Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Hi,I wanted to share a little of what my husband and I are going through as we are in a similar situation to yours. We areawaiting the second test forour kitten Pippin. She will be 16 weeks old when she hasthe secondFeLV test on August 18th. We were not sure what we were going to do when we found out she was a "faint positive". My vet did not recommend euthanasia right then, but did recommend she take a second testthree weeks later. After we got home, I cried and cried. I just could not sleep that night. So, I started doing some research on the Internet and joined this list. After spending a few days reading information and opinions, I shared the information with my husband and wedecided we should wait until she was older to retest.Since then, wehave decided to keepPippin whether she tests positive a second time or not. We love her and she is part of our family, ill or not. I wouldn't trade a moment of the time we've had for any guarantees of tomorrow. So, we aregettingour other three cats re-tested and vaccinated (if they are negative.)And, we aregoing to take it one day at a time and enjoy having her in our lives. Because of the experiences of list members who have mixed +/- cats, I have hope that my others will not contract the disease. But, if they do for some odd reason, my husband and I will deal with it.The only experience I've had is with FIV which is different as far as transmission and disease progression than FeLV. My cat Buddy had FIV and lived until he was 18. I am praying that my Pippin lives as long as some of the cats I've heard about if she has FeLV, but I'm preparing myself for the possibility that she will not.Welcome to the list. My prayers are with you and your furbaby.Ginakandbz_ mom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.Thanks. __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com No heaven wil not ever Heaven be Unless my cats are there to welcome me.--epitaph in a pet cemetery Tiggertales ~ a site about our beloved felines Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Sounds like a plan. Just remember that your cats that test negative now could test positive later. It takes a whild for the virus to grow (or whatever) enough to test positive. Your Bob looks a lot like mine my Bob is better known as 'fat cat bob'.tGina WN [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hi,I wanted to share a little of what my husband and I are going through as we are in a similar situation to yours. We areawaiting the second test forour kitten Pippin. She will be 16 weeks old when she hasthe secondFeLV test on August 18th. We were not sure what we were going to do when we found out she was a "faint positive". My vet did not recommend euthanasia right then, but did recommend she take a second testthree weeks later. After we got home, I cried and cried. I just could not sleep that night. So, I started doing some research on the Internet and joined this list. After spending a few days reading information and opinions, I shared the information with my husband and wedecided we should wait until she was older to retest.Since then, wehave decided to keepPippin whether she tests positive a second time or not. We love her and she is part of our family, ill or not. I wouldn't trade a moment of the time we've had for any guarantees of tomorrow. So, we aregettingour other three cats re-tested and vaccinated (if they are negative.)And, we aregoing to take it one day at a time and enjoy having her in our lives. Because of the experiences of list members who have mixed +/- cats, I have hope that my others will not contract the disease. But, if they do for some odd reason, my husband and I will deal with it.The only experience I've had is with FIV which is different as far as transmission and disease progression than FeLV. My cat Buddy had FIV and lived until he was 18. I am praying that my Pippin lives as long as some of the cats I've heard about if she has FeLV, but I'm preparing myself for the possibility that she will not.Welcome to the list. My prayers are with you and your furbaby.Ginakandbz_ mom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.Thanks. __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com No heaven wil not ever Heaven be Unless my cats are there to welcome me.--epitaph in a pet cemetery Tiggertales ~ a site about our beloved felines Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.Thanks. __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
RE: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
I'm fairly new on this list too,but let me be the first to say NOO! Keep reading stuff on the internet, don't despairand DON'T consider euthanization. Oh, and in about 5 seconds you'll be inundated with wonderfully knowledgeable advice from the folks on this mailing list. ;-) Diane R. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kandbz_ momSent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:02 AMTo: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks. __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com This electronic mail transmission and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged. They should be read or retained only by the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the transmission from your system. In addition, in order to comply with Treasury Circular 230, we are required to inform you that unless we have specifically stated to the contrary in writing, any advice we provide in this email or any attachment concerning federal tax issues or submissions is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, to avoid federal tax penalties.