened, baited trap.  
 */Hideyo Yamamoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/* wrote:   Hi, everyone, I wanted to share a couple of new things -  I rescued three baby cats yesterday who were living under the  crawl space of the abandoned house, which is now bought and be  ready to be renovated.. the new owner was planning to get rid of  the kittens along with all the kitties who live under the crawl  space and I offered to take them. The babies were actually under  the hole under the crawl space which only the size of my entire  hand and thought I and Kathy (my rescue friend) were never going  to be able to get them out... but finally using a little fish net  to get one by one out - they were only 6 weeks old, one calico,  one tabby and one turtleshell (?) and they
 are all so cute.The one sad thing is that their mama came to look for the babies  while we were under the crawl space, she was so worried about us  doing something to the babies.. one time, I thought we should just  leave and have the mama take care of the babies and I worry that  later on, she might take babies some other crawl space near there  (there a few, unfortunately), and people might close the crawl  space without knowing that they were there.. the mama came back  several times (while we were there as we were there for about 5  hours).. I felt very bad for mama but I decided to take the babies  from her..I tried to trap the mama kitty last night but I couldn't - there  are several kitties there.. I
 trapped one who looked like mama..  but she must be from mama's previous litter - she is less than a  year old..Anyway, I wanted to ask you to pray that I will be able to catch  mama soon (I probably could, if I don't mind catching all other  kitties who live there.. but I don't know where I could put them  now as I am running out of crate) --- and the mama will stay safe  and she will not be worrying too much about their babies. I am  heartbroken for the mama -I feel very badly for taking the babies  from their mama...I know that this is probably the right thing..  but I still cannot not think about the mama... 

RE: OT: heartbroken

[Susan Hoffman]

Where are you located? Perhaps there are other rescue people in your area. Your really must join the feral cat group I referenced in my earlier post. It's a nationwide group with close to 2000 members now.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi, everyone, please understand – I do spay and neuter whenever the opportunity there is – I don’t even want
 to tell you how many cats I have with me because it’s going to freak everyone out – but I am saying that I simply don’t have a space right now to even temporarily keep them.. I am used up all the crates that I have because I have trapped some more…I might have to catch ten or twenty before I can get the mama, but the meantime, I don’t have a place to recover all of them… that’s my dilemma, otherwise I would have gotten all of them right away.From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 5:04 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: OT: heartbrokenSeveral years ago when I trapped Cutie-Pie's babies one by one and brought them inside, she cried and ran
 around the house looking for them at first. But when she saw them in my foyer through the screen door she was fine. She knew I had them. (They screamed like crazy for her but she was fine with it.) Cutie-Pie was later trapped and spayed and then returned to my backyard. She is an untouchable feral girl. Now she is a plump plush little feral queen who presides over a colony of herself and 4 neutered feral boys. They live in my backyard and basement, are spoiled rotten (canned and dry food, catnip), and are very happy and safe there. In all these years Cutie has never allowed me the pet her, even once, but she will sit near me when I am outside and blink her eyes at me (throwing kisses).janine paton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   I've also trapped moms using kittens for bait. It'sheartbreaking until you see the mom weeks after thespay and she looks so much better and relaxed. Think of it this way - if you didn't try this - thekittens will get bigger, she will have a harder timecaring for them. They will start wandering andsomething could happen to them. She will get pregnantagain and not want that litter anymore. When I've brought a feral mom in with kittens and momsees I'm willing to take care of the kittens, she isrelieved and it's probably the first break she's hadin a long time. I've had mothers who are sick but youwouldn't even know it until they understand they nolonger have pretend to be fine just because they havekittens. I also will show the kittens to the mom when I can butI always tell her it's OK, her babies are fine.Take a deep breath and go for the spay - it will
 makea big difference in her quality of life.--- Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: I've done this with kittens and their Momma. I too was upset about  having to put the kittens through the experience, but it worked like a  charm and the kitten did fine. I didn't use all the kittens, just the  strongest guy. If you continue to trap, you'd be doing the ferals a  great service by having them s/n and then returning them to the site. I  know you have problems with the "return" part of TNR, but please think  about it, you would be saving kitties suffering down the line. Love to you sweetheart, Nina  Joan Doljan wrote:   A good way to catch the mother is to put the kittens in a closed   carrier directly infront of an opened, baited trap.  
 */Hideyo Yamamoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/* wrote:   Hi, everyone, I wanted to share a couple of new things -  I rescued three baby cats yesterday who were living under the  crawl space of the abandoned house, which is now bought and be  ready to be renovated.. the new owner was planning to get rid of  the kittens along with all the kitties who live under the crawl  space and I offered to take them. The babies were actually under  the hole under the crawl space which only the size of my entire  hand and thought I and Kathy (my rescue friend) were never going  to be able to get them out... but finally using a little fish net  to get one by one out - they were only 6 weeks old, one calico,  one tabby and one turtleshell (?) and they
 are all so cute.The one sad thing is that their mama came to look for the babies  while we were under the crawl space, she was so worried about us  doing something to the babies.. one time, I thought we should just  leave and have the mama take care of the babies and I worry that  later on, she might take babies some other crawl space near there  (there a few, unfortunately), and people might close the crawl  space without knowing that they were there.. the mama came back  several times (while we were there as we were there for about 5  hours).. I felt very bad for mama but I decided to take the babies  from her..I tried to trap the mama kitty last night but I couldn't - there  are several kitties there.. I
 trapped one who looked like mama..  but she must be from mama's previous litter 

RE: OT: heartbroken

[Susan Hoffman]

Senior and special needs cats are adoptable. It takes longer and you work harder at it but I firmly believe that, somewhere, there's a forever home for every foster cat in my care -- and that forever home is not necessarily me. You just have to really work on finding adoptive homes.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:I am pretty well connected with the people in the rescue group – I know them and they all know about me pretty much.. all the people I know of, they are in some what similar situations as I am –they usually find a problem for ME to solve because they know that I will not say NO…and they are right.. I never say NO to any cats who need a help and that’s why I have what I have ---some are Felk, or FIV, or injured, sick.. I nurture them back to health whenever I can.. and no one wants the cats I have.. but instead they call me if I could take care of the ones they find..From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 5:17 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: OT: heartbrokenWhere are you located? Perhaps there are other rescue people in your area. Your really must join the freral cat group I referenced in my earlier post. It's a nationwide group with close to 2000 members now.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi, everyone, please understand – I do spay and neuter whenever the opportunity there is – I don’t even want to tell you how many cats I have with me because it’s going to freak everyone out – but I am saying that I simply don’t have a space right
 now to even temporarily keep them.. I am used up all the crates that I have because I have trapped some more…I might have to catch ten or twenty before I can get the mama, but the meantime, I don’t have a place to recover all of them… that’s my dilemma, otherwise I would have gotten all of them right away.From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 5:04 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: OT: heartbrokenSeveral years ago when I trapped Cutie-Pie's babies one by one and brought them inside, she cried and ran around the house looking for them at first. But when she saw them in my foyer through the screen door she was
 fine. She knew I had them. (They screamed like crazy for her but she was fine with it.) Cutie-Pie was later trapped and spayed and then returned to my backyard. She is an untouchable feral girl. Now she is a plump plush little feral queen who presides over a colony of herself and 4 neutered feral boys. They live in my backyard and basement, are spoiled rotten (canned and dry food, catnip), and are very happy and safe there. In all these years Cutie has never allowed me the pet her, even once, but she will sit near me when I am outside and blink her eyes at me (throwing kisses).janine paton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've also trapped moms using kittens
 for bait. It'sheartbreaking until you see the mom weeks after thespay and she looks so much better and relaxed. Think of it this way - if you didn't try this - thekittens will get bigger, she will have a harder timecaring for them. They will start wandering andsomething could happen to them. She will get pregnantagain and not want that litter anymore. When I've brought a feral mom in with kittens and momsees I'm willing to take care of the kittens, she isrelieved and it's probably the first break she's hadin a long time. I've had mothers who are sick but youwouldn't even know it until they understand they nolonger have pretend to be fine just because they havekittens. I also will show the kittens to the mom when I can butI always tell her it's OK, her babies are fine.Take a deep breath and go for the spay - it will makea big difference in her quality of life.--- Nina
 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: I've done this with kittens and their Momma. I too was upset about  having to put the kittens through the experience, but it worked like a  charm and the kitten did fine. I didn't use all the kittens, just the  strongest guy. If you continue to trap, you'd be doing the ferals a  great service by having them s/n and then returning them to the site. I  know you have problems with the "return" part of TNR, but please think  about it, you would be saving kitties suffering down the line. Love to you sweetheart, Nina  Joan Doljan wrote:   A good way to catch the mother is to put the kittens in a closed   carrier directly infront of an opened, baited trap.   */Hideyo Yamamoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/* wrote:
   Hi, everyone, I wanted to share a couple of new things -  I rescued three baby cats yesterday who were living under the  crawl space of the abandoned house, which is now bought and be  ready to be renovated.. the new owner was planning to get rid of  the kittens along with all the kitties who live under the crawl  space and I offered to take them. The babies were actually under  the hole 

Adoptions (was OT: heartbroken)

[Susan Hoffman]

NOT the shelter. You have to be committed to finding good forever homes. Adoptions are hard work. I understand the temptation to just close up shop and keep the ones you have but if you do that there comes a point when you have to stop taking in anyone new. And there are too many out there whose lives depend on getting into a foster/rescue situation.I don't do caged petstore adoptions. The cats do not show well unnder those conditions and it just isn't an efficient use of time. Here's what I do:1. Craigslist.org -- Everyone -- kittens, seniors, special needs -- gets listed on craigslist. There are craigslist boards across the country. Some are more active than others. I'm in the San Francisco area with a very active craigslist and I do most of my adoptions through craigslist. (Also recruit foster homes via craigslist.) Listing is
 free. Take great photos.2. Pennysaver and other newspapers -- I'm looking at the Pennysaver newspaper for cats in foster homes in the Sacramento area. That craigslist is less active. A friend in the Los Angeles area has great success with adoptions via the Pennysaver so I'm thinking about using it in Sacramento too.3. Network -- This is especially helpful with harder-to-place cats. (a) A friend who works at a medical university is posting my epileptic kitten there for adoption. I figure the right home for Connie will be someone who is epileptic or who has an epileptic family member or perhaps has had a dog that is of a breed prone to epilepsy. It will be someone who understands how easily controllable this is. (b) This same friend has an FIV+ foster cat and we are looking for a home together for that cat and an FIV+ Siamese mix who is coming my
 way. (c) Another friend helped me place a senior 12+ year old Himi last year with a retired couple that she knew.4. Get creative -- Senior cats are a good fit for seniors and retirees, a population less likely to be online. Find the pet-friendly retirement communities in your area and see if they have a bulletin board where you can list senior cats. Again, take great photos.5. Online resources -- My FeLV+ girl is now listed online at a couple of places that feature special needs cats. (http://tinyurl.com/o553l) And I'm networkingandgetting creative. She's going to be one of the harder to adopt simply because of the stigma still attached to FeLV.6. Foster homes -- I've cultivated a few foster homes because that way (a) I
 can take more cats and (b) I can separate out populations. Tiny kittens have no business in my house -- I've seen too much uri and ringwork over the past couple of years -- so they go elsewhere. The FeLV+ girl is in an only-cat foster home. I have another foster home that gets one or two adults who donn't do well in multi-cat situations. I take the ones who have health or socialization issues at my house. Foster homes allow me to take in more animals and to take certain risks that I could not take if all the cats had to come to my house. The cats are better cared for and get more individualized attention this way. I have to do adoptions. If I don't do adoptions I can't do rescue. I spend my weeks screening potential adopters, clean the house on Saturday, and have approved adopters come primarily on Sunday, though sometimes I can have someone come in the evening during the week if the
 house is clean enough. (And, yes, I do have a fulltime job and a social/romantic life. I also have a long-suffering roommate who is a bigger softie than me and he helps with these guys.)So, please, reconsider on keeping them all yourself. There are people who will adopt many of those cats. You just have to rethink your approach to adoptions so you can find those people. As you get cats adopted out you make room to take in others. And a good adoptive home with one or two or three cats in residence and with financial and other resources not stretched so thin is really a better lifetime environment for an animal. They get over me awfully fast when I find them the right forever home. And that is as it should be. catatonya [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   
 Hideyo,You definitely have way too much on your hands to do adoptions. Maybe you could do a petfinder site though?I know this sounds cruel. I don't know how old you are either... but there comes a time you have to take cats you find like this to a shelter. You can't take them all, and you're too overwhelmed yourself to take in more. :(tHideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:I am so sure that they are adoptable ---and I used to go to adoption clinic every single week a few years ago.. maybe I did adopted out a couple of them during that time.. (I was very very selective as to whom ) but considering the number that I have, considering the amount of time I need to care for the ones I
 have.. I decided to spend time taking care of them instead of finding a home for one or two in a year or two which will not make 

Re: Adoptions (was OT: heartbroken)

[Susan Hoffman]

Thanks. Adoptions are hard work. I call in-home adoptions cocktails parties without the cocktails. I feel like I'm constantlyreceiving visitors at a time when I would like to curl up with a good book and maybe take a nap. And I am picky, do a lot of screening. The process requires daily effort. There are a lot of times when I think it would just be easier to stop dealing with adoptions and just keep the ones who are here. But I know there are a lot of cats I could not take in if I did that. (Could not do it with dogs. One week with one puppy last year cured me of any thought of having a dog. And started me on the way to ripping up carpets and innstalling laminate flooring.)Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Thanks for the tips Susan! What you say about our little refugees
 lives being better in the right forever home makes perfect sense. I've had nightmare placements that haven't worked out, (even though I work very hard and drive people crazy with my persistence to make the right matches), and I've had dream placements that I'm forever grateful for. It used to be that I felt like no one was going to give them as good a home as I could. That's changed. My home isn't the safe haven it once was. Dogs come to me as well as cats and the numbers become overwhelming very fast when you're dealing with canines! Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to share some practical ways to look for homes. Keep up the good work, the world needs you. NinaSusan Hoffman wrote:NOT the shelter. You have to be committed to finding good forever homes. Adoptions are hard work.
 I understand the temptation to just close up shop and keep the ones you have but if you do that there comes a point when you have to stop taking in anyone new. And there are too many out there whose lives depend on getting into a foster/rescue situation.I don't do caged petstore adoptions. The cats do not show well unnder those conditions and it just isn't an efficient use of time. Here's what I do:1. Craigslist.org -- Everyone -- kittens, seniors, special needs -- gets listed on craigslist. There are craigslist boards across the country. Some are more active than others. I'm in the San Francisco area with a very active craigslist and I do most of my adoptions through craigslist. (Also recruit foster homes via craigslist.) Listing is free. Take great photos.2. Pennysaver and other newspapers -- I'm looking at the
 Pennysaver newspaper for cats in foster homes in the Sacramento area. That craigslist is less active. A friend in the Los Angeles area has great success with adoptions via the Pennysaver so I'm thinking about using it in Sacramento too.3. Network -- This is especially helpful with harder-to-place cats. (a) A friend who works at a medical university is posting my epileptic kitten there for adoption. I figure the right home for Connie will be someone who is epileptic or who has an epileptic family member or perhaps has had a dog that is of a breed prone to epilepsy. It will be someone who understands how easily controllable this is. (b) This same friend has an FIV+ foster cat and we are looking for a home together for that cat and an FIV+ Siamese mix who is coming my way. (c) Another friend helped me place a senior 12+ year old Himi last year with a retired couple that she knew. 
   4. Get creative -- Senior cats are a good fit for seniors and retirees, a population less likely to be online. Find the pet-friendly retirement communities in your area and see if they have a bulletin board where you can list senior cats. Again, take great photos.5. Online resources -- My FeLV+ girl is now listed online at a couple of places that feature special needs cats. (http://tinyurl.com/o553l) And I'm networkingandgetting creative. She's going to be one of the harder to adopt simply because of the stigma still attached to FeLV.6. Foster homes -- I've cultivated a few foster homes because that way (a) I can take more cats and (b) I can separate out populations. Tiny kittens have no business in my house -- I've seen too
 much uri and ringwork over the past couple of years -- so they go elsewhere. The FeLV+ girl is in an only-cat foster home. I have another foster home that gets one or two adults who donn't do well in multi-cat situations. I take the ones who have health or socialization issues at my house. Foster homes allow me to take in more animals and to take certain risks that I could not take if all the cats had to come to my house. The cats are better cared for and get more individualized attention this way. I have to do adoptions. If I don't do adoptions I can't do rescue. I spend my weeks screening potential adopters, clean the house on Saturday, and have approved adopters come primarily on Sunday, though sometimes I can have someone come in the evening during the week if the house is clean enough. (And, yes, I do have a fulltime job and a social/romantic life. I also have a long-suffering
 roommate who is a 

Re: OT:frustrated w throw away Pets

[Susan Hoffman]

Where are you located I rented for a lot of years in a very expensive, very tight housinng market (San Francisco) with 6 cats and now I live outside SF in rental housing but with rescue friendly landlords. Let me know where you are. I can at least tell you what worked for me.clarissa- Floyd [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  hi everyone,  i dont post much but try to read all the emails. moste i either dont understand the heath issues your dealing with as we havent gone through much yet or sit and wish there was something i could do to help. i keep thinking about asking rachel if another body looking through the garage would help find those kittens. she isnt too far away for me to drive out for a day. i havent been able to find a soulution for my issues yet and i guess taking some kind of action might
 help menot to get depressed over my own crap.   ive run into a situation that drives home part of why theres somanyanimalsfor those of you who do rescues.   when i first found this group and decided to keep the 8kittens we hadleft,i was engaged and looking for a house to purchase in another area w the finance. i thought it was safe to adopt a pet or as it turned out ..8 . since then my 18 yearold daughter has left(hassent graduatedyet) and refuses contact w me,the fiance and i havebroken up and im going to have to rent. finding a place in the new area that will allow pets is starting to seem imposible. prospective landlords sugest i get rid of the cats. even the ppl i know in the area think i should get rid of the cats. no one has any sugestion on who would take them other than the pound as if its a "cure all" solution. some of the ppl i know even sugested
 putting them down sincea pound would anyway.   this whole idea of "throw away pets" frustrates me. the common thought that someone else will take care of an animal they toss on the street or that the animals can survive on their own is ludicras.   ifigured ya'll wouldunderstand my frustration especially when even the ppl that know me dont get it. the fiance cant even take his cat with him as he works out of town 2-3 days at a time but he will help with food costs and some of the future vet bills if i keep Salem for him. i still have a couple of months to continue looking before i have to move and im trying to stay posative. i just know that trying to find homes for "the herd" would benext to imposibleas well as break our hearts. its not a solution im willing to consider yet and hope i dont end up having to. thank you all for being patient with me and letting me vent.   Karen
 ,Pogo,Teddy,Stitch,Oreo,Salem,Bandit,Boots,HoudiniPS: i find the group such as inspiration. your all amazing with everything you do to help these cats no matter where any of them are.   

Re: OT - kitten dosage of advantage?

[Susan Hoffman]

I'd use half that amount.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  use the 0.4ml size tube  says for kittens 8 weeks or older and under 9lbsKaren

Re: l-lysine for kittens

[Susan Hoffman]

You can safely do 100-150 mg daily. L-lysine is water soluable so if oyu overdo it they will just pee it out. Adult cats over 8 pounds can get 250-500 mg doses.janine paton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Anyone know the dose of lysine to give to kittens? They are 4 months, a little thin. Thanks, Janine

Re: OT - AL - One eyed 3 yo Calico/Persian(?) needs rescue ASAP -may help tr...

[Susan Hoffman]

Oh, how I love a sucker for the special needs cats. Know anyone who would love to adopt a solid black shorthaired epileptic kitten? She's well maintained on phenobarbitol (7.5 mg twice a day), spayed, fully vaccinnated, FIV/FeLV/toxoplasmosis negative. She just has seizures if not given pheno. Good with other cats, would probably do well with a cat-friendly dog, stubborn, fearless,defiant little girl. Let me know[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  DFW INTERNATIONAL I can see what I can do about getting off early tomorrow. ITS VERY VERY HOT IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW. flights may be tough. No way the new borns can take a flight. I will just take the calico one eyed girl. (how I love special needs) 
 terrie I do not want to step on your toes if you prefer to take her.  Karen

Re: FIV resources

[Susan Hoffman]

I have a couple of FIV+ cats of my own and a beautiful little Siamese mix foster who is FIV+ They take longer to place. We have to try harder. We have to work at educating people. But we have to get the message out that FIV cats can live long happy lives and are not furry little lepers. Consider how language reflects mindset and affects actions. Does it really take longer to place an FIV cat than a senior or a special needs cat? Or an all black cat? Some take longer than others.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I have one up for adoption too... they are hard to place.  Phaewryn (was Jenn, changed name)http://ucat.us http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html Adopt a cat from Little Cheetah (UCAT) Cat Rescue:http://ucat.us/adopt.html PLEASE DONATE TO THE TANGLE FUND:Tangle is a cat in Greece that was severely injured when someone wrapped wire around his neck to strangle him,Little Cheetah Cat Rescue is raising funds to bring Tangle to Vermont to find him a good home!http://ucat.us/tangle-fund.htmlDONATE: We could really use a power saw (for construction), a digital camera (for pictures), and more towels! No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.1/354 - Release Date: 6/1/2006

Re: FIV resources

[Susan Hoffman]

My FIV cats have always been pretty affection and mellow. But then so are my non-FIV cats. I do think that, as tomcats go, the ones who aren't all that into fighting are more inclined to get beaten up and get FIV.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  We've got an FIV guy here...the sweetest, most laid back little dudeI've ever met! I didn't know much about FIV other than it was prettyhard to spread it and that cats can live relatively normal lives withthe virus. But what really set me straight was the attitude of my vetwho basically said, "No big deal, I've got one at my house who mingleswith all of my other cats!" As much as I knew in my heart it was no bigdeal, it really gave me a peace of mind hearing it from an "expert,"so-to-speak! :)Education is probably the key, and having more vets out there to
 dispelthe "myths" would certainly come in handy (and this goes for FeLV, too)!As an aside, is it true that FIV cats seem to be some of the coolestcats around, or is it just me? ;)"But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will beunique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world; Youbecome responsible, forever, for what you have tamed..." --Antoine deSaint-Exupéry"If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will knoweach other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and whatyou do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys." --Chief DanGeorge"The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long..." --Blade Runner- Original Message -From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Date: Friday, June 2, 2006 8:37 amSubject: Re: FIV resourcesTo:
 felvtalk@felineleukemia.org It's discouraging. I have never placed an FIV+ cat. I have 5 or  6,  and they're wonderful. Something to work on, I guess.  Gloria   At 01:29 AM 6/2/2006, you wrote: I have a couple of FIV+ cats of my own and a beautiful little  Siamese mix foster who is FIV+ They take longer to place. We  have  to try harder. We have to work at educating people. But we have  to  get the message out that FIV cats can live long happy lives and  are  not furry little lepers. Consider how language reflects mindset  and  affects actions. Does it really take longer to place an FIV cat  than a senior or a special needs cat? Or an all black cat? Some  take longer than others.  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have one up for adoption too... they are
 hard to place.  Phaewryn (was Jenn, changed name) http://ucat.us http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html Adopt a cat from Little Cheetah (UCAT) Cat Rescue: http://ucat.us/adopt.html PLEASE DONATE TO THE TANGLE FUND: Tangle is a cat in Greece that was severely injured when someone  wrapped wire around his neck to strangle him, Little Cheetah Cat Rescue is raising funds to bring Tangle to  Vermont to find him a good home! http://ucat.us/tangle-fund.html DONATE: We could really use a power saw (for construction), a  digital camera (for pictures), and more towels! No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.1/354 - Release Date: 
 6/1/2006 

Re: Diagnosed Today

[Susan Hoffman]

Talk to your vet about low dose oral interferon. Also, I don't unnderstand the prednisone. This can hinder immune system functioning and make it harder for him to kick a cold. Baytril can be harsh on a cat's system too. I think I'd probably wean him off the pred and look at Zithromax instead of baytril. Also, I would be adding Transfer Factor to his food to help immune system functioning.Also, please realize that your vet could be very wrong. I had someone adopt a special needs kitten from me last year after her FeLV+ cat passed away. Her vet had suggested euthanizing that cat and she chose to ignoree him. The cat was 12 or 13 when it finally passed away.It wouldn't hurt to have Timmy tested again. If he is still negative, get him vaccinated. (Though I think I'd be looking for a different vet first.)[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:  Hi Guys-I hope I am posting this the right way.We just found out today that we are positive.Chester just turned a year old in April. We got him after we was weaned and has been inside our house ever since. I suspect that he got it from his mother (his mother was an indoor cat-or that's what we were told). He didn't show any signs until a few months ago. He came down with a cold and has been given antibotics for that twice. When he goes off of it he still is not normal. Right now he has a sore throat and fever. My major concern is his laying around which he never did as a kitten, he just seems depressed. Still eating and going to bathroom okay. Doctor gave me Baytril and Prednisone. Doctor said that he could last a few months but will get worse. I also have another cat, Timmy 6 years old. Timmy was tested as a
 kitten (negative) but not yet recently. Still keeping both together because if Timmy were going to get it he'd probably already be infected.I feel horrible. I just need some support as I am new to this whole thing. Any ideas, suggestions? What should I do? Of course I want to keep Chester as long as possible but I don't want him to suffer. I want to do what's best for the cat. Any advice is appreciated.Thanks,Lisa--WOW! Homepage (http://www.wowway.com)

Re: Diagnosed Today

[Susan Hoffman]

Talk to your vet about low dose oral interferon. Also, I don't unnderstand the prednisone. This can hinder immune system functioning and make it harder for him to kick a cold. Baytril can be harsh on a cat's system too. I think I'd probably wean him off the pred and look at Zithromax instead of baytril. Also, I would be adding Transfer Factor to his food to help immune system functioning.Also, please realize that your vet could be very wrong. I had someone adopt a special needs kitten from me last year after her FeLV+ cat passed away. Her vet had suggested euthanizing that cat and she chose to ignoree him. The cat was 12 or 13 when it finally passed away.It wouldn't hurt to have Timmy tested again. If he is still negative, get him vaccinated. (Though I think I'd be looking for a different vet first.)[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:  Hi Guys-I hope I am posting this the right way.We just found out today that we are positive.Chester just turned a year old in April. We got him after we was weaned and has been inside our house ever since. I suspect that he got it from his mother (his mother was an indoor cat-or that's what we were told). He didn't show any signs until a few months ago. He came down with a cold and has been given antibotics for that twice. When he goes off of it he still is not normal. Right now he has a sore throat and fever. My major concern is his laying around which he never did as a kitten, he just seems depressed. Still eating and going to bathroom okay. Doctor gave me Baytril and Prednisone. Doctor said that he could last a few months but will get worse. I also have another cat, Timmy 6 years old. Timmy was tested as a
 kitten (negative) but not yet recently. Still keeping both together because if Timmy were going to get it he'd probably already be infected.I feel horrible. I just need some support as I am new to this whole thing. Any ideas, suggestions? What should I do? Of course I want to keep Chester as long as possible but I don't want him to suffer. I want to do what's best for the cat. Any advice is appreciated.Thanks,Lisa--WOW! Homepage (http://www.wowway.com)

Re: Off antibiotics?

[Susan Hoffman]

What antibiotic is she on? I swear by Zithromax. It's given once a day for 5 days and if effective against even the worst upper respiratory infections. Doesn't seem to upset the tummy the way Baytril does and is so much more effective than Clavamox or amoxicillin or doxycycline.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi,  I wrote about a week ago with a newly diagnosed 7 month kitten named Lucy. I've read several recommendations that I shouldn't put her back on antibiotics but the problem is that within a week of being off the antibiotics she is deathly ill. Today was day 7 of not being on them and following some of the regimins suggested to boost her immune system and she woke up today with a fever of 106, runny eyes, and barely able to walk. The vet gave me antibiotics again because without them I really believe she would
 be dead very quickly. For those of you who do recommend no antibiotics, how do you get them well when they get sick right away?Thanks,  Maggie

Re: OT-Anyone know of safe ways to deal w/ ants?

[Susan Hoffman]

I use Grants Ant stakes to keep ants out of the house.gwork [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I'm sorry; I should've specified that I intended this mix as an outdoor spray to prevent ants from even entering the house. Do you think it would still be toxic with the dilution and the fact that you would simply be wiping a surface with it? What would your recommendation be for the ants?Krishttp://www.spazstory.zoomshare.com- Original Message - From: "TenHouseCats" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To: Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 9:36 PMSubject: Re: OT-Anyone know of safe ways to deal w/ ants? tea tree oil is toxic to cats! On 6/12/06, gwork <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: I have also heard cayenne works, but have never used it. I
 do know that  the proper treatment can depend on what type of ants they are. I also found  on the 'net that 8 oz. of a natural soap (peppermint, lavender, tea tree)  mixed with 1 oz. essential oil (citronella, cinammon, rose, tea tree) and  diluted with water is supposed to make a good spray/wash. You add 5 tbsp. of  this mix to a quart of water. I wonder if the health food store would already have a premixed solution. I have heard of the boric acid/sugar mix, but that is a killing mixture vs. a deterrent. Kris http://www.spazstory.zoomshare.com - Original Message - From: Ashleigh Smith To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 2:46 PM Subject: Re: OT-Anyone know of safe ways to deal w/
 ants? I've heard cayenne works too, but I've never personally used it. ~Ashleigh Barb Moermond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: I seem to recall spearmint leaves being good deterrents. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: All of sudden we have bunches of little red ants in our house. My hubby likes to use Terro, which I don't like at all around the furkids  my  human kid. Any ideas? Thanks! Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito "My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should impress. Merely  living his life, doing what pleases him, and making me smile." - Anonymous __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection
 around http://mail.yahoo.com __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com --  MaryChristine AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ: 289856892 

Re: new to FeLV

[Susan Hoffman]

Bran flakes or white rice. But make sujre you deworm.Belinda [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Gastriplex is something that can be used or rice bran are a couple of things people on my other lists use for diarrhea. -- Belindahappiness is being owned by cats ...Be-Mi-Kittieshttp://bemikitties.comPost Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittenshttp://adopt.bemikitties.comFeLV Candlelight Servicehttp://bemikitties.com/clsHostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting  web design]http://HostDesign4U.comBMK Designs [non-profit animals websites]http://bmk.bemikitties.com

RE: 2 littermates - one pos/one neg

[Susan Hoffman]

That feels very right on a psycho-spiritual level. Many years ago I had two cousins who had been raised as siblings. When their surrogate mother passed away at almost 18 years of age my vet offered to do a free necropsy tofind out why her response to antibiotics had been so poor. She was both FIV+ and FeLV+ and she had actually produced milk and nursed these two cousins. Before we tested I had already descided that no matter the results I would not separate them. Both were negative and remains so throughout very long lives. So I never had to face some crisis of faith.Ah, but that story relates to my experience with my personal cats. I get the impression that the original poster is a rescue/foster person who may not be able or inclined to adopt these two siblings. If that is the case, as a rescue, I would seriously consider splitting them up and getting
 the negative kitten into a godd forever home. I've split up littermates and been very happy with the homes they got, and I have delayed breaking up what I considered to be a bonded pair often to the detriment of one of the kittens. (Today I listed an orange teenager for adoption. He's 9 months old and an absolute love. I had been listing him with his sister, a pretty yet still semi-feral calico, for the longest while. How long can I deny him access to his own home when I know his sister may never really tame up enough?)If you can keep both positive and negative kitten, great. But if these kittens need to be on track for adoption, list them for adoption separately and together. If they are meant to be together they will be adopted together. But we really can't assume that. Give them every option to find their own way.Hideyo Yamamoto
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I agree with everyone --- I try not to let the test result completelydetermine how their life is going to be if it may not make sense to do..they are gifted to this world as litter mates for a reason...and thatmeans they should be raised together..-Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED][mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of NinSent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 1:56 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: 2 littermates - one pos/one negJanine,I agree with Belinda and Rachel. I would keep them together, for both their sakes. Poor little lambs have been through so much already. Haveyou been reading the posts lately? We just had a kitten on the list apparently turn out to be a false pos. I know it's
 less likely in your case, given that other members of the colony are testing pos too, but your little boy is only 7 weeks and may very well be testing pos becauseof his mother's antibodies still. Whatever you decide, I know that you have their best interest at heart. Still, I'm praying that they can be kept together and adopted out to someone that cares as much as we do fortheir quality of life.Thanks for all you do,Ninajanine paton wrote:Hi all, Two brothers, 7 weeks today tested one positive, onenegative for leukemia. The mom is feral, and has notbeen tested yet, but her sister tested positive. Themom had been trapped by someone trying to do the rightthing, but the kittens were born beforre she could gether to the vet. All have been living together cratedin this person's home. As an organization, we had a pair of
 littermatestesting the same as these 2, and we let them staytogether. The positive cat died at around 3 yrs, thenegative cat is still negative (and has recently beenadopted!) so it's not entirely new to me but what'sthe best thing to do? Try to adopt them out as apair? Separate them now? Or it doesn't matter atthis point, even if the negative kitten is so young? The test was Elysa and we are re-running both. Thanks! Janine  

Re: SPCA's Views on FelV

[Susan Hoffman]

From a rescue standpoint, I don't test everyone who comes in and I especially don't test kittens beecause I consider the tests unreliable when the kittens are so young. I also don't euthanize a healthy animal on the basis of a test result ever.One shelter I work with tests before transport to a rescue and for this I am eternally grateful. They make my job much easier. One cat bound for me tested FeLV+ before transport and I was able to place her in an only cat foster home. (Esprit is still looking for that forever home, everyone. Keep her in mind.)Adults are usually tested before they arrive. Kittens are tested when they are old enough for spay/neuter. I always give adopters what medical records exist and specify what tests have been performed. In California FIV and FeLV testing is the norm with rescue groups but rarely done by shelters. 
   I believe I have a relatively good understanding of FelV from what I've learned with Pekoe and Digby. One of the big questions I have, from those of you that do rescue work and shelter volunteering is - Do you test ALL cats that come into the shelter, or just the "high risk" ones?? Guess I'm just second-guessing my comprehension right now. My husband and I feel that these people just don't get it yet, and we want them to stop contacting us!  I would really appreciate your views on the SPCA's statements.  Thanks so much, Marlene (still missing Pekoe  Digby .)__Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
 protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: FIV infected Kitten

[Susan Hoffman]

Please join the FIV cats group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FIVCats2/Statistically, 2 out of 3 kittens born to an FIV+ mother test negative once they have been weaned and have had time to clear maternal antibodies. In practice the kittens almost always clear antibodies within 2 or 3 months of weaning and test negative. Don't keep testing the poor little kitten now. Test after 6 months of age. Most of the vets around here won't even test such a young kitten because the assumption is that the test is just not reliable. And please do join the FIV group. FIV is not easily transmitted and most of us in that group have had mixed positive/negative households for year.

Re: FIV+ cat wanted

[Susan Hoffman]

Send me one of those for California, please. I have the prettiest little Siamese mix foster girl who has tested FIV+[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Anyone in the area have a Fiv kitty needing a home?  1170927- Cat:AnyBronx,NY (718) 986-5463 Erin Carey [EMAIL PROTECTED]  6-21-2006Name: N/AAge:AnySex:FSize:MDelete  Seeking Friendly FIV+ Cat/Kitten, Who Gets Along Marvelously w/Other Cats I am looking to adopt a Female (or possibly, Male) FIV Positive cat with a wonderful, friendly disposition, who gets along Very Well with other cats. I currently have a two year old Male FIV+ cat at home, who, happens to be, the sweetest, most friendly creature, and I would love to provide him with a new friend. My cat (Riley) previously lived with another Male cat, who turned out to be Alpha Male in status ( a bit of a bully, in nature), and had a tendency of eating Rileys food before Riley was
 able finish his portion (the other cat would quickly gobble up his own food, and then race over to Rileys dish, push him out of the way,  then slowly, attempt, to enjoy Rileys meal as well.) Once Riley and I got our own place, Ive seen my little man blossom. Im starting to feel, though, that he may be a little lonely during the day when I am not at home (I am currently taking Pre-Vet courses at Hunter College, hoping to eventually get a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.) And believe it or not, I think he may slightly miss his old pal from the previous apartmentdespite his lowered status in that relationship, they really enjoyed playing and cuddling with each other; I remember them almost connected at the hip. I introduced Riley to another cat before (granted, it wasnt planned correctly-i.e. placing the new cat in another room,  slowly introducing, not only him to the new environment, but Riley to a new animal in the house); the other cats reaction didnt sit
 well with Riley. She hissed violently and began swatting at him, and Riley quickly ran under the bed ( refused to come out for a few hours.) So I guess what Im looking for is a friendly cat, whose biggest flaw is that hes/shes been diagnosed with FIV. Im very educated on this condition and will be able to provide him/her with unconditional love  frequent visits to the Vets Office. My cat is very healthy, and Im expecting him to live a very long and happy lifeI would love to provide that opportunity for another fabulous feline. Thank you for your time and consideration. I reside in a studio apartment in Riverdale (Bronx), NY (and will be living there until, at least, October of 2007.) All of the windows in the apartment have screens, and there is this wonderful little ledge (that Riley LOVES to sit upon) next to a large window overlooking trees. What the apartment lacks in size, it makes up for itself in other areas.
Terrie Mohr-ForkerTAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTSSIAMESE  COLLIE RESCUEOwner/DriverCheck sites for available Siameses for adoption!http://www.tazzys-siameses-collies.petfinder.org/Click Here to Join WASHINGTON SIAMESE RESCUE Yahoo Group!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wasiameserescuehttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/SNOHOMISH_COUNTY_PETS_in_WAhttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/index.htmlhttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/myhomepage/petmemorial.htmlPetfinder.comAdopt a Homeless Pet!http://www.petfinder.com/http://www.felineleukemia.org/http://www.petloss.com/TAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTShttps://www.paypal.com/http://www.frappr.com/wasiameserescue

Re: Urgent Help - Virbigen Omega Interferon

[Susan Hoffman]

Try the FIP group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FIP/ You may need someone close to you since the feline interferon that I am familiar with has to be kept refrigerated.What symptoms do you see? Why do you think it is FIP? (There is no test for FIP, just for exposure to the corona virus, and most cats exposed to corona throw it off and do not develop FIP.)Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi, Does anyone have VO Interferon that I can buy from? I am afraid that my Naomi may have FIP (has not been confirmed.. but her clinical symptoms mimic the symptoms of the disease and I am so scared.).. and would like to use VO interferon, but I am so afraid that it will be too late for Naomi if I order is from UK or France –if anyone on the list can sell it to me, I will be so
 grateful…

RE: Urgent Help - Virbigen Omega Interferon

[Susan Hoffman]

Take a few deep breaths. You may be jumping to conclusions here. There are a lot of possible explanations. Try supplemental feedings -- syringe-feed KMR, feline AD canned, that sort of thing. Get Transfer Factor feline formula in her too.Why do you say you have a lot of corona positive cats? Have you been doing regular titre tests?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Thanks, Susan,, I used to be on the list and tried to post the message,, but some reason.. I cannot – I will try to
 re-sign in to see if I can post it..(I had this big argument with the moderator of the group a long time ago.. and she took me out of the list so I have to disguise my identity..)Well.. since I have lots of corona virus cats,, FIP has been something that I have been most afraid of .. but fortunately.. I really have not had any problems except one kitty who could have had FIP (wet form) about three years ago.   
 Anyway, Naomi is 4 months old and she just does not grow.. she weighs under 2 lb still.. she does not eat much and she does not play at all.. she has chronic URIs (which I know it’s common).. but what I am really scared of is her eyes… one of her pupil shape is not round.. it’s almost missing a piece or something.. and just I feel like neurologically something wrong with her.. I have taken to her a vet a few times, but haven’t been able to draw blood sample to run total body function.. but I just know that something is wrong.. and I am so scared that it maybe FIP……I thought she might have fluid in her tummy as her body is just so soft (no muscle tone).. but the vet did not think so… but due to the eye inflammation with no specific reason (from what we can tell).. I am afraid that FIP might be causing it… I am so afraid, Susan…you know how awful this
 disease is.. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 6:05 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: Urgent Help - Virbigen Omega Interferon  Try the FIP group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FIP/ You may need someone close to you since the feline interferon that I am familiar with has to be kept refrigerated.What symptoms do you see? Why do you think it is FIP? (There is no test for FIP, just for exposure to the corona virus, and most cats exposed to
 corona throw it off and do not develop FIP.)Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi, Does anyone have VO Interferon that I can buy from? I am afraid that my Naomi may have FIP (has not been confirmed.. but her clinical symptoms mimic the symptoms of the disease and I am so scared.).. and would like to use VO interferon, but I am so afraid that it will be too late for Naomi if I order is from UK or France –if anyone on the list can sell it to me, I will be so
 grateful…  

RE: Urgent Help - Virbigen Omega Interferon

[Susan Hoffman]

Don't assume it's FIP. I've had cats who worried me so, cats I was SURE were going to develop FIP, grow up and do well. And I have had cats who seemed so healthy and well, who developed normally, might even have been the biggest in the litter, break mwith FIP months after they were adopted. Relax. If it is FIP there's really not much you can do. Feline interferon works infrequently. And this may not be FIP at all.What's in the vitamin injection? Any chance that you're overloading her system and stressing her? TF is a really complete vitamin supplement in and of itself.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Yeah.. I used to test it on every single cats that I rescued.. they are all tested positive.. not everyone is high..but some are pretty high.. but none of them had FIP.. as they are adults and pretty healthy.. but many of my cats are from the same colony.. so they all tested positive.. but then, I stopped testing.. I did not see any points anymore..I have been giving TF actually,, and syringe feed her every day and she hates it.. I give Vitamin injection also.. I am planning to take her to a different vet to see if she can draw blood from her.. Susan, I am just so scared.. but I just know that something is definitely wrong with her.. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 6:17 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: Urgent Help - Virbigen Omega Interferon  Take a few deep breaths. You may be jumping to conclusions here. There are a lot of possible explanations. Try supplemental feedings -- syringe-feed KMR, feline AD canned,
 that sort of thing. Get Transfer Factor feline formula in her too.Why do you say you have a lot of corona positive cats? Have you been doing regular titre tests?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Thanks, Susan,, I used to be on the list and tried to post the message,, but some reason.. I cannot – I will try to re-sign in to see if I can post it..(I had this big argument with the moderator of the group a long time ago.. and she took me out of the list so I have to disguise my identity..)Well.. since I have lots of corona virus cats,, FIP has been something that I have been most afraid of .. but fortunately.. I really have not had any problems except one kitty who could have had FIP (wet form) about three years ago.Anyway, Naomi is 4 months old and she just does not grow.. she weighs under 2 lb still.. she does not eat much and she does not play at all.. she has chronic URIs (which I know it’s common).. but what I am really scared of is her eyes… one of her pupil shape is not round.. it’s almost missing a piece or something.. and just I feel like neurologically something wrong with her.. I have taken to her a vet a few times, but haven’t been able to draw blood sample to run total body function.. but I just know that something is wrong.. and I am so scared that it maybe FIP……I thought she might have fluid in her tummy as her body is just so soft (no muscle tone).. but the vet did not think so… but due to the eye inflammation with no
 specific reason (from what we can tell).. I am afraid that FIP might be causing it… I am so afraid, Susan…you know how awful this disease is.. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 6:05 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: Urgent Help - Virbigen Omega Interferon  Try the FIP group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FIP/ You may need someone close to you since the feline interferon that I am familiar with has to be kept refrigerated.What symptoms do you see? Why do you think it is FIP? (There is no test for FIP, just for exposure to the corona virus, and most cats exposed to corona throw it off and do not develop FIP.)Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi, Does anyone have VO Interferon that I can buy from? I am afraid that my Naomi may have FIP (has not been confirmed.. but her clinical symptoms mimic the
 symptoms of the disease and I am so scared.).. and would like to use VO interferon, but I am so afraid that it will be too late for Naomi if I order is from UK or France –if anyone on the list can sell it to me, I will be so grateful…  

Re: Urgent Help - Virbigen Omega Interferon

[Susan Hoffman]

Re "i hate FIP more than FeLV, even, because you can't predict it, you can't prevent it, and in most cases, you can't really treat it "I hate it too, for these same reasons. It leaves me powerless to make a difference. I have had losses over the past two years, so far (and may it so remain) only in foster kittens under one year and even at that only in a tiny percentage of the ones who pass through my doors. But each one breaks me a little more. And I always worry, if someone sleeps too much or doesn't eat enough or I see any little "off" thing. It does appear that for a cat to develop FIP after exposure to the corona virus, there much be some genetic predisposition. I suspect this is why the incidence of FIP is so much higher in some commercial breeding catteries. TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:hideyo,my understanding is thatcorona viruses are contagious, and very common (i've seen statistics ranging from 85-95% of cats in a multi-cat environment will show a positive corona-virus titre--and that almost as high a percentage of humans will show the same thing!). however, the most recent thinking is that FIP comes not from the common corona virii themselves, but from a MUTATION of the common virus. the mutation is not contagious--and so far they don't really know what causes thevirus to mutate, nor no way to predict if any specific cat's corona-virus exposure might result in such a mutation. i know that the feline genome project is providing evidence of a genetic predisposition to the mutation occurring, which may be why there was an initial belief that FIP was infectious in and of itself. at the
 sanctuary, in the special-needs section where there were no FIVs or FeLVs, but lots of cats with non-immune-supressive problems, the only cats we lost to FIP were, indeed, a mom and two adult children (!) who had survived distemper contracted when the kittens were two months old. the other two kittens, bothwithCH from the distemper,never developed FIP. i hate FIP more than FeLV, even, because you can't predict it, you can't prevent it, and in most cases, you can't really treat it   -- MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892

UPDATE: Esprit has been adopted!

[Susan Hoffman]

I've posted a couple of times in search of a home for Esprit, the FeLLV+ cat who was being fostered by a UC Davis studentWell, Esprit has been adopted by Kim, the young lady who had been fostering her! On August 7th they move to Los Angeles together, where Kim has been accepted to law school. I've invited Kim to join this group. And I couldn't be happier. It's just the sort of home I wanted for Esprit -- an only-cat household with much love and care so she can have more time to throw off the virus.

Re: UPDATE: Esprit has been adopted!

[Susan Hoffman]

Her other cat, still in LA, has been living with her parents and will be staying with her parents. So Kim has rented her own apartment for her and Esprit.TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:fur out! i thought she wasn't gonna be able to take her? how wonderful for both of them. wonder what esprit is gonna think of the enormous amount of reading time law school is going require--hopefully, she'll just find a nearby spot for applied petting   On 7/28/06, Susan Hoffman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   I've posted a couple of
 times in search of a home for Esprit, the FeLLV+ cat who was being fostered by a UC Davis studentWell, Esprit has been adopted by Kim, the young lady who had been fostering her! On August 7th they move to Los Angeles together, where Kim has been accepted to law school. I've invited Kim to join this group. And I couldn't be happier. It's just the sort of home I wanted for Esprit -- an only-cat household with much love and care so she can have more time to throw off the virus. -- MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892

Re: OT: Gorgeous Birman + blind Tuxedo--must stay together

[Susan Hoffman]

Checked out their web site. Damn. Don't you just hate those web sites that make you cry?Pam Norman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I just did. I didn't know about them before. Do you know them? They sound like good people. I've read some of the kittie's stories. Do you know if they adopt out or when a cat comes in, is he or she there for life?Pam- Original Message -   From: TenHouseCats   To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org   Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 11:39 AM  Subject: Re: OT: Gorgeous Birman + blind Tuxedo--must stay togetherthe pictures didn't come through for me, pam--have you contacted the folks at blindcatrescue.com?MC  On 7/29/06, Pam Norman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is a sad story. These two beautiful kitties (completely blind) must stay together  they are losing their home very soon. It is hard enough to find a home for one, but this is two  must be two. They desperately need someone to allow them to be together  love them. Pam  c pq [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:43:40 -0700 (PDT)From: c pq 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: Gorgeous Birman + blind Tuxedo--must stay togetherTo: Julie [EMAIL PROTECTED] , kittycity [EMAIL PROTECTED],nwatlpets  [EMAIL PROTECTED]  Please NOTE:  These cats are located in Rhode Island, so long-distance help will be needed! Also, pictures are included, but if they don't come out, check the photo folder: Rhode Island pair. They are GORGEOUS. PLEASE TAKE A PEEK!   
 So Very SadCan you help these 2 Cats?? (pics)Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED](at craigslist.org)Date: 2006-07-25, 12:04PM EDTThrough my animal rescue contacts a very sad and unfortunate story has been brought to my attention and I am posting out here, hoping some kind soul might be able to help this woman. Without delving into too many details and personal information, here it is in a nutshell. It brought me to tears…   This woman suffers from a chronic health condition and has deteriorated to the point where she can no longer drive and therefore no longer work. Unfortunately, her condition will not get better and only worsen over time. She has
 exhausted all of her personal savings to pay medical bills and is now forced to give up her home. Her original plan was to move to FL with her sister and bring the cats. But through another sad turn of events, her sister has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. So this is no longer a long term option either. With no other options available, this woman will be moving into subsidized housing soon that will allow only 1 cat. The problem is she has 2 cats, who are so dependent on each other it would be detrimental for them to separate. And the vet who has been caring for these cats for the past few years also agrees with this. Here is some info on the cats and why they desparately need to stay together. 'Squeak' is a purebred Birman who was adopted by this woman in 1998 as an older kitten. 'Squeak' was always a very shy and nervous cat until she met 'Annie'. 'Annie' was found as a baby kitten in this woman's garage in 2001. And 'Squeak' took to her immediately.
 But something was not right with 'Annie', and a vet trip confirmed she was blind in one eye from a congenital defect. A year later she lost sight in her other eye and is now completely blind. But she gets around quite well with her buddy 'Squeak'. They play, clean and cuddle each other. They are the best of friends! We are looking for a home with no children or other animals. A quiet home is the best as 'Squeak' is very nervous and "Annie' is totally blind. I am hoping this home would allow the woman to visit on occasion to see the cats. It would mean so much to her. Also, we will consider a temporary foster home, as this woman needs to go be with her sister in FL in her final months. Please email me if you are interested. Below are the pics the woman has sent me. Please scroll down to see all 5 Thanks for Reading, Kim   Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business.   jULIE wEBB  Kitty City Rescue, Athens Georgia  "Saving Animals from GA KILL Shelters"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kittycityrescue/  www.kittycityathens.petfinder.com Do you Yahoo!?Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta. -- MaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892

Re: Help for my Little Girl

[Susan Hoffman]

I swear by a cocktail of feline A/D, Pedialyte, Transfer Factor feline formula, and amoxicillin, syringe-fed to ailing cats.Josie [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I raised my Little Girl from a kitten 1 day old as her mom died shortly after giving birth on the day before Mother's Day 2005. So I have been her only Mommy from the time that she was a day old. She was the smallest of the litter so she got extra special care and has been my extra special girl from the first. I raised four of the five kittens but she was my heart. Didn't mean for it to turn out that way. It just did. She is a calico. Beautiful! With a black mask. She had tested negative on her first
 test and got her vaccination, however, about 5 weeks ago she began having breathing problems, so I took her to the vet and she tested positive this time. She stayed at the vet for a few days and got breathing treatments and had the fluid drawn from her lungs ( which had no cancer cells in it) and came home with antibiotics and prednisone. For a month she seemed fine except for not having a very good appetite, but for the last two days I can hardly get her to eat anything. I am getting water and some vitamins in her with a syringe (which she hates) but very little else. She last ate at 3:00 a.m. so it has been more than 12 hours since she ate anything. Any suggestions? Any advice appreciated. Please pray for her. On Wed. the vet gave me another round of Orbax and prednisone for her, but it seems to have had no effect whatsoever this time. Betty 

Re: OT: Use of Metacam with cats ** Could be very dangerous

[Susan Hoffman]

My mother has two arthritic cats who take it every other day. Also used post-surgery.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  " I missed this one. What would metacam be prescribed for in cats to begin with? " Bones got it when she broke her back. it's for severe pain and inflammation.  PhaewrynPLEASE Adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!!http://ucat.us/adopt.html DONATE: We could really use a power saw (for construction), a digital camera (for pictures) and HOMES for CATS! No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.394
 / Virus Database: 268.10.5/403 - Release Date: 7/28/2006

Re: Immunoregulin

[Susan Hoffman]

I may have missed this but is there any diagnosis yet? What does the vet think is going on?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Does immunoregulin work to bring PCV on cats who is nonregenenrative anemia?

RE: Immunoregulin

[Susan Hoffman]

Tell me again -- ALL the symptoms, how long, what tests have been done, what treatments attempted? Naomi is approximately 4 months old? How much does she weigh?  Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:One vet thinks it’s might be FIP – buy another one does not think so.. but
 can’t explain what’s going on – From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:13 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: ImmunoregulinI may have missed this but is there any diagnosis yet? What does the vet think is going on?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Does immunoregulin work to bring PCV on cats who is nonregenenrative anemia?  

RE: Immunoregulin

[Susan Hoffman]

How much does she weigh? Is she emaciated, bony backbone? How long has this been going on? Has she been spayed or vaccinated? FeLV status? What meds have been given in the past?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Anemia (non regenerative) – PCV 18.4  Corona virus positive 1:400 positive   All organs are fine – her WBC a bit high..Her globulin is a bit higher than normal.. and her albumin is a bit lower than usual.. her a/g ratio was 0.3The only sign she showed was eye --- pupils are dilated.. and irregular pupil shape.. does not grow
 (does not eat..) – she has a high fever one time (but so did other kittens at that time..)  From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
 Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:30 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: Immunoregulin  Tell me again -- ALL the symptoms, how long, what tests have been done, what treatments attempted? Naomi is approximately 4 months old? How much does she weigh?Hideyo Yamamoto
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  One vet thinks it’s might be FIP – buy another one does not think so.. but can’t explain what’s going on – From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:13 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: ImmunoregulinI may have missed this but is there any diagnosis yet? What does the vet think is going on?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Does immunoregulin work to bring PCV on cats who is nonregenenrative anemia?  

RE: Immunoregulin

[Susan Hoffman]

I've dealt with FIP before. I assume my own cats are corona positive too. But that's no reason to jump to the conclusion that a cat has FIP. Dry FIP is notoriously hard to diagnose. And you don't want to assume FIP and thus fail to treat a treatable condition.Give me as much history as possible, per my earlier email.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Susan, I have to also mention that most of my cats are corona virus positive - some are higher (1:1400 or greater) than others – but they are all healthy.From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Hideyo YamamotoSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:38 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: ImmunoregulinAnemia (non regenerative) – PCV 18.4  Corona virus positive 1:400 positive   All organs are fine
 – her WBC a bit high..Her globulin is a bit higher than normal.. and her albumin is a bit lower than usual.. her a/g ratio was 0.3The only sign she showed was eye --- pupils are dilated.. and irregular pupil shape.. does not grow (does not eat..) – she has a high fever one time (but so did other kittens at that time..)  From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:30
 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: Immunoregulin  Tell me again -- ALL the symptoms, how long, what tests have been done, what treatments attempted? Naomi is approximately 4 months old? How much does she weigh?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  One vet thinks it’s might be FIP – buy another one does not think so.. but can’t explain what’s going on – From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:13 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: ImmunoregulinI may have missed this but is there any diagnosis yet?
 What does the vet think is going on?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Does immunoregulin work to bring PCV on cats who is nonregenenrative anemia?  

RE: Immunoregulin

[Susan Hoffman]

If it is FIP you would want to have her on prednisone.What are you syringe-feeding her? I have had very good success with a cocktail of feline A/D, Pedialyte, Transfer Factor feline formula, and amoxicillin. What treatments have already been tried, what medications given? And how long have you had her?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:She only weigh a little less than 2 lb (1lb 15oxz) – she
 is not too bony, I have been syringe feeding her – so she actually gained a bit weight recently.. she is negative on felk or FIV – no vaccinations or no spayed.. she was very healthy when I first got her – and gradually she changed her behavior.. now she is so pale.. and am so hoping for way to increase her PCV ---If it’s FIP – i guess immunorgulain won’t help? As FIP attacks their immune system and immunoregulin is actually immune stimuli – is it right?From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:42 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: ImmunoregulinHow much does she weigh? Is she emaciated, bony backbone? How long has this been going on? Has she been spayed or vaccinated? FeLV status? What meds have been given in the past?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Anemia (non regenerative) – PCV 18.4Corona virus positive 1:400 positive All organs are fine – her WBC a bit high..Her globulin is a bit higher than normal.. and her albumin is a bit lower than usual.. her a/g ratio was 0.3The only sign she showed was eye --- pupils are dilated.. and irregular pupil shape.. does not grow (does not eat..) – she has a high fever one time (but so did other kittens at that time..)From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:30 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: Immunoregulin  Tell me again -- ALL the symptoms, how long, what tests have been done, what treatments attempted? Naomi is approximately 4 months old? How much does she weigh?  Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:One vet thinks it’s might
 be FIP – buy another one does not think so.. but can’t explain what’s going on – From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:13
 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: ImmunoregulinI may have missed this but is there any diagnosis yet? What does the vet think is going on?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Does immunoregulin work to bring PCV on cats who is nonregenenrative anemia?

RE: Immunoregulin

[Susan Hoffman]

Pretty much what I already said --- feline A/D, Pedialyte, amoxicillin, and transfer Factor feline formula. I'd mix it up and try to syringe feed about 10 ccs every few hours. If I really thought it was FIP -- and from your description I am not so sure -- I would do 5 mg of pred daily too.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Just looking at the bloow work, I wouldn’t not think that
 she has FIP at all.. as most of my other cats have blood work which may resemble FIP more – just that,, there is no explanation of some of her symptoms. Some neurogical symptoms in eyes.. and – don’t know what to explain --- any idea? What else could I try on her – if there is anything I would – do you think I should try transfusion --- she just hates being contrained..From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:49 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: Immunoregulin  I've dealt with FIP before. I assume my own cats are corona positive too. But that's no reason to jump to the conclusion that a cat has FIP. Dry FIP is notoriously hard
 to diagnose. And you don't want to assume FIP and thus fail to treat a treatable condition.Give me as much history as possible, per my earlier email.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Susan, I have to also mention that most of my cats are corona virus positive - some are higher (1:1400 or greater) than others – but they are all healthy.From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Hideyo
 YamamotoSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:38 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: ImmunoregulinAnemia (non regenerative) – PCV 18.4Corona virus positive 1:400 positive All organs are fine – her WBC a bit high..Her globulin is a bit higher than normal.. and her albumin is a bit lower than usual.. her a/g ratio was 0.3The only sign she showed was eye --- pupils are dilated.. and irregular pupil shape.. does not grow (does not eat..) – she has a high fever one time (but so did other kittens at that time..) 
   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:30 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: RE: Immunoregulin  Tell me again -- ALL the symptoms, how long, what tests have been done, what treatments attempted? Naomi is approximately 4 months old? How much does she weigh?  Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:One vet thinks it’s might be FIP – buy another one does not think
 so.. but can’t explain what’s going on – From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Susan HoffmanSent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:13 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: ImmunoregulinI may have missed this but is there any diagnosis yet? What does the vet think is going on?Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Does immunoregulin work to bring PCV on cats who is nonregenenrative anemia?

RE: Bonyness

[Susan Hoffman]

Drontal is typically used for deworming, including tape worms. It is safe for kittens but the dosage is based on weight.Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:I would recommend though – before you actually give him whatever medicine you give him – to research and make sure that there is no side effects for kittens – some of the medicine can be very toxic to kittens..From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Marissa JohnsonSent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 5:32 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re:
 "Bonyness"  Thanks everyone for your insight and advice. I'm going to the vet tomorrow to get the dewormer. I couldn't get an appointment, but at least I can get the meds. I'll let you know if he improves. Thanks again!!!MJcatatonya [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Cats do go through a 'lanky' looking stage at about that age. They're pudgier as kittens and then again as adults... but if the vet says Slinky has tapes I would go ahead and ask for the med. now and not wait.tMarissa Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
 Hi again all. Some of you may have seen this in another post I sent, but I thought I should send it with a more appropriate subject.Slinky is about 15 or 16 weeks old (we're guessing) and tested positive for FeLV when I took him to the vet just over a week ago. The vet said everything else looked good except that he has tapeworm (which
 they called me about after I left - said they'd treat it when I went back in 3 weeks for the next round of vaccinations).He's been eating pretty well (I think...not sure how much he's supposed to eat, but I refill his food dish about every other day usually) and has been very active and friendly.I've also noticed lately that he's grown a lot in the two weeks I've had him.But lately I've noticed that when I pet him, I can feel his
 front "shoulders" sticking up behind his neck. I can also feel his ribs if I press a little. I'm not sure if this is normal (could he be growing faster than he's putting on weight and will catch up later?) or if I should be worried. I've been changing his food (from purina kitten chow to Innova Evo dry...will add canned soon as well) and also took him on a 5.5 hour road trip this weekend, so he's had a bit of adjustment going on, but that hasn't seemed to faze him much. As I said, he seems healthy. But should I be worried about his "bonyness"? Should I take him to the vet this week? I didn't ask the vet about "bonyness" when I was there (hadn't noticed it), but he was about 4 pounds and they seemd to think that was fine.What do you all think? Thanks for your support and advice!!MJ 
 Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.   How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates.

Re: FeLV+ Adoption/ Foster Care

[Susan Hoffman]

I suggest you settle in for the long haul and get a fan in that bedroom. It takes time to find a good adoptive home for an FeLV+ cat even under the best of circumstances.Was this the ELISA test or the IFA? What other health issues, if any, is the cat having? Approximate age? How's his body weight, appetite, etc.?Give him time to get past any health issues he is having. They are likely the result of life on the streets more than FeLV status. Also, if a cat is debilitated or stressed, you can get a false positive with the ELISA test. So get him healthy, get some weight on him, and retest with the IFA in a month or two. I would want a very accurate read on FeLV status before I could assess whether a potential home was appropriate or not. Evan  Dee [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
 We are in desperate need of placement. About 2 to 3 weeks ago a straycat showed up on our property. For the 1st week or two we could not gonear him. We fed him regularly as we could see he was in need ofveterinary care. Finally, he let us near him  we scheduled a vetappointment on Monday, 08/01/06. To our grave disappointment he isFeLV+. The vet started to give us options, one of which waseuthanasia. I stopped her mid-conversation  said That Was Not AnOption. The vet said due to ethical dilemmas we needed to keep himindoors (to prevent the spread of FeLV  reduce his infection risks).However, staying with us is only a TEMPORARY solution. We have 10healthy indoor cats, 2 of which also go outside in a fence, of our own.We do NOT want them exposed to this virus so the poor dear isisolated/quarantined to his own
 bedroom, which does not have airconditioning  gets fairly hot. This is no way for a feline to live!But this is the best solution we have for him right now on such shortnotice. Do you know of anyone who can help us? We live in the Westernpart of Pennsylvania. We would be willing to transport to an adoptivehome (after proper adoption screening) or foster placement. I can bereached at the above email or by cell phone, (814) 229-5678. Thankyou.~Dee

RE: Kitten love, part 2

[Susan Hoffman]

Shanghai, who passed away a few years ago at the age of 18, was the consummate barfer. We used to accuse him of bulimia. He'd binge, barf, and come looking for a refill. He ruined a couple of monitors with projectile vomiting. It got to the point that I could hear the preliminary sounds in the middle of the night, get a piece of newspaper under wherever he was going to spew, catch the vomit on the paper, and roll back over and go back to sleep without missing a beat. Wish he were still here to barf on me now."MacKenzie, Kerry N." [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:"harrgghhh,
 harrrggghhh"  That's the most common unwanted sound in my house right now. Yep,usually in the wee small hours too. I always leap out of bed so i can see who it is, but about 50 percent of the time I can't tell.  I'm cleaning up every day at the moment. Sometimes more than once. One of them once puked on my hair. This has been going on for a while. It can be any of them. Yesterday it was Tiger. I believe it happened after he'd been chased energetically by one of my fosters,and just after he had breakfast. D'you think that could have been the reason?Three of them have had checkups during that time and deemed ok. ActuallyI think it's often hairballs that are the reason. I mix white petroleumjelly in their wet food when I can bring
 myself to--I say that because the little stin*ers usually turn their noses up at it when it's got the jelly in.   After I discovered the 3rd pool of throw up yesterday (oh yes, and a 4th when i got home last night) in desperation I threw out my last remaining plant.  Kerry  -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Barb MoermondSent: Monday, August 14, 2006 1:41 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: Kitten love, part
 2clean up is actually easier from skin ick, I know. Bandit would start washing my face - VERY enthusiastically and I'd push him away and he'd start biting my fingers, so I'd turn my head, he'd wash, I'd push, he'd bite - over and over and over and overGary Murphy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: OK, so at 3:30 AM today I am sound asleep. Suddenly I am awakened by a strange noise, "harrgghhh, harrrggghhh..." Too late, I realize it is the sound of a kitten puking, IN MY LAP. Luckily, I was wearing pajamas. We had to get up and strip the bed, layed back down, and they all decided it was time to bite feet through the covers. The little darlings...Beth  
   PS. Dash was the puker, it is the second time in a week that he's been sick, I think it is because he is over-stuffing himself on dry food, or because I bought a different brand this time. He seems ok otherwise, so I hope it's nothing more. They go in for their second FeLV vacc. this week, so I'll mention it to the vet then.[EMAIL PROTECTED]  Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito"My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should impress. Merely living his life, doing what pleases him, and making me smile." - Anonymous   Do you Yahoo!?Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.IRS CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE. Any advice expressed above as to tax matters was neither written nor intended by the sender or Mayer, Brown, Rowe  Maw LLP to be used and cannot be used by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed under U.S. tax law. If any person uses or refers to any such tax advice in promoting, marketing or recommending a partnership or other entity, investment plan or arrangement to any taxpayer, then (i) the advice was written to support the promotion or marketing (by a person other than Mayer, Brown, Rowe  Maw LLP) of that transaction or matter, and (ii) such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayers particular circumstances from an independent tax advisorThis email and any files
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Re: :-(

[Susan Hoffman]

Then keep a nice shovel near the door for the doggie. I once chased a couple of pitbulls out of my yard and down the block, until they disappeared behind a house. They threatened a nursing feral momcat in my yard. I was out early on a Sunday morning and saw these two dogs staring at me. I casually picked up a 5 foot long metal fence post and walked around to the back of my house to alert my roommate that I might need medical assistance, then walked back to the side yard. At this point they were inside my yard and I went off. I was so furious that I forgot they were pitbulls. I remember marching down my street early on a Sunday morning, muddy jeans, hair pinned atop my head, yellow rubber gloves on my hands, banging that fence post on the cement and roaring at them. Once I realized what an idiot I was, I was pretty shaken. But, had they gotten ahold of Cutie-Pie or her babies, I
 would have beaten them to death with that fence post.One of those dogs came back once and snuck up on me when I was working in the front yard. I turned around and he wasn't even 2 feet away. For a moment I felt fear -- and he knew it. Then I grabbed a broom off the front porch and repeated the banging/roaring thing. Haven't seen either of them since.So get something heavy, with a sharp edge, and a long handle. Dog tries that again -- embrace your rage and roar.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Thank you so much for the link and for your words. I turned off the news and put on some soothing music to calm us both down and held her
 for a while. She ate something just a bit ago and that's a very good sign.Sadly, I live outside the city limits. It is outside of the police jurisdiction and the sheriff's dept. is useless.Looking forward to reading the information you sent. Thank you,  elizabethIn a message dated 8/17/2006 6:26:11 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:  i'd call the cops if there's a leash law. that could have been a child instead.(which doesn't mean that i'm minimizing that it was mama kitty, sincei'm far fonder of four-leggeds than humans.)do try to calm yourself down, for her sake, cuz she's gonna pick up onyour energy. i don't
 know if cats are like kids, but they might engagein the same sort of magical thinking, and she might think she causedyou to be upset by having to protect her. i'd talk to her a lot andexplain that it wasn't her fault, and remind her how much you love herand how important she is to youif she'll let you, you might want to try some of the basic t-touchmovements--here's the link if you're not familiar with them. verysimple, quite often quickly effective, and will help both of you feelconnected. http://www.lindatellingtonjones.com/ttouchhowto.shtmlyou have every right to be furious--i have little patience withirresponsible dog owners!MCOn 8/17/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm very upset right now. I was walking out to get the mail and my neighbor's mail (he's out of town) when I heard a lot of yelling and turned around in time to see a dog going after
 Mama Kitty - in MY yard on MY sidewalk. She was wild with fear and well she should have been. I dropped the mail - it went everywhere - and started running after that dog screaming N! Mama climbed up the big oak more than 8 ft but then she fell and hit the ground hard and that horrible dog picked her up in his mouth. She's just a tiny thing. She got away and ran up the arbor in the back that has to be 10ft tall and I chased that sorry black dog away. I got her down from the arbor and she ran to the backyard - terrified. I just stood with her a moment and talked to her and then she ran to the back window pawing to get in. I picked her up and carried that sweet girl inside and she's in here now with eyes fully dilated. Keeps looking out the window. With FeVL she does NOT need this kind of
 stress. Those sorry neighbors haven't even checked to see if Mama is ok. I am furious but trying to be calm for her sake. I don't think she has any broken skin or broken bones but it is probably too soon to tell if she is really hurt because she is going on adrenalin. I've a good mind to say something to them about it. I could hear the mother yelling 'who let the dog out'  but that doesn't do much for Mama Kitty. Thanks for letting me rant - I am so upset.-- Spay  Neuter Your Neighbors!Maybe That'll Make The DifferenceMaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892

Re: Treating nose sore

[Susan Hoffman]

Did she get the basic FVRCP vaccines? That covers calicivirus. Could it be ringworm?G D [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hello everyone, I've been a silent member of the listserv since March and have been learning a lot from your discussions and feeling your sorrows as loved ones pass away. I'm now writing for advice -- my Pixie is a largely asymptomatic 2 y/o felv positive and in early August we moved from Philadelphia to the Netherlands (flew Northwest so she could be in the cabin with me).   A few days ago I noticed a small bald patch on the side of her nose and it's been growing in size and is now looking red and irritated. I've been looking up possible causes and I'm scared that it could be feline calicivirus because she has eye discharge, a wet nose, audible breathing, and the occasional sneeze. Does
 anyone have experience with calicivirus, especially in combination with felv?   Perhaps another, happier, explanation could be that Pixie is weirded out by the new environment and is over-grooming? I tried putting Polysporin on the sore a couple of times today and she's successfully groomed it off almost immediately. Any tips on treating the sore -- possible viral causes aside?   Pixie is eating normally and seems fine other than the aforementioned symptoms. I should also note that I gave her dewormer for roundworm two weeks ago, after finding some worms in her vomit. Not sure those worms are totally gone, either. Any advice would be much appreciated! She's my first felv cat and I'm thinking of adopting another (Dutch) one soon, once I know what's up with Pixie... and where toeven find a felv cat in the Netherlands.  Cheers, Giselle

Re: IFA kittens, retest at 6 mo 1 yr? Or is IFA positive final?

[Susan Hoffman]

They still have a chance to throw off the virus, though it is more likely when an adult cat is exposed to feLV. Still, if these kittens appear healthy and "normal" I am a strong believer in giving them the time to clear the virus. If the cat or kitten is asymptomatic then by all means give them the luxury of time.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Someone emailed me a couple of 10 week old FELV+ kittens to add to my website. She says they were confirmed positive on IFA, and she said "so it's in the bone marrow", and implied that retesting wont get any different results later as the IFA is "final". I always thought kittens could throw the virus, even if positive on IFA. So, what's the deal? Is an IFA result the final say, or do these babies have a chance of throwing the virus with time? 10 weeks old is awful young to throw in the towel, isn't it? I would suspect maternal antibodies at this point, but would they show on IFA?  PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT,
 and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program:http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more!It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!BEGIN:VCARDVERSION:2.1N:O'Gwynn;Jenn;Phaewryn;Ms.FN:Jenn Phaewryn O'GwynnNICKNAME:PhaewrynORG:UCAT rescue;operations/field workTITLE:Cat RescuerNOTE:I rescue cats. I run a small personal rescue operation, all on my own, and
 out of pocket. Donations appreciated at any time! Paypal donations can be sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or send donations via check or money order to Jennifer O'Guin, PO Box 1008, Hardwick VT. 05843TEL;WORK;VOICE:802-472-8628TEL;HOME;VOICE:802 472-8628ADR;WORK:;home office;;Hardwick;VT.;05843;USALABEL;WORK;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:home office=0D=0AHardwick, VT. 05843=0D=0AUSAADR;HOME:;;P.O. Box 1008;Hardwick;Vermont;05843;USALABEL;HOME;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:P.O. Box 1008=0D=0AHardwick, Vermont 05843=0D=0AUSAX-WAB-GENDER:1URL;HOME:http://ucat.usURL;WORK:http://ucat.us/adopt.htmlBDAY:19750928EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]EMAIL;INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]EMAIL;INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]REV:20060827T202242ZEND:VCARDNo virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/428 - Release Date: 8/25/2006

Re: IFA kittens, retest at 6 mo 1 yr? Or is IFA positive final?

[Susan Hoffman]

They still have a chance to throw off the virus, though it is more likely when an adult cat is exposed to feLV. Still, if these kittens appear healthy and "normal" I am a strong believer in giving them the time to clear the virus. If the cat or kitten is asymptomatic then by all means give them the luxury of time.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Someone emailed me a couple of 10 week old FELV+ kittens to add to my website. She says they were confirmed positive on IFA, and she said "so it's in the bone marrow", and implied that retesting wont get any different results later as the IFA is "final". I always thought kittens could throw the virus, even if positive on IFA. So, what's the deal? Is an IFA result the final say, or do these babies have a chance of throwing the virus with time? 10 weeks old is awful young to throw in the towel, isn't it? I would suspect maternal antibodies at this point, but would they show on IFA?  PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT,
 and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program:http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more!It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!BEGIN:VCARDVERSION:2.1N:O'Gwynn;Jenn;Phaewryn;Ms.FN:Jenn Phaewryn O'GwynnNICKNAME:PhaewrynORG:UCAT rescue;operations/field workTITLE:Cat RescuerNOTE:I rescue cats. I run a small personal rescue operation, all on my own, and
 out of pocket. Donations appreciated at any time! Paypal donations can be sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or send donations via check or money order to Jennifer O'Guin, PO Box 1008, Hardwick VT. 05843TEL;WORK;VOICE:802-472-8628TEL;HOME;VOICE:802 472-8628ADR;WORK:;home office;;Hardwick;VT.;05843;USALABEL;WORK;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:home office=0D=0AHardwick, VT. 05843=0D=0AUSAADR;HOME:;;P.O. Box 1008;Hardwick;Vermont;05843;USALABEL;HOME;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:P.O. Box 1008=0D=0AHardwick, Vermont 05843=0D=0AUSAX-WAB-GENDER:1URL;HOME:http://ucat.usURL;WORK:http://ucat.us/adopt.htmlBDAY:19750928EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]EMAIL;INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]EMAIL;INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]REV:20060827T202242ZEND:VCARDNo virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/428 - Release Date: 8/25/2006

Re: IFA kittens, retest at 6 mo 1 yr? Or is IFA positive final?

[Susan Hoffman]

That's all too true. Irrevocable decisions are made on the basis of an in-office ELISA test. If cats were routinely tested with the IFA and given the time and environment to throw off the virus, what would we discover about FeLV?TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:nope, cats CAN indeed test negative on the IFA if they were tested before they had thrown off the virus. it can take up to six or seven months for a negative IFA to become positive, tho even with the IFA, 120-days is the norm. in rescue, most cats never are given the chance to HAVE an ifa in the first place, no less to be retested even once. if the cat has a home and it's important to know the status, then retesting is great  On 8/27/06, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: They are the two on the top on this page:  http://ucat.us/FELVadopt.html  They look healthy to me.PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners: http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program: http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more! It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!  No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 /
 Virus Database: 268.11.6/428 - Release Date: 8/25/2006-- Spay  Neuter Your Neighbors!Maybe That'll Make The DifferenceMaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 

Re: Fw: [HANDICATS2] SEEKING: FELV+ Maine Coon (or copycat) in NE area, or CO.

[Susan Hoffman]

I urge everyone looking for a special needs cat to check the cats listed at http://www.bemikitties.com/felv/cgi-bin/suite/classifieds/classifieds.cgiand everyone with a special needs foster to list there. This site provides a wonderful freenationwide listing service for FIV, FeLV and other special cats. Please circulate the web address widely. (My FIV+ foster, CeCe, is listed there. So was FeLV+ Esprit, but she was adopted by her foster and really is living a fairytale life in Costa Mesa now.)TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:On 8/29/06, Patricia Lamoretti [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: BuddyBoy, who is double positive (FeLV and FIV), was relocated to Best Friends in Kanab, Utah, from NY in February.Some may say Best Friends is a great place but it's not a "real" home and if a space opens up in their leuk house, they can take another unfortunate kitty in. If you want more information, please let me know and I'll put you in touch with the right people. PAT   Pam Norman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is a wonderful
 opportunity to place a kitty that would otherwise probably be euthanized!Pam- Original Message -   From: Phaewryn   To: Peggy Dial, purebred cats ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Linda Mercer/CFA Purebred Rescue ; carol, Maine Coon Rescue ; [EMAIL PROTECTED]   Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; LVVS ; [EMAIL PROTECTED]   Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 9:29 PM  Subject: [HANDICATS2] SEEKING: FELV+ Maine Coon (or copycat) in NE area, or CO.I have a request from someone that is looking for a FELV+ Maine Coon or a look alike as a companion to her current FELV+ Maine Coon. If you know of any in the North Eastern USA (or Colorado), please
 send me the info to pass along. She will be in Rhode Island, moving from Colorado soon. Not sure if driving or flying, may be open to cats along the route, not sure. I've already searched Petfinder and Craig's List, and found only 3 FELV Coonies (which is a good thing, I know, but I am SURE there are more out there in local animal control shelters and smaller humane rescues that don't list on petfinder, so if you see a Coonie-looking cat at your local shelter (or vet's office), if the shelter doesn't do FELV testing, send the info along, I'm sure even saving a healthy cat to be an FELV cat's companion would be preferable to death at the shelter!). Thanks,  PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT,
 and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners: http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program: http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more! It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to
 a sick cat in need!  __._,_.___   Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic   Messages  You are receiving Individual Emails Change Delivery Settings Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Visit Your Group   SPONSORED LINKS  Cat health care   Cat health   Cat health insurance   Cat food health   Cat   Find Deals  Yahoo! Shopping  Find great deals  for Back to School.Yahoo! TV  Want the scoop?  Check out today's  news and gossip.Y! GeoCities  Share Your Resume  Show off your  talent and skills.  . __,_._,___ No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/428 - Release Date: 8/25/2006How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger�s low PC-to-Phone call rates. -- Spay  Neuter Your Neighbors!Maybe That'll Make The DifferenceMaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 

Re: OT Food and IBD - Kelly

[Susan Hoffman]

A grocery outlet store near me has 4-POUND cans of salmon on sale right now for $3.99 a can. Around here, that's one meal. I will be so unhappy when they sell out their stock on this item.kelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  At 12:08 PM 9/2/2006, you wrote:Glad to hear this. I am also a member of Catwell,, the homeopathic group sort of, They recommend Pro Pac (not pro plan) kitten dry for all the cats. it is a good food,,hard to find and not outrageously pricey but up there. I mix it with the KirklandI feed canned about once a week,,I have special need cats with special diets,,My IBD my FIV my CRF etc,,,Most of us are paying this out of our own pockets, plus the expensive vet bills,,We do the very best we can to care for those that now one else bothered with.Too bad we can form a cat
 food C0 OP and get cheaper prices,,and least in Geographical areas,Kelly Lanewww.kellyscats.zoomshare.com/I thought it was about time to change the subject line. I hear you about the cost of canned food and quality dry. There's no way I could do it at my house for everyone either. I feed quality dry inside and the best inexpensive cat food I can afford to the ferals outside, (I use the Costco brand). Gypsy is the only one getting the turkey mush at my house, except for the occasional treat to some of the others that really like it. I use every part of the turkey I can, (it helps assuage my guilt a little bit). We even boil the carcass for broth to add to the dog's food. I'm lucky that Gypsy really likes her mush and as long as it's available to her, she leaves the dry alone.Kelley Saveika wrote:As far as food, yes, most
 of them are on dry. I don't like it, but I feed about 80 pounds of dry per month, and I absolutely can't afford to feed them all canned. I did the math when I put Missy on Evo and it would be $600 per month to put them all on Evo, which is really what I would like to do.--No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/436 - Release Date: 9/1/2006

Re: OT Food and IBD - Kelly

[Susan Hoffman]

I wish I could afford to do that. I go through more than 30 pounds of dry food a week, 28 pounds of scoopable litter a day, and whenever I see Friskies canned food on sale for 4/$1 I dance all the way to the grocery. And, of course, we must have large quantities of catnip. Daffy, my 18 year old, has earned her daily bowls of cream. I must have canned condensed goats milk and Pedialyte in stock for underweight kittens. Little Sister likes her Marie Callendar rice, broccoli, chicken and cheese casseroles and a little carrot cake for dessert. (Yes, I'm serious. And she deserves it every once in awhile.)Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Tell 'em your willing to take it all off their hands for a further discount!Susan Hoffman wrote: A grocery outlet store near me has 4-POUND cans of
 salmon on sale  right now for $3.99 a can. Around here, that's one meal. I will be  so unhappy when they sell out their stock on this item. */kelly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/* wrote: At 12:08 PM 9/2/2006, you wrote: Glad to hear this. I am also a member of Catwell,, the homeopathic group sort of, They recommend Pro Pac (not pro plan) kitten dry for all the cats. it is a good food,,hard to find and not outrageously pricey but up there. I mix it with the KirklandI feed canned about once a week,,I have special need cats with special diets,,My IBD my FIV my CRF etc,,, Most of us are paying this out of our own pockets, plus the expensive vet bills,, We do the very best we can to care for those that now one else bothered with. Too bad we can form a cat food C0 OP and get cheaper prices,,and least in Geographical
 areas, Kelly Lane www.kellyscats.zoomshare.com/ I thought it was about time to change the subject line. I hear you about the cost of canned food and quality dry. There's no way I could do it at my house for everyone either. I feed quality dry inside and the best inexpensive cat food I can afford to the ferals outside, (I use the Costco brand). Gypsy is the only one getting the turkey mush at my house, except for the occasional treat to some of the others that really like it. I use every part of the turkey I can, (it helps assuage my guilt a little bit). We even boil the carcass for broth to add to the dog's food. I'm lucky that Gypsy really likes her mush and as long as it's available to her, she leaves the dry alone.  Kelley Saveika wrote: 
 As far as food, yes, most of them are on dry. I don't like it, but I feed about 80 pounds of dry per month, and I absolutely can't afford to feed them all canned. I did the math when I put Missy on Evo and it would be $600 per month to put them all on Evo, which is really what I would like to do. -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/436 - Release Date: 9/1/2006

Re: OT Food and IBD - Kelly

[Susan Hoffman]

We do the WalMart "Special Kitty brand in the big green box too. Scoop (at least) twice a day, add new litter as needed during the week, then dump, bleach-clean, and refill on the weekends. Six litter boxes, not counting the mini-box in the condo with two feral kittens in the process of socialization, 30 or so cats and kittens. Always washing throw rugs so there is something clean in front of the boxes. Always with the paper, magazines and catalogs, or cardboard beneath the boxes. Whisk brooms and dustpans and containers of Chlorox bleach sheets near all the boxes for quick cleanups during the week. (That's another huge expense -- Chlorox bleach sheets. Wish I could find a cheaper substitute but, with a full time job and a long commute, I need labor-saving devices. I dont have time to haul out a mop bucket and wash rags every day.)kelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  At 08:09 PM 9/2/2006, you wrote:That is sad. Sammy was outside for 4 years,,,But he turned out to be a real old pussy cat sometimes, but he is very possessive of me,,,This is a first, If I am out in the cat park and he comes out he makes sure no other cat get within 5 feet of me,,,He is not a vicious fighter though,,and has joined my group just fine,,,Are you part of the FIV network,, I thought so Pat has a mean FIV cat that she has had to give his own room to also,Is there a garage he could winter in???Euthanizing healthy cats is so ugly to all of us saving them..The litter, I have so many cats the whole thing is refilled each week with new litter,,I could not go a month, I just scoop until it about gone ,,toss wash and start overand over and over, I use the one from Costco or Wallmart,,but I have 40 cats,,,Kellywww.kellyscats.zoomshare.com/  Oh yeah, I see what you're saying. So you never do a full box change with the scoopable you use? Wow, that's amazing, I always had to change the entire box at least once a month, as the clumps would break up over time, and the bits would be too small to scoop, so it would begin to reek after a month. You must be using a brand I had never tried.Yeah, you're right about the FIV and FELV contagions risks. FELV is more apt to be transmitted than FIV if all the cats are friendly to each other. I wouldn't think twice of mixing a FIV in with negatives, if the FIV cat was friendly and there wasn't any risk of him attacking anyone. Unfortunately, for me, I have an FIV+ cat here now that is stuck outside (and I don't believe in outdoor cats, other than ferals, but I have no options), because he is VICIOUS to other cats.
 He's a horrible beast, really. Sweet as a kitten to humans, dogs, and kids, but HATES other cats with a passion. So in cases like that, I wouldn't mix, so he has to live outside. I've been trying to find him a home with no other cats for months and months, but no takers so far. All the dog people don't want a cat, and all the people that might want to adopt a cat already have at least one, so he can't go there. Really discouraging for me, because I have ferals that wont come home most of the time because he attacks them. It's getting colder now, and they NEED to be able to come get in their insulated shelter, so Zack is a huge concern for me right now. I really hate to euthanize this cat, but it may come to that soon.PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program:http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more!It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/436 - Release Date: 9/1/2006

Re: OT Food and IBD - Kelly

[Susan Hoffman]

When I scoop I add more litter to bring it back up to a certain level. So I'm continually adding fresh litter throughout the week before dumping completely on the weekend.Keep listing Zack. Do you have a craigslist.org metro area near you? List in their pets section too. You need to list every couple of days if your craigslist is active (keep the listing on the first page or second), list in the local paper, list in all the onlinee groups. Is he listed at Bemi Kitties? Also, we are near the end of kitten season so rscues should have more space soon.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Oh, I see how that works... but don't you get really nasty flat patties when it gets really low on litter? Maybe my cats pee more
 volume (each cat, at one time)than yours do.   Unfortunately, no, I don't have a garage or anywhere Zack can be put for the winter. I live in a three room apartment, and there's just no way to separate in a place this small, plus, if he's around other cats he sprays really bad. He doesn't spray unless there's other cats' scents he has to mark over. I keep hoping someone will come through for him, but it'slooking really bleak.I can't even cage him inside, as he fights with all the cats through the cage bars so bad that it would keep us awake all night.  PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program:http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more!It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/436 - Release Date: 9/1/2006

Re: OT - Zack

[Susan Hoffman]

Something else to consider, which I have done on rare ocassion with good results, is psychiatric medication. One of my own cats iss on Prozac due to brain abnormalities most likely the result of her mother being starved during pregnancy. I'll skip the long story but my vet put Peepers on prozac about 18 months ago. She was so hyper-defensive and aggressive that I did consider having her euthanized. The prozac was a last resort and for Peepers has literally saved her life. Peepers is on it for life but twice we have had foster cats who were horroble/dangerous with other cats and put them on it temporarily out of desperation while they acclimated to a multi-cat environment and until other arrangements could be made. It helped a great deal. Talk to your vet about something along these lines. (Someone I know gets Elavil in a salve that can be rubbed inside a cat's ear. Another possibility)Nina
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Phaewryn,I feel for you with your dilemma with Zack. I have a traumatized kitty, I may have mentioned her, (Matilda), the thought of euthanasia has crossed my mind with her too. If it truly comes to that with Zack, couldn't you cage him and cover his cage at night? The "fence fighting" might go on for a few nights, even covered, but I can't imagine that it would go on forever. If you think of it as saving his life, it might be worth the upheaval and it might just help him see that it's possible that not everyone is out to get him. After all, we all know you can be sick in mind as well as body. I know you'd cage him if he were sick in body. It would also allow your outside ferals to get to their food and shelter. If the worst happens, (knowing you, I don't think it will), he'll
 already be contained and bringing him to the vet will be less traumatic for all concerned.What ever happened with that "favorite" feral you had relocated to your house? The one that went missing. Did he/she ever show back up? I know how upsetting it is to only be able to do so much for them and always wonder what happened :([EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Unfortunately, no, I don't have a garage or anywhere Zack can be put  for the winter. I live in a three room apartment, and there's just no  way to separate in a place this small, plus, if he's around other cats  he sprays really bad. He doesn't spray unless there's other cats'  scents he has to mark over. I keep hoping someone will come through  for him, but it's looking really bleak. I can't even cage him inside,  as he fights with all the cats through the cage bars so bad that it  would keep us awake all night.
 Phaewryn

Re: OT - Zack

[Susan Hoffman]

Something else to consider, which I have done on rare ocassion with good results, is psychiatric medication. One of my own cats iss on Prozac due to brain abnormalities most likely the result of her mother being starved during pregnancy. I'll skip the long story but my vet put Peepers on prozac about 18 months ago. She was so hyper-defensive and aggressive that I did consider having her euthanized. The prozac was a last resort and for Peepers has literally saved her life. Peepers is on it for life but twice we have had foster cats who were horroble/dangerous with other cats and put them on it temporarily out of desperation while they acclimated to a multi-cat environment and until other arrangements could be made. It helped a great deal. Talk to your vet about something along these lines. (Someone I know gets Elavil in a salve that can be rubbed inside a cat's ear. Another possibility)Nina
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Phaewryn,I feel for you with your dilemma with Zack. I have a traumatized kitty, I may have mentioned her, (Matilda), the thought of euthanasia has crossed my mind with her too. If it truly comes to that with Zack, couldn't you cage him and cover his cage at night? The "fence fighting" might go on for a few nights, even covered, but I can't imagine that it would go on forever. If you think of it as saving his life, it might be worth the upheaval and it might just help him see that it's possible that not everyone is out to get him. After all, we all know you can be sick in mind as well as body. I know you'd cage him if he were sick in body. It would also allow your outside ferals to get to their food and shelter. If the worst happens, (knowing you, I don't think it will), he'll
 already be contained and bringing him to the vet will be less traumatic for all concerned.What ever happened with that "favorite" feral you had relocated to your house? The one that went missing. Did he/she ever show back up? I know how upsetting it is to only be able to do so much for them and always wonder what happened :([EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Unfortunately, no, I don't have a garage or anywhere Zack can be put  for the winter. I live in a three room apartment, and there's just no  way to separate in a place this small, plus, if he's around other cats  he sprays really bad. He doesn't spray unless there's other cats'  scents he has to mark over. I keep hoping someone will come through  for him, but it's looking really bleak. I can't even cage him inside,  as he fights with all the cats through the cage bars so bad that it  would keep us awake all night.
 Phaewryn

Re: OT Food and IBD - Kelly

[Susan Hoffman]

I do the majority of my adoptions through the Bay Area craigslist. That's how I found most of my foster homes too. Screen well and request a nominal adoption fee. (Bunchers get about $5 per animal. Never list for free anywhere.) Craigslist is a great resource. The Bay Area one was the first and they get 1000s of hits in their pets section every day. Just use it wisely and with discernment.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  No local rescues will take FIV+ aggressive cats. The closest metro area is over 50 miles away, and I've heard really bad things about craig's list anyways (bunchers use it to scam free animals). I think he's on bemikitties, I'll have to check. I post him periodically to the FIVCATS2
 list at yahoogroups, as well as Special_Needs_ Rescue_Cats. I've even asked Best Friends, but this cat can't be put in with any other cats, so he will never be accepted into any sanctuary (he could live the rest of his life in a cage somewhere, but I think euthanasia is kinder than that). I just have to keep hoping some kind DOG rescue will consider taking him in as an "office cat". That's the only thing I can think of that would possibly work for him. No vet will take him as an office cat, because of his FIV+ status. He's supposedly GREAT with dogs (at least big dogs)and kids, his old owner had both. I've got him posted up on the bulletin board at my vet's office too. Plus, my website, though I admit, I don't know how much traffic my adoption page really gets.  PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter
 services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program:http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more!It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/436 - Release Date: 9/1/2006

Re: OT - Zack

[Susan Hoffman]

For Peepers, Prozac is not a sedative. It effects serotonin levels in the brain. Her's are haywire anyway. I think of it like lithium given to someone who is bipolar, replacing something that should have been there to start with.Great book on psycho-kitties and their treatment: The Cat Who Cried for Help: Attitudes, Emotions, and the Psychology of Cats, by Nicholas Dodman (http://tinyurl.com/hj4lu)Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi Susan,I've started to seriously consider pharmaceutical help for my psycho kitty Matilda. (A good start would be for me to stop calling her "psycho kitty" :) ). It will be a last resort and I have to do some research on it. Someone else mentioned Clomacalm (sp?). Have you ever heard of
 it? I detest the idea of having an animal that has to be segregated for the rest of their life, just a little more than the thought of keeping someone sedated. I keep telling myself, "never say never". Patience, patience, patience!NinaSusan Hoffman wrote: Something else to consider, which I have done on rare ocassion with  good results, is psychiatric medication. One of my own cats iss on  Prozac due to brain abnormalities most likely the result of her mother  being starved during pregnancy. I'll skip the long story but my vet  put Peepers on prozac about 18 months ago. She was so hyper-defensive  and aggressive that I did consider having her euthanized. The prozac  was a last resort and for Peepers has literally saved her life.  Peepers is on it for life but twice we have had foster cats who were  horroble/dangerous with other cats and put them on it temporarily out
  of desperation while they acclimated to a multi-cat environment and  until other arrangements could be made. It helped a great deal. Talk  to your vet about something along these lines. (Someone I know gets  Elavil in a salve that can be rubbed inside a cat's ear. Another  possibility)

Re: OT - Zack

[Susan Hoffman]

Try craigslist. Ask for a foster or foster-to-adopt situation. Be honest that he needs an only-cat home butsing his praises -- handsome, great with dogs, etc. -- too. Plan on delivering to his new home so you can do a home inspection at the same time. Require a vet reference. Ask a $20 adoption fee. The combination of home visit, vet reference, and small adoption fee will get rid of 98% of the weirdos. If your craigslist is busy like the one in the Bay Area, list a couple of days a week, like Tuesday and Thursday, so the ad stays fresh. Persist! Use EVERY available resource. There's a home out there somewhere. You just have to find it. (I've had seniors, special needs cats, and cats who were awful with other cats too. I'm not a fuzzy-kitten rescue. So I know this is not easy. But it is not impossible.)Give craigslist a shot, twice a
 week. And any local newspaper with a classified section. What's the worst that can happen? You turn people down 'cause something doesn't feel right? Give it a try.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Mackenziewas my favorite feral. I see him once a month or so, Zack scares them all away most of the time. I do know he's alive, but that's about all I know. Him and Spooky (the bw FIV+ male) seem to have buddied up, as they appear together when they come. Hopefully that brings them the safety of numbers, at least. Rusty is now my new favorite, but only because he's the only one determined enough to refuse to be run off by Zack, much to Zack's disappointment. They fight constantly, but he refuses to give up his space (the back yard). Zack owns the porch
 and the road, Rusty owns the backyard. It's still up to debate daily though. Right now, I do have the cage mostly covered, as I do HAVE to bring Zack inside for storms, as he freaks out when there's any thunder at all. My main issue is my dominant male housecat, Doobie. He harasses Zack, Zack harasses back. Even if I cover the entire cage with a blanket, and only leave a little front of it uncovered, they will fight through the bars. I've considered buying some Plexiglas, and making a custom cage cover to go over it, with small bore holes drilled throughout the glass for ventilation. That would at least stop the physical contact, BUT, it wouldn't stop the endless "G,RRR,YEOW,HAK,SKTPF,YOW,KERTCH,HA,SHHH,GR!" that is the constant result of Zack and Doobie being within earshot of each other. (I'm sure I couldn't afford the materials though, anyways) I also have no doors in the apartment, other than the one that closes off the bedroom from
 the livingroom or kitchen, and the one from the bedroom to the bathroom, so even if I put Doobie in the bedroom area, we can't get any sleep, as he will dig at the door for hours on end trying to dig his way into the room he's locked out of.All of this because someone lied to me about Zack to begin with, told me he was friendly. He was supposed to come here as his last chance, to join the feral colony. Instead, he harasses the feral colony so bad that they would rather starve to death than come here to eat (I can only assume that's the fate of the cats I have not seen in months).It is still, and always will be, my opinion that euthanasia is far kinder than any prolonged period in a cage. I will NOT cage Zack all winter, which would be more than half the year here (7-8 months of temperatures below freezing at night, and at least 3 months of temperatures below freezing day and night). He was a very much loved
 housecat, and even having him live outside is not nice to him, all of his life, he slept on the bed, and snuggled on the sofa, until he came here, were he was thrown out, and never gets more than a pat in passing. This life is just NOT fair to Zack, and as much as I hate to do it, I will euthanise him once it gets cold if no home is found. Zack deserves to be a loved part of a family, like he was before, not locked in a cage. Try it for yourself. Do something illegal, and get put in jail for 3 months. I think you'll have a different opinion of cage life afterwards.In our society it seems that the worst punishment we can come up with for our most rotten members of society is caging them. Yet we do it to animals all the time, innocent animals, who did nothing to deserve to be punished. What a hypocrisy we live in. It really saddens me. The fact that so many of us don't even associate the word "cage" with it's true meaning is the worst part. We've let ourselves become
 numb to term. Most of us, when we hear the word cage, we think of cute kittens, reaching out through the bars, or an animal in intensive care at the vet's clinic, where the cage protects them and keeps them still and quiet. Yet, the very basic principal of the word cage SHOULD invoke a dire sense of loss of freedom. We should envision prisoners of war, old style zoos, where big cats paced back and forth in a 8x8 cage with sterile walls. A cage shouldn't be anything positive in our minds, 

Re: OT Food and IBD - Kelly

[Susan Hoffman]

Where? You're in Vermont, right? Did you receive a self-publishing link via email from craigslist after you submitted your listing? Make sure you say "Bengal" in the ad headline. That's an attention-grabber.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  He's on both craig's list and the bemikitties site now! $40 adoption fee, 5 pageapplication, and home visit required. That should weed out any whackos.  PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs
 Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.html Please shop online through i-give and support the Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program:http://www.igive.com/FVEAP Shop at GREAT stores, like Drs. Foster  Smith, Pet Food Direct, Musician's Friend, and LOTS more!It doesn't cost you a single penny more, and it makes so much difference to a sick cat in need!No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/436 - Release Date: 9/1/2006

RE: OT - Zack

[Susan Hoffman]

Putting Peepers on Prozac was a last resort. When we drove to the vet for her initial evaluation all I could think was how that drive easily could have been for a very different and irreversible purpose. We really had to consider the possibility of euthanizing her -- she was so hyper-defensive that if anyone sat within 5 feet of her she felt threatened and tried to kill them, her own mother included. Not cut out for a multi-cat environment so sanctuaries were out. She wasn't all that great with people either -- used to jum up straight up and go for my eyes -- so adoption into an only-cat home wasn't an option either. We had taken to tucking her in for the night in a big condo cage because, in the middle of the night, she would sneak into my room and try to attack one of the other cats who slept IN MY ARMS. Yes, she attacked Trixie in my arms every night around 2 or 3 a.m. Fortunately, my vet
 understood where I was coming from pretty quickly. I mean, he had to send us home with an oralsedative and have us bring her back the next day already sedated so he could give her a booster shot. To this day they have been unable to weigh her. He suggested Prozac rather quickly.Getting the Prozac in her was a problem. We worked with a compounding pharmacy and tried an allegedly liver-flavored syrup. Then we had it made into little Pounch-type treats. No matter what, my housemate and I had to chase her down every 24 hours and wrap her in a towel to get the meds in her. Not what you want to do with a cat who is already paranoid. However, within a week or two we saw improvement.Peepers has always considered my housemate her person. I'm just the kitchenh help. So now Larry is the one who medicates her. We've taken to ordering the Prozac online
 so we now get 400 dosages for around $80. Peepers gets a 5 mg dose and she now gets it every other day. This has made such a huge difference in Peepers' life. She's been on it since February 2005 and hasn't gone off on anyone (I mean she used to chase cats through the house screeching) in all that time. She will now hang out on the bed with other cats nearby. Her mother, a very sweet little tuxedo cat, isn't terrified of her anymore. She isn't cuddling with anyone but we have reached peaceful coexistence. Peepers' life is now closer to normal than anything we had ever hoped for.I don't think mindless agression is normal in altered cats. Usually they learn tolive in proximity with one another without anyone getting killed.And if that doesn't seem workable, no matter howslowly you make the introductions, then there may be
 something biochemical going on.Oh, just had a thought -- we use ourfoyer as intake space for newbies. We have a screen door between the foyer and living room. Keeps new kids contained and everyonee can see everyone else, sniff noses, whatever. Maybe install a screen door on your bathroom and start Zack in there?Diane Rosenfeldt [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Phaerwyn, I certainly respect the depth of your feeling on the subject, but I think your personal take on the *human* need for physical freedom is clouding your perceptions of what the CAT would want. Remember that they're lair animals, so
 cages judiciously used don't automatically scream "prison" to a cat, they say "safety." I'm not saying contain them 24/7 but they're really not going to mind the cage the 20 hours a day they're sleeping. ;-) If you could give Zack some quality time both in and out of the cage, maybe he would gradually lose his "issues." Personally, we've got a "psycho kitty" of our own, he's sorta the feline equivalent of Popeye's Bluto, all swagger and bullying. Please don't kill me, but when Gail and I combined households and Tribble had 4 other cats to beat up on, we very reluctantly made the decision to have him front-declawed, though it was against everything in our philosophies, for the sake of the others. We found a place that uses laser, to minimize the pain. This was not an ideal solution, not only because of the mutilation, but also because he still has his teeth. But at least he has to get closer to them now, and they all know
 enough not to let him. We haven't been able to vet him for a long time, and we often half-joke that if he ever needs pills, he's doomed. Let me tell you, the post that mentioned Elavil ear-cream is making me go hm. We both know that if Tribble weren't here, we would have many fewer hassles, but neither of us would dream of sending him along. There are moments when he's utterly endearing. He's never been actually diagnosed with anything, but I think there must be some disorder. Sometimes he'll want to just press his forehead against you, maybe he gets migraines or something. As for making Plexiglas cage partitions, you can get window-replacement Lexan for maybe $15 for a large sheet at home stores. It's very clear (I
 used it, with mirror hangers, to protect my many posters in my last place), and you can cut it down 

Re: Felv pos to neg

[Susan Hoffman]

I know there are people on this list who have seen a positive turn negative, using IFA for both tests, after 6 or 8 MONTHS. I think if youu see an ELISA positive turn negative after 6-10 weeks then you had a false positive to start with.kelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I would just like to know statistically if anyone out there has had the initial test pos and then after 6-10 weeks become neg,,,either ELisa of IFA...and stay neg??Has anyone out there used Immuno regulin on a newly dignosed FELV before they were symptomatic and the results on succeeding tests,Already using Vit C and lysineKelly

Re: Kitty Prozac (was OT - Zack

[Susan Hoffman]

Peepers gets 5 mg of prozac daily. Emailed this infoo to Phaeryn off-list but wanted to share it with the group. We stopped ordering the prozac through my vet and started ordering online. I buy the generic 20 mg tablets and cut into quarters. This gives me a 400 day supply for $42.Go to http://www.1drugstore-online.com/showprice.asp?name=prozacbysearch=ok  I have ordered various meds from this web site without a prescription on multiple ocassions and they are very very reliable. Takes 10-14 days to get your order though because they are based in Thailand.BTW, Fluoxetine is simply the generic name for Prozac. Kitty prozac and people prozac is the same medication. Only the dosage is different.And, uh, it does seem to work for
 spraying and inappropriate urination (the center of my bed on a daily basis is the height of "inappropriate"). I have a one-year old foster boy, neutered but with strong alpha tendencies, who started peeing on my bed and my roommate's clothes when the last group of foster kittens arrived. Last night was day three of his prozac andknock on wood...all is good.Belinda [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  This is what Cody was getting kitty Prozac for, it worked very well. It is called Fluoxetine, we tried others first, Amitriptyline, there was another but I can't remember the name, they all worked to some extent, but the Fluoxetine was what finally completely stopped the spraying. I never seem to be able to get in and out of the vet's office for  under $100. Do you think it would eliminate the
 spraying issue too?-- Belindahappiness is being owned by cats ...Be-Mi-Kittieshttp://bemikitties.comPost Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittenshttp://adopt.bemikitties.comFeLV Candlelight Servicehttp://bemikitties.com/clsHostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting  web design]http://HostDesign4U.comBMK Designs [non-profit animals websites]http://bmk.bemikitties.com

Re: The vet I had taken Angel to...

[Susan Hoffman]

The most incredible tear-jerker came for me more than a year ago. A foster kitten had to be euthanized because of wet FIP. I received a card from my vet's office. They had made a donation in her name. (I'm tearing up right now. Gotta stop that. I'm at work.) Marylyn [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  My vets do that, including my alternative vet. Most of the time they enclose a copy of Rainbow Bridge. They are the greatest. The kennel I left my dogs at sent flowers when Allie Beagle left this world.If you have men who will exclude any of God's creaturesfrom the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men whowill deal likewise with their fellow man.St. Francis- Original Message - From: "wendy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>To:
 Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 6:30 PMSubject: Re: The vet I had taken Angel to... My vet sent one when Cricket died. All the vet techs signed it, and he did too. It made me feel good. :) Wendy --- kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: As many of you know, the vet I had originally taken Angel to wanted me to have her euthanized right away after she tested positive. I had spent weeks looking for a new vet for her and finally decided to try this one, when she became ill and needed to be seen last week. I just wanted to share that a lady from the vets office had called me last Wed. to check on Angel. I had to share the bad news and tell her I had lost Angel. Anyway, the vet himself sent me a condolence card in the mail
 yesterday and I really thought that was nice. I mean, how many vets take the time to do that? It was very comforting to me. - Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: Lucy again

[Susan Hoffman]

I had the same problem. Maddening! This was right after Marie developed colitis and the fecal showed tritrichomomos foetus, which is often mistaken for flagyl-resistant giardia. I was trying to share that info and an off-list email I received urhed me to trim and post but i was never able to trim to their standardskelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  At 03:18 PM 9/9/2006, you wrote:Ya ..I left for the same reasons,,especially if I did not agree on the RAW stuff,,,It would be a good place to gather infor on Budesonide for your vet..you can just go their archives and print up stuff on it from there and take it to your vet also,  I was on that group for a while, but the moderator was very mean and kept refusing to post my messages because she said
 I either included too much of the previous post or not enough, and when I said something about not having this problem on other lists and really needing to just get some advice she went off at me in a really nasty email, so I left the group. Unfortunately.MichelleIn a message dated 9/9/2006 6:01:23 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:Also try the   [EMAIL PROTECTED]  good support and suggestions  KellyNo virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.2/442 - Release Date: 9/8/2006

Re: timing on FeLV+ test

[Susan Hoffman]

I'd give it at least 2 months. How old is he?Susan Franklin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Gunnar was first tested positive using the Elissa test on August 3.He just started eating Wellness wet/dry, and I started the Mega C onSaturday.When do you recommend I take him back for his retest? Is September 23too soon? And should I do the Elissa again? And keep doing the Elissauntil we (hopefully) get two negative results? When should the IFA testbeing taken?Please help me with the timing on this - I want my little man to throwthe virus and be negativeKeep the faith, keep your fingers crossed and take care.Susan F.Chicago_CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE:This e-mail is intended only for the use of the
 individual or entity towhich it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this e-mail message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivery of the message to the intendedrecipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately by telephone at (312) 554-3300 and also indicate the sender's name. Thank you.

Re: timing on FeLV+ test

[Susan Hoffman]

I'd give it at least 2 months. How old is he?Susan Franklin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Gunnar was first tested positive using the Elissa test on August 3.He just started eating Wellness wet/dry, and I started the Mega C onSaturday.When do you recommend I take him back for his retest? Is September 23too soon? And should I do the Elissa again? And keep doing the Elissauntil we (hopefully) get two negative results? When should the IFA testbeing taken?Please help me with the timing on this - I want my little man to throwthe virus and be negativeKeep the faith, keep your fingers crossed and take care.Susan F.Chicago_CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE:This e-mail is intended only for the use of the
 individual or entity towhich it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this e-mail message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivery of the message to the intendedrecipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately by telephone at (312) 554-3300 and also indicate the sender's name. Thank you.

Re: timing on FeLV+ test

[Susan Hoffman]

One thing I always consider with testing -- the tests, the trip to a vet and drawing of blood, is really stressful for the cat. So if you have even a single positive ELISA test, go with the IFA next time. The less the cat needs to be tested, the better.TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  i'd definitely go for the IFA instead of the elissa--the false positive rate is just too high on the latter. i don't know how much actual research there is on how long it can take to clear on the IFA--i'd seen a cite of up to 8 months from exposure, tho that one no longer appears where i saw it. belinda says it was a year. part of the issue is that, if after all that time, the cats is still positive, does it really matter? for keeping on eye on things, yes, but if the kitty's been in your family that long, it's not likely that
 his status will really make much difference in whether he stays, is it? others will have more info re: mixing positives with negatives, and/or mixing unvaccinated negatives with positives. personally, i would vaccinate my negatives and mix with no problem, but there's an ongoing debate about the safety of vaccinations that each individual needs to weigh. MCOn 9/11/06, Susan Franklin [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   You guys, as I've said before, are FANTASTIC.Whenever I get down aboutstuff I read on other Internet sites regarding
 mixing or throwing off the virus, I can always count on coming to you and getting anoptimistic, truthful and knowledgeable answer.Thank you, thank you, thank youI will reschedule Gunnar'sappointment for 120 days from August 3.Instead of re-testing with the ELISA, I will have the IFA test done.That is correct??And if, God forbid, the IFA is positive after 120 days, how many moredays would you recommend I wait before I retest again??And are you guys okay with mixing??My girls are 16 and almost 8. Gunnar is 1-1/2 or 2.The girls are in the process of being vaccinated.I'm sure they won't be grooming each other, so all I need to do is keepthe litter box clean and worry about the food/water bowls.I can pick up breakfast/lunch/dinner dishes immediately after meals, but what's thebest route to take regarding the water bowl?And I
 guess I would cleanthe litter box in the morning and when I get home each night from work. Does this sound like a safe plan?Any other suggestions would beappreciated.Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your advice andwords of wisdom.You've made a nervous "sister" to three cats a more calmer person. Like I told our vet, who said "don't count on it" whenI told her we were literally praying to throw the virus, I trust andbelieve more in what I read on this site than I would the vet's office. You guys have "been there, done that."And you've got love, which isthe strongest feeling of all.God bless all of you and your kitties!!Keep the faith.Susan F.Chicago, Illinois sister to Kelly (16 - just had her Sweet 16 on Saturday), Meagan(7-1/2) and Gunnar (1-1/2-2). [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9/11/06 3:07:48 PM  retest using the IFA at a minimum of 90 days--i go for 120 days sincemosttimes it takes between three and four months to clear the virus--sounless you are absolutely sure that he couldn't have been in contact with an infected cat that entire amount, better to wait.statistically, 70% of those originally tested positive on the ELISAwilltest negative on the IFA--if you do not test too soon. as belinda says, evenif an IFA is positive after 90-120 days, it's still not adefinite--thevirus can still clear itself.On 9/11/06, Nina  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm confused about who is asking what here.Who's the
 person thatis using caps to talk with?Anyway, this was just posted on my ferallist in answer to questions about ELISA vs IFA.I don't know this person, (and I hope he wouldn't mind my copying his post for our list), but hisresponse seemed knowledgeable and even in my foggy state of mind, areasonable explanation.I had thought that it wasn't possible to detect felv antigens in the bone marrow, (sequestered), even with an IFA.I thought I'dthrow his comments out there for others to comment on. Nina  the ELISA is about 100 times more sensitive than the IFA- but  not as specific- which accounts for the high % of false positives.The ELISA detects soluble (circulating) P27 antigen while the IFA detectsP27 antigen in nucleated cells, neutrophils and platelets, or in bone marrow
 cells. IFAs depend upon advanced stages of infection to detect the presenceof antigen and thus will not usually pick up early infections orsequestered infections. Theincreased sensitivity of the ELISA allows the detection of early infections, transient infections, and sequestered infectionsthat may not be picked up by the IFA. Neither the ELISA nor IFA will not detect viral latency, because during viral latency P27 antigen is not being produced.  Susan Franklin wrote: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9/11/06 8:37:18 AM   Susan, I would wait *at least* 90 days and then get the IFA 

Re: Way OT: Starting a 501(c)3 for cat rescue

[Susan Hoffman]

Clearly identify why you think you want to be a 501(c)(3). There's a lot of paperwork every year to maintain that status and, in some states,you become subject to legal requirements that do not apply to independent rescues. What do you hope to gain by becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit? - Grant money is hard to come by and there's a lot of competition. Becoming a 501(c)(3) doesn't necessarily mean that money will flow your way.- Depending on the state where you incorporate, if you are an officer or director, your rescue-related expenses may NOT be tax deductible charitable contributions.I ruled out becoming a 501(c)(3) as a small independent rescue. However, I am looking at setting up one to do low cost spay/neuter for stray and feral cats in my county, and to expand TNR (trap-neuter-return of feral cats) to TNRR (trap-neuter-rehome or
 return). I'm doing this (a) for credibility with larger organizations so that (b) we can access Maddie's Fund Community grants and other grants that offer big chunks of money for projects that require group collaboration. Under these circumstances, it makes sense. But as a small rescue, there is no profit so it's not like I need a tax break. So why take on paperwork and filing obligations?So may sure you know what you think you''re going get and what obligations you take on in the process.TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/501C3Help/  that should be itOn 9/11/06, Kelley Saveika
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:That would be awesome, thanks youOn 9/11/06, TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote: remind me tomorrow or so--there is a pretty good yahoogroup just for helping folks through the process! On 9/11/06, Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   I was sort of in the process and never completed it.. setting up non profit organization is very easy and getting tax exemption status is time consuming (lots of paper work) – I have some information that different people oh the list sent it to me – I will forward them to you if I can find them.. thank you! From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Leslie LawtherSent: Monday, September 11, 2006 9:37 AMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: Way OT: Starting a 501(c)3 for cat rescueBOY am I glad someone asked this question!!! My husband and I are in the middle of staring down the mountain of paperwork too... any tips would be appreciated Leslie =^..^=On 9/11/06, Kelley Saveika  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Hi all,Several of my group are wanting to strike out on own on and start a cat rescue, hopefully branching into other animals in the future.Does anyone who has been through this before have any tips?Thanks so much!-- Vist the Austin Siamese Rescue store and save a kitty life!http://www.cafepress.com/austinsiamesehttp://astore.amazon.com/austinsiamese-20   -- Leslie =^..^=To leave the world a better place - whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or an improved social condition - that is to have succeeded.That only one life breathed easier because you lived - that is success. ---Ralph Waldo Emerson -- Spay  Neuter Your Neighbors!Maybe That'll Make The DifferenceMaryChristineAIM /
 YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 -- Vist the Austin Siamese Rescue store and save a kitty life!http://www.cafepress.com/austinsiamese http://astore.amazon.com/austinsiamese-20 -- Spay  Neuter Your Neighbors!Maybe That'll Make The DifferenceMaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 

Re: Way OT: Starting a 501(c)3 for cat rescue

[Susan Hoffman]

Then perhaps a timeline and a business plan, with obtaining 501(c)(3) status part of the timeline rather than a starting point.Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Thanks for the things to think about.There are definite advantages to not filing. The chief one I can think of is not having to deal with a board. I do have a friend who does Persian rescue and is not a 501(c)(3). She ends up doing stuff I am not willing to do, though, like putting second mortgages on her house to support the cats. My cats yes, foster cats no..I have to draw the line somewhere, and it won't do my 24 fosters any good if I have no roof over my head. I've found that the community views us differently. When I ask for
 something for the cats, if I say I am a volunteer for a 501(c)(3) I have gotten a much more positive response than she has not being one. I am not sure how many of our fosters would be financially able to continue doing this without the tax breaks that come from volunteering for a 501(c)(3). One of my fellow foster mothers wrote off $30,000 in medical expenses for foster cats last year. I want to start small and end up big - my 10 year goal is to have a sanctuary with cats, dogs, and livestock. Gotta start somewhere, though.  On 9/11/06, Susan Hoffman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Clearly identify why you think you want to be a
 501(c)(3). There's a lot of paperwork every year to maintain that status and, in some states,you become subject to legal requirements that do not apply to independent rescues. What do you hope to gain by becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit? - Grant money is hard to come by and there's a lot of competition. Becoming a 501(c)(3) doesn't necessarily mean that money will flow your way.- Depending on the state where you incorporate, if you are an officer or director, your rescue-related expenses may NOT be tax deductible charitable contributions.I ruled out becoming a 501(c)(3) as a small independent rescue. However, I am looking at setting up one to do low cost spay/neuter for stray and feral cats in my county, and to expand TNR (trap-neuter-return of feral cats) to TNRR (trap-neuter-rehome or return). I'm doing this (a) for credibility with
 larger organizations so that (b) we can access Maddie's Fund Community grants and other grants that offer big chunks of money for projects that require group collaboration. Under these circumstances, it makes sense. But as a small rescue, there is no profit so it's not like I need a tax break. So why take on paperwork and filing obligations? So may sure you know what you think you''re going get and what obligations you take on in the process.  TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/501C3Help/  that should be itOn 9/11/06, Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:That would be awesome, thanks youOn 9/11/06, TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote: remind me tomorrow or
 so--there is a pretty good yahoogroup just for helping folks through the process! On 9/11/06, Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   I was sort of in the process and never completed it.. setting up non profit organization is very easy and getting tax exemption status is time consuming (lots of paper work) – I have some information that different people oh the list sent it to me – I will forward them to you if I can find them.. thank you!  
   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Leslie LawtherSent: Monday,
 September 11, 2006 9:37 AMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: Way OT: Starting a 501(c)3 for cat rescueBOY am I glad someone asked this question!!! My husband and I are in the middle of staring down the mountain of paperwork too... any tips would be appreciated Leslie
 =^..^=On 9/11/06, Kelley Saveika  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Hi all,Several of my group are wanting to strike out on own on and start a cat rescue, hopefully branching into other animals in the future. Does anyone who has been through this before have any
 tips?Thanks so much!-- Vist the Austin Siamese Rescue store and save a kitty life!http://www.cafepress.com/austinsiamesehttp://astore.amazon.com/austinsiamese-20   -- Leslie =^..^=To leave the world a better place - whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or an improved social condition - that is to have succeeded.That only one life breathed easier because you lived - that is success. ---Ralph Waldo
 Emerson -- Spay  Neuter Your Neighbors!Maybe That'll Make The DifferenceMaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 -- Vist the Austin Siamese Rescue store and save a kitty life!http://www.cafepress.com/austinsiamese http://astore.amazon.com/austinsiamese-20 -- Spay  Neuter Your Neighbors!Maybe
 That'll Make The DifferenceMaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892 -- Vist the Austin Siamese Rescue store

Re: Felvtalk Digest, Vol 20, Issue 41

[Susan Hoffman]

What sort of help do you need? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  help

Re: multiple FELV in one house?

[Susan Hoffman]

Head straight to bemikitties at http://www.bemikitties.com/felv/cgi-bin/suite/classifieds/classifieds.cgiand see if there are FeLV+ cats in your area in need of a home. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi everyone! I know that many of you sweeties own more then 1 FELV pos cat. My question is this...Does having more then 1 FELV pos kitty risk infection to others.? Crackers right now is doing great! Would me bringing in 1-2 more FELV pos kittys be a risk to him? Since Crackers is FELV pos but showing no symptoms could bringing in another risk his immune. Financially I can take on a few more. And it finally sunk in my thick head. These poor
 kittys many wont adopt end up in a crate most of there lives. I could give them a better quality of life. NOW PLEASE DONT think im mean and hateful. I also DO NOT wanna do anything to hurt my Crackers. He is 5 and my baby. I also have a 4 yr old son. So to me its like I have to sons:) Also new kitties wouldn't bother Crackers. He loves companions and still even cries for Pokies who passed almost 3 weeks ago. I cherish your opinions.  love  kayte and crackers

Re: Jimi the stressed out cat?

[Susan Hoffman]

You can get Elavil compounded in a salve for transdermal application inside the ear. Or oral prozac. I would consider either as a short-term fix while he acclimated, maybe a couple of weeks just till he settles in a bit.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:It really does sound stress-related, which would be IBS, probably. I have never researched IBS because it's not what Lucy has. Maybe you should do an internet search on feline IBS and see what you come up with, both for diagnosis purposes and to see if they suggest anything helpful. Perhaps a psych med would help, or something like the transdermal benadryl I give Patches to calm her down and stop her from overgrooming.In case it could be
 helped with food, I really would suggest trying raw (which you probably don't have time to do, given all you are doing) or EVO. A lot of the commercial sensitive stomach foods have grains in them, which are very hard on IBD cats.You cold also try pred for a week or so and see if it helps, like I did with Lucy.But, again, it really does sound from what you are saying like it is stress-related, which would be IBS rather than IBD and probably not related to food and probably not helped by any meds other than perhaps psych meds.MichelleIn a message dated 9/17/2006 8:23:56 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:Thanks Michelle,  He has had two fecals both
 negative, did two rounds of metronidazole, one round of albon and of course wormer. He is a maine coon found dumped outside matted to the skin had to be shaved. Declawed. Its almost impossible for a rescue to be low stress on a high stress cat. At the moment I have 8 dogs and six cats here and a couple of kittens that are caged. The adult healthy fully vetted cats I like to let out of the cage.   We have tried a lot of sensitive stomach food with Jimi. This is the worst, he seems to do better in a cage, stool wise. He loves attention and gives kisses. If allowed out of the cage too long he starts urinating on the bed, then the stool gets real loose and then vomiting starts always on my bed. Writing this down helpsguess it really is stress isnt it?  what do you guys suggest?

Re: Jimi the stressed out cat?

[Susan Hoffman]

"Never" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Maybe you just haven't found the solution yet. Stay open to the possibilities.

Re: Behavior Problems

[Susan Hoffman]

Unaltered males spray. It's what they do. They also are very territorial. It's hormonal. Why do you not want to neuter him?A lot of cats with heart murmurs are altered. Just let the vet know.A good veterinary hospital should have a heart monitor and will use appropriate type and amount of anesthesia.Stephanie E Caldwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Chris,He's an adult. Feral/stray, moved in last spring. He has a grade 2 or 3 heart murmur as well, and I'm hesitant to sedate him for surgery, if it were an option.I'd love to find him a home where he'd have other kitties to play with, since he doesn't get along with my geriatric FIV kitty. She's struggling with several problems and it's getting increasingly difficult to keep the
 peace in the house.StephChris wrote: 30 lbs! Wow that is huge! How old is he?  I don't know what your objections to neutering him--don't mean to pry--but I suspect that doing that would go a long way to solving the problem  Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stephanie E Caldwell Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 11:47 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Behavior Problems  Our FELV+ has developed a very bad habit of spraying around the house.  Especially in shoes. He's also started urinating at our bedroom doors  when we shut them to go to bed.  He's intact because I don't believe in Neutering. (He's kept away from  other cats, so please don't make that a huge
 issue.)  I believe he might be happier in a home where he can socialize. Is there  anyone on here who can take him? You can neuter him once he's yours.  My other cat is very old FIV+ with multiple problems and they don't get  along. He's feeling very left out, and I'm at the end of my rope with him.  Any ideas to calm his nerves, or anyone who wants a beautiful 30lb white  cat?  Steph

Re: Dharma - licking glass

[Susan Hoffman]

Is this an empty glass or a glass window or..?wendy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hideyo,I do know that Pica is the word for an animal thatlicks things that they don't normally lick, likeanemic kitties licking cement or their litter. AndPica is a symptom of anemia. I don't know if glasswould fall into that category, but it sounds like itmight.:)Wendy__Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: Partners' reactions to FeLV+

[Susan Hoffman]

My housemate (and friend of almost 30 years) is also so immensely supportive. Helps with medicating, nail trimming, etc. Cries when we loose one but still insists on doing what we can and making the decision to let go when it is clear that nothing can be done and no real quality of life can be expected.When we had giardia in the house, he made bad jokes while cleaning up poop. When a particularly vindictive Himalayan was strategically pooping around his bed (somehow she knew exactly where he would put his bare feet first thing in the morning) to get even with him for not kissing up to her appropriately, he referred to it as "another visit from the sh*t fairy last night," grabbed the Clorox bleach sheets and cleaned it up. And he kissed up to the cat and she has since relented.A particularly battered old tomcat who we adopted sleeps in Larry's room and routinely throws up on the
 blanket. He throws the blanket in the wash, gets another one out (we now have assorted fleece "barf blankets" for this purpose) and would never think of putting Sylvester out of his room.He has been bitten syringe-feeding sick kittens. Shares litterbox duty with me daily. And when a neighbor recently brought us a dumped kitten that had been found crying huddled next to the garbage cans, Larry was genuinely glad that it was our garbage cans where the kitten was dumped.Can you believe this guy actually pays rent for the privilege of living in this madness? A lot of people, you couldn't pay THEM to live with me.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
 My husband is the same way.   He is very supportive of what I do and with my rescue. He is such a big baby when it comes to the care of the cats/kittens. He is the first to rush them to the Vets and say do what you gotta do to help them. He also knows when it is time to let them go to the bridge it is time he does notlike the suffering. He compares it to him that he doesn't want to suffer so why should they.  As long as the bills get paid he is a happy camper! :)  In a message dated 9/21/2006 2:39:59 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:  Guess Mike is a keeper, for the most part he never asks how much anything concerning
 the cats cost, I take care of the money and as long as there aren't any turn off notices coming in he couldn't care less. In fact this month we'll be broke by Saturday (Joey Ultrasound will suck up the last of the bank account), so it's time to get creative with dinner next week :)  Terrie Mohr-ForkerTAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTSSIAMESE  COLLIE RESCUEDonations accepted at:https://www.paypal.com/http://www.tazzys-siameses-collies.petfinder.org/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wasiameserescuehttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/myhomepage/petmemorial.htmlhttp://www.felineleukemia.org/http://www.hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/index.htmlhttp://www.petloss.com/

Re: Mixing

[Susan Hoffman]

And make sure Missy has her FeLV vaccinekelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Now that I do have a positive IFA for Max,,,but of course will retest in 4 months and start on Immuno Regulin,,He is such a social cat and wants to play with the others so bad, I have a female Missy who is 12,,VERY healthy,, very people shy,,,I think I will give her the room with Max as she will love her own space...My fear of totally mixing is I do not want Max to catch any of the viruses that seem so run through the group. I may do a corona virus titer on Missy,,do not want to expose Max if there is a chance to keep him away from it,,,Kelly

Re: Sick kitty

[Susan Hoffman]

At 15, he may have some dental problems. The brown discharge from the eyes sounds like it could be an upper respiratory infection (uri). Any discharge from the nose?Can you get him inside and put him in the bathroom by himself till you can get him to the vet? Clean him up a little and get some good food in him? It will make it easier to figure out what's going on with him.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:My neighbors have moved away leaving behind an orange tabby .He is 15 years old .I want to take him in but he is very sick .He has a brown discharge from his eyes and mouth, It's so bad that the fur on his chest and legs are brown. I have never seen any thing like it .I don't know if he will let me catch him and I can't bring him in
 contact with my cats until I can get him to a doctor. Please someone tell me what it might be. It's killing me seeing him like this .I know he must be suffering. Sheila 

RE: 2 vets?

[Susan Hoffman]

I have different vets for different reasons. (1)One is a great surgeon who does thorough research and has a wonderful demeanor. He's also 10 minutes from my house, part of an AAHA certified veterinary hospital with evening and weekend hours. However, he's too expensive for routine matters. (2) Foster kittens go to a low cost spay/neuter clinic en masse, even though it's an hour's drive each way. (3) I am considering taking a fostercat with chronic skin allergies to my old vet 45 miles away because, for 9 years, he treated one of my own cats -- Shanghai -- for a similar skin condition until Shanghai passed away at age 18. (4) And I often take ferals or strays to one of the feral spay/neuter clinics where I volunteer.Have as many vets as make sense for you. Different vets have different strengths. Hideyo Yamamoto
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I do --- I had a vet who I was seeing exclusively for the past 10 yearsand she moved and couldn't see her anymore and it was devastating..because I had to start all over to find someone whom I can trust andstart building relationship and took for a while.. so it's smart to havemore than one for your and your kitty's benefit..-Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED][mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wendySent: Monday, September 25, 2006 11:16 AMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: 2 vets?Go wherever you want, whenever you want. You are theclient and the one paying the bill; it's your choice. :)Wendy--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi guys and babes! I was wondering
 if it is okay to have 2 vets. I found  that great one off of Kats list butwhen my sister went to the dog/cat  clinic..it is a mile away from my house I fell inlove with the vets brillant and  personable bedside. When he put my sisters baby Minnion to sleep he put his  hand on her shoulder and said I am soo sorry for your lost. He also said he  wasn't going to charge her. He is very with it concerning FELV FIV FIP and very  caring. I also am torn because I LOVE the other new vet too. A few weeks ago  when i dumped my ex-vet i stressed that i wouldn't be able to find a good  vet...now i am torn between two? kayte __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
 

Re: Online coupons

[Susan Hoffman]

Also www.imegadeals.com and www.flamingoworld.comI love online coupons!wendy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Got this from another site:I don't know how many use these sites, but heres alink to coupons: http://www.dailyedeals.com/coupons/pets.htm.__Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: my pred arrived!

[Susan Hoffman]

But look at all the offers you got from other people! Just let any of us know if you need more. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  As Murphy's law would have it, right after I sent that post about not trusting people who say they will send meds, the meds arrived!Michelle

Re: [Fwd: I need a fiv felv home today or Dodger will die. Please HELP!!]

[Susan Hoffman]

If that 4 pm deadline and Michigan area code are for real, it's already too late. It is now almost 8 pm on the east coast.Assuming the cat has not already been pts, I would suggest vaccinating the FeLV- cat and encourage the people to learn more about FIV and FeLV. But this may all be a moot point by now.Belinda [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Original Message  Subject:   I need a fiv felv home today or Dodger will die. Please HELP!!Date:   Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:55:06 -0400From:   Christine Parsons [EMAIL PROTECTED]To:   [EMAIL PROTECTED]  Hello,  I am in desperate need of help.We have two cats - only one of which has been tested positive for both FIV AND FeLV.  My husband doesn't want to put the uninfected cat at risk and is encouraging me to have the infected cat put down. (besides being of no desire to "deal" with it at all )I can't live with that decision. My vet is holding the infected cat until 4 or so today until I give them our decision...I hope to instead of being responsible for his early end, to be on my way to your facility...please call me, Christine back ASAP at 989-5600-5906Thank You! 
   Christine :) Get today's hot entertainment gossip -- Belinda  happiness is being owned by cats ...Be-Mi-Kitties  http://bemikitties.comPost Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens  http://adopt.bemikitties.comFeLV Candlelight Service  http://bemikitties.com/clsHostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting  web design]  http://HostDesign4U.comBMK Designs [non-profit animals websites]  http://bmk.bemikitties.com

Re: [Fwd: I need a fiv felv home today or Dodger will die. Please HELP!!]

[Susan Hoffman]

perhaps we should find out, just in casekelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  At 07:06 PM 10/3/2006, you wrote:BelindaPlease pass on my dismay at waiting until it was too late...and our dismay at the ignorance and seeming lack of concern on this persons end. It is always hard when we seemed to be faced with a "Take this cat or it will die ultimatum" I feel so sad for the poor cat, but I do not have any sympathy for the owner. It also saddens me that some women are at the mercy of their husbands last word. Have they no voice?Kelly Lane That email was sent this morning but I didn't get it in my mail  box until right when I sent it, I was horrified that it probably  was too late already.--Belindahappiness is being owned by cats
 ...Be-Mi-Kittieshttp://bemikitties.comPost Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittenshttp://adopt.bemikitties.comFeLV Candlelight Servicehttp://bemikitties.com/clsHostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting  web design]http://HostDesign4U.comBMK Designs [non-profit animals websites]http://bmk.bemikitties.com--No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.12/461 - Release Date: 10/2/2006

Re: FIP - thanks MC

[Susan Hoffman]

I see it usually in kittens between 5 and 10 months. I have a geriatric cat (18) who remains tough and healthy. I have seen it too much in rescue kittens but so far always those under a year. It seems to be triggered by some stressor, very often -- but not always -- hitting within a month of spay/neuter surgery or rehoming. TenHouseCats [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  seems to happen a lot in kittens around 6-8 months; after that, ihaven't seen much of a pattern. but since it's a mutation, and ihaven't seen any research on what triggers it, i'm not sure if adeclining immune system makes geriatric kitties more susceptible.personally, i don't know of any FIP cats who were more than 3 or 4years oldso much happens to kittens about the time mom's immunities wearout--in the sanctuary, it was
 the most dangerous time for those bornwith FeLV; don't know if that plays into the high rate of FIP in thatage as well so hard to know what's causative and what'scoincidence...(makes sense that when mom's immunities start to wear off in FeLVs,the virus activates--but what explains the other pattern we saw at thesanctuary that the next highest period of illness occurring inFeLV-born cats is about 18-22 months)sherry, maybe you can weigh in with this about doc jen's experiencesat crash's landing/sid's placeMCOn 10/24/06, Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: Thanks again MC for another informed and easily understandable post about a very scary subject. I go around quoting you all the time. I sent this to Sally Foster, (remember her from the list?). She just lost another one under a year old, poor thing has lost so many this year. She suspects that Peppurr, her latest
 loss, had FIP. I seem to remember a vet telling me that it usually develops in geriatric cats, or cats under a year. Is that your experience? Nina TenHouseCats wrote:  marta, FIP is currently considered to be a mutated corona virus--so  the corona virus is contagious (they estimate something like 80-90% of  cats in a multi-cat environment will have been exposed to it and show  a high titre--roughly the same percentage of humans will show a titre,  too, as the corona virii are such common causes of uris in many  species...). the mutation, however, is neither predictable nor  preventable.-- Spay  Neuter Your Neighbors!Maybe That'll Make The DifferenceMaryChristineAIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCatsMSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]ICQ: 289856892

Re: Giardia

[Susan Hoffman]

Is he giving you metronadazole or pancur or something else?From what I have seen it takes time to percolate in the gut, to divide and multiply or however the bugs increase, so it can take time to show up. Also, not all cats are equally susceptible. My vet doesn't want to treat the while group en masse but only those showing sypmtoms. (But them my vet also wanted me to bring them all in for fecals)Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Well, we've got giardia. My vet is giving me enough meds to treat all 30 cats. I haven't brought a new cat in since...May, I think.How could they get this without exposure to new cats? He says I can get it too, yay.-- Vist the Rescuties
 store and save a kitty life!http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 

Re: Giardia

[Susan Hoffman]

I always use rubber gloves when cleaning, litterboxes or the house in general.Let me know what meds your vet uses. Metronidazole (lagyl) has been the traditional treatment but apparently panacur is also being used these days. I like the idea of panacur granules because they are odorless and tasteless and can be mixed with food, and the treatment is 3 days on, wait a week, and do another 3 days. Much easier than Metronidazole for the masses. But, of course, "easy" makes me suspicious of whether panacur really will work.I've never caught it that I know of. But my stomach's been a little messed up the past couple of days. Now I'm wonderingSherry DeHaan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:I'M thinking I probably should warn the others
 about this,to tell them to be extra careful about cleaning the boxes and etc... Thanks guys never would have thought we could get it too.Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  My vet told me that I could catch it and if I got sick I needed to go to the doctor. Online research seems to back this up.  On 10/30/06, Sherry DeHaan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Ihave never heard that we can catch it from the cats.I will have to ask Jen about that.Since we have several that are usually treated for it.You would think she would warn us. :)   Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Yes, it is a little icky. I can also catch it, apparently, though I never have.  On 10/30/06, Sherry DeHaan [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   that causes major poopies!!!   Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Wendy,It is a parasitic infection.http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/giardiasis.html  On 10/30/06, wendy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   What the heck is Giardia?I thought you were talkingabout a cat at first.:PWendy--- Kelley Saveika  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well, we've got giardia.My vet is giving me enough meds to treat all 30  cats.I haven't brought a new cat in since...May, I  think. How could they get this without exposure to new cats? He says I can get it too, yay. --  Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!  http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 __Check out the New Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster. ( http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta)-- Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20   Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. -- Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20   Want to start your own
 business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. -- Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20   Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Yahoo! Messenger's cheap PC-to-Phone call rates. 

Re: People are crazy

[Susan Hoffman]

My mother once had a housekeeper quit because she was afraid she would catch FIV from one of the cats.Just tell your co-workers to wear rubber gloves if they insist on touching your poop.Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Some of my coworkers overheard me talking to my vet on the phone about the Giardia...they went to my boss because they are concerned I will catch it and then they will catch it from me...I explained that their risk of catching it is very low since it is spread throw feces... -- Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 

Re: Giardia

[Susan Hoffman]

I follow cats to litterboxesthey look at me like I'm crazy. Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Yes, the little girl I brought in has liquid diarrhea..that is why I took her. The problem is that with so many it is hard to tell who has it and who doesn't. The only reason I knew she had it was because I found her having it in the bathtub. I can tell there are more from the number of piles, but I can't tell which necessarily.   On 10/30/06, Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   It's very common -- my vet usually does not recommend treating
 myanimals unless they are showing symptoms ( i.e. diareah)-Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED][mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ] On Behalf Of G. LaneSent: Monday, October 30, 2006 2:40 PMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: GiardiaMy dogs have gotten it also, from drinking water that the birds poop in...it's not a big deal to treat.GloriaAt 03:19 PM 10/30/2006, you wrote:Hi Kelley,Altho I have not had to deal with it (knock wood),one of my co-workers and his girlfriend got it while camping - from infected water. Apparently somethinghad it and pooped in or near the water upstream, andthey had no idea this "pure" mountain stream was
 bad.Kat (Mew Jersey) On Mon, 30 Oct 2006, Precious Pets, Almost Home wrote:  Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:14:30 -0800 (PST)  From: "Precious Pets, Almost Home"  [EMAIL PROTECTED]  Reply-To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org  To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org  Subject: Re: Giardia   Dear Kelley:   I am sorry to hear that you have such a major chore on  your hands!I know how you feel because I have been  in your shoes!Your vet is right in regards that you   can catch it!That is if you are really careless  about handling dirty litter boxes and scoopers.   My vets are like yours when it comes
 to treatment for  Giardia.If one cat has it, the whole group of cats   have it!All three of my vets believe that you have  to treat the whole group of cats.   I find that a daily check list of names helps to keep  track of who I medicated while doing a group for that   day.   Good luck and happy pilling!   Precious Pets --- Kelley Saveika  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Well, we've got giardia.My vet is giving me enough   meds to treat all 30   cats.I haven't brought a new cat in since...May, Ithink. How could they get this without exposure to new   cats? 
He says I can get it too, yay. --   Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20     Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business   (http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com)   -- Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 

Re: Giardia

[Susan Hoffman]

So just the panacuur, nothing else? Three-day treatment cycles with a week in between? Once a day? That sounds too easy.Barb Moermond [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:panacur works pretty well, but you have to make sure to get all the meds down the occasionally recalcitrant little throats so that all of thecycles of the buggies aretaken out.Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito"My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should impress. Merely living his life, doing what pleases him, and making me smile." - Anonymous - Original Message From: Susan Hoffman [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSent: Monday, October 30, 2006 3:48:25 PMSubject: Re: Giardia  I always use rubber gloves when cleaning, litterboxes or the house in general.Let me know what meds your vet uses. Metronidazole (lagyl) has been the traditional treatment but apparently panacur is also being used these days. I like the idea of panacur granules because they are odorless and tasteless and can be mixed with food, and the treatment is 3 days on, wait a week, and do another 3 days. Much easier than Metronidazole for the masses. But, of course, "easy" makes me suspicious of whether panacur really will work.I've never caught it that I know of. But my stomach's been a little messed up the past couple of days. Now
 I'm wonderingSherry DeHaan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:I'M thinking I probably should warn the others about this,to tell them to be extra careful about cleaning the boxes and etc... Thanks guys never would have thought we could get it too.Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  My vet told me that I could catch it and if I got sick I needed to go to the doctor. Online research seems to back this up.  On 10/30/06, Sherry DeHaan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Ihave never heard that we can catch it from the cats.I will have to ask Jen about that.Since we have several that are usually treated for it.You would think she would warn us. :)   Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Yes, it is a little icky. I can also catch it, apparently, though I never have.  On 10/30/06, Sherry DeHaan [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   that causes major poopies!!!   Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Wendy,It is a parasitic infection.http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/giardiasis.html  On 10/30/06, wendy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   What the heck is Giardia?I thought you were talkingabout a cat at first.:PWendy--- Kelley Saveika  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Well, we've got giardia.My vet is giving me enough meds to treat all 30  cats.I haven't brought a new cat in since...May, I  think. How could they get this without exposure to new cats? He says I can get it too, yay. --  Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!  http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 __Check out the New Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster. ( http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta)-- Vist
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Re: Giardia

[Susan Hoffman]

Oh, you poor womanI only have a couple like that and they both at least have solid poop. And one of those prefers the linoleum in the laundry room near the back door. (The other, I do not understand. it's like she has no idea what a litterbox is about. Is it possible to have such a cat?)Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Most of mine are not going in the litterbox:( They are going in the bathtub, in the laundry room, and in the hallway.   On 10/30/06, Susan Hoffman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   I follow cats to litterboxesthey look at me like I'm
 crazy.   Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:   Yes, the little girl I brought in has liquid diarrhea..that is why I took her. The problem is that with so many it is hard to tell who has it and who doesn't. The only reason I knew she had it was because I found her having it in the bathtub. I can tell there are more from the number of piles, but I can't tell which necessarily.   On 10/30/06, Hideyo Yamamoto [EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:   It's very common -- my vet usually does not recommend treating myanimals unless they are showing symptoms ( i.e. diareah)-Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED][mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ] On Behalf Of G. LaneSent: Monday, October 30, 2006 2:40 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: GiardiaMy dogs have gotten it also, from drinking water that the birds poop in...it's not a big deal to treat.GloriaAt 03:19 PM
 10/30/2006, you wrote:Hi Kelley,Altho I have not had to deal with it (knock wood),one of my co-workers and his girlfriend got it while camping - from infected water. Apparently somethinghad it and pooped in or near the water upstream, andthey had no idea this "pure" mountain stream was bad.Kat (Mew Jersey) On Mon, 30 Oct 2006, Precious Pets, Almost Home wrote:  Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:14:30 -0800 (PST)  From: "Precious Pets, Almost Home"  [EMAIL PROTECTED]  Reply-To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org  To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org  Subject: Re: Giardia   Dear Kelley:   I am sorry to hear that you have such a major chore on  your hands!I know how you feel because I have been   in your shoes!Your vet is right in regards that you   can catch it!That is if you are really careless  about handling dirty litter boxes and scoopers.   My vets are like yours when it comes to treatment for   Giardia.If one cat has it, the whole group of cats   have it!All three of my vets believe that you have  to treat the whole group of cats.   I find that a daily check list of names helps to keep   track of who I medicated while doing a group for that   day.   Good luck and happy
 pilling!   Precious Pets --- Kelley Saveika  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Well, we've got giardia.My vet is giving me enoughmeds to treat all 30   cats.I haven't brought a new cat in since...May, Ithink. How could they get this without exposure to new   cats? He says I can get it too, yay. --   Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20
     Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business   ( http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com)   -- Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 -- Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 

Re: Giardia

[Susan Hoffman]

You can buy metronidazole through www.1drugstore-online.com and panacur through www.revivalanimal.com (no prescription required in either case). Dosage info available at http://www.critterchat.net/giardia_fands.htm(reprinted from Drs. Foster  Smith website.)Jennifer Phaewryn O'Gwynn [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  If the COST of the Metronidazole is a limiting factor, you can buy over the counter FISH Metronidazole for VERY reasonable prices. You might need to cut the pills for cats, I'd have to know the dosage to tell you.  PhaewrynPlease adopt a cat from Little
 Cheetah Cat Rescue!!! http://ucat.us/adopt.html Low cost SpayNeuter services in VT, and Emergency Financial Assistance for cat owners:http://ucat.us/VermontLowCost.htmlSpecial Needs Cat Resources: http://ucat.us/domesticcatlinks.html The Sofa Poem: http://ucat.us/sofapoem.htmlFind us on PETFINDER! http://petfinder.com/shelters/VT44.htmlNo virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.17/505 - Release Date: 10/27/2006

Re: Giardia

[Susan Hoffman]

How big? 10% or 2.5% solution? (I'm getting ready to order the 1000 ml size of 10% from revivalanimal.com.) Sounds like panacur is the way to go these days.Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Ok, he gave me Panacur. $11 for a huge bottle.-- Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20 

Re: Giardia

[Susan Hoffman]

That is the 10%. It's 100 mg/ml per kg of body weight."G. Lane" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  I've gotten fond of panacur - dosing is easier, and you can get it without a prescription, I understand.GloriaAt 10:54 PM 10/30/2006, you wrote:It says 100 mg/ml..is that 10%? It is a vet bottle, doesn't say how big, but considering they need .1 ml per day for 3 days, then a repeat dose in 3 weeks, it will easily last me until it expires in 2009, even with 30+ cats. It probably wasn't all that cheap, but it was a lot cheaper than the fecal and the exam.On 10/30/06, Susan Hoffman <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:How big? 10% or 2.5% solution? (I'm getting ready to order the 1000 ml size of 10% from
 revivalanimal.com .) Sounds like panacur is the way to go these days.Kelley Saveika <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]  wrote:Ok, he gave me Panacur. $11 for a huge bottle.--Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20--Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20

Re: OT: Help - situation I have gotten myself into

[Susan Hoffman]

If they are unwilling to shift some cats to another foster or to work with you on this, then I suggest that you start working on placing the ones who are adoptable. Really, if you are the foster, then ultimately the cats are the rescue's responsibility. They should not have overloaded you so badly and they should be damn glad to have you and more than willing to work with you to get those cats placed.In situations like this, triage -- take the most adoptable first and work on getting them adopted. Then go to the next most adoptable.Where are you in the 501(c)(3) process? Take a look at www.rescuealliance.org. I'm a member. If you haven't filed the 501(c)(3) paperwork yet, then perhaps you would like to join the Rescue Alliance. Let me know.Also, the cat with chronic stomatitis and other
 issues -- consider low dose oral interferon for her. It has been shown to be very effective with stomatitis. What are you doing for the ringworm?There are too many rescues who abuse the rescue/foster relationship. I have heard too many stories of cats dumped on fosters and the foster essentially abandoned. If it feels like this is happening to you, then you need to give them written notice that you expect them to lift some of this burden off you or you will do it yourself. And, then, do. Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:I don't think they want to take them off my hands. Most of the ones I have are either domestics (they are a Siamese rescue) or cats with chronic health problems that are not going to be easy to adopt out.  I have an IBD
 kitty (black DSH) with recurring stomatitis issues. She's probably got some other issues also because she is just not a well cat. I'm going to take her back to the vet tomorrow because she is clearly immune compromised (she's COVERED in ringworm, when none of my other guys have it.) She is emaciated despite having had 8 teeth pulled to fix the stomatitis and taking daily flagyl. I have no idea what else could be wrong with her. When she got spayed they said she had cysts on both ovaries. She's neg for both felv and fiv. Of course she has been wormed and all the routine stuff. She's lethargic and seems to take no joy in being alive - I don't know if she is in pain, or ill, or what. I feel really bad because she looks horrible. Like she's not being taken care of at all. But I do the best I can. Then I have another cat with a congenital spine deformity. She's on
 monthly pain meds and will eventually need to move to steroids and possibly have surgery.I'm not going to say "no one will ever adopt these cats" because I believe that all cats are adoptable. But it will take much longer for them to be adopted than those with no health issues.I'm sending in the bill for the fecal, exam and Panacur from yesterday ($79.27), but I think they are going to say that that is routine and not reimbursable until she's adopted. Plus that is over the amount of the adoption fee, so if I get reimbursed for that I won't get reimbursed for the amoxy she was on to clear her URI, her routine immunizations, spay, etc. I have an adoption system in place since I am opening my own rescue, and am working on getting a petfinder listing. However, their agreement with the local shelter stipulates that they will not release any cats to any
 organizations that aren't "approved placement partners" and my group is not, and won't be until after we have gotten our letter of determination from the IRS and undergone a 6 month mentoring relationship with an approved placement partner. Oh, here is the verbiage from the foster agreement:  The foster parent shall be responsible for the food and litter provided to the cat during its stay with the foster parent.  Any medical attention required by the cat shall be pre-approved byxxx and shall then be funded byxxx, except in an emergency. If emergency medical intervention should be required,
 the foster parent will contactxxx at the first moment possible to obtain approval for emergency medical treatments.    On 10/31/06, Susan Hoffman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: To some extent it depends on how the foster agreement is worded. Will they take some of these cats off your hands and place in other foster homes? What are they doing to get them adopted? Do they guilt trip you when you ask them to take some of them off your hands? If they won't help lift some of the burden off you, I would write them a very precise letter, askinig that they move some of the cats into foster or
 adoptive homes by a certain date, and informing them that, if they don't, you will adopt those cats out yourself and apply the adoption fees to your expenses. And then do it. Where are you located? If you are near a major metropolitan area, craigslist.org is usually a pretty good resource for adoptions.   Kelley Saveika [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  Hi guys,  I hope you will forgive this post. I am not sure who else to ask.I have 26 fo

Re: Vet Records

[Susan Hoffman]

I would change vets and have ALL vet records from that vet transferred to the new one.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:  You know all I wanted was copies of them and nothing more.  I have to admit it does make me a little suspicious though.Terrie Mohr-ForkerTAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTSSIAMESE  COLLIE RESCUEDonations accepted at:https://www.paypal.com/http://www.tazzys-siameses-collies.petfinder.org/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wasiameserescuehttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/myhomepage/petmemorial.htmlhttp://www.felineleukemia.org/http://www.hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/index.htmlhttp://www.petloss.com/