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Hi there, I would not euthanize a cat because they tested positive, unless they are very ill and suffering. You may want to try finding a more enlightened vet. I had a kitten come up light positive awhile ago. She was negative the next time I had her tested. There are no guarantees this will happen every time, but it does happen. If your other cats are vaccinated it is very very unlikely they have contracted it. Other folks on this list have more experience and will probably be more helpful to you, I just wanted to say welcome and give you some hope. Thanks, Kelley - Original Message - From: kandbz_ mom [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:08 am Subject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a checkup they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Thanks to the two people who have responded so far! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do have a question..both of my other cats had their booster shots as kittens...but, is this FELV vaccine something they should be getting every year? I was told that since they are indoor cats, the only shots necessary were the first sets. Is that correct? I am going crazy with worry.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi there,I would not euthanize a cat because they tested positive, unless they are very ill and suffering.You may want to try finding a more enlightened vet.I had a kitten come up light positive awhile ago. She was negative the next time I had her tested. There are no guarantees this will happen every time, but it does happen.If your other cats are vaccinated it is very very unlikely they have contracted it.Other folks on this list have more experience and will probably be more helpful to you, I just wanted to say welcome and give you some hope.Thanks,Kelley- Original Message -From: kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:08 amSubject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVTo: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
I have been on this list for a few years and I can tell you that you have come to the right place for expert answers about felv. Young kitten can throw off the virus and test negative. If she is healthy now I wouldn't even consider euthanasia. Many of us here have Cats who live long and healthy lives. I have had several who have lived to there teens and some who die young ,but it is always worth it to give them a chance. I don't separate my positives from negatives,but some of us do . I'm not as knowledgeable as some of our members all I can tell you is to love her and feed her good quality foodkeep her away from other sick kitties. You'll soon be hearing from others about supplements that will keep her immune system strong. Listen to what they have to say .There are many here who I trust more than my vet,because I have had vets tell me to put to sleep several cats before that have gone on to live long happy lives. My Charlie Brown is 14 years old felv positive and healthy as can be. My vet wanted to put him to sleep years go and I said no and I am so glad I did. Welcome to the group. Sheila in SC
RE: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Ihopetheladywhohasthiskit'sbrotherdoesn'tgotothesamevet. Diane R. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:45 AMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV I have been on this list for a few years and I can tell you that you have come to the right place for expert answers about felv. Young kitten can throw off the virus and test negative. If she is healthy now I wouldn't even consider euthanasia. This electronic mail transmission and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged. They should be read or retained only by the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the transmission from your system. In addition, in order to comply with Treasury Circular 230, we are required to inform you that unless we have specifically stated to the contrary in writing, any advice we provide in this email or any attachment concerning federal tax issues or submissions is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, to avoid federal tax penalties.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Hello and welcome! I'm very glad you listened to your heart and didn't euthanize. Your baby may throw off this virus yet -- and even if she doesn't, chances are that she may have a good quality of life and even live a long time! Some FeVL+ cats never present symptoms. There is a lot you can do to help ensure that she has the best possible chancesfeeding her a healthy diet...staying attentive to how she feels so that you can get her treatment at the first signs of illness...keeping her environment clean and giving her lots of love. With FeVL+ kitties...it's often their susceptibility to other diseases that presents the most problem since the virus tends to weaken their immune system. Keeping her healthy, happy, and stress free will go a long way. We don't always agree on treatments or protocols on this group - but you won't find a nicer bunch of people or anybody who cares more. It's a great place for information and moral support. Glad you found us! elizabeth *Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.* -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:01 AM Subject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
RE: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
You will get more than these responsesyouve come to a great place w. some very knowledgable people with first hand experience! First off, I think you might consider changing vets to someone who is much more current and familiar with FELVthere is absolutely no reason to euthanize a cat because its FELV+! Thats a very dated protocol! I had 4 catsone tested pos for FELV when she was 4 and shed been around the other cats her whole life (2 of the younger ones had come in as kittens). They all tested neg and I just get them a yearly FELV vaccine. They had not received vaccination prior to my Tucson testing pos. Now I have 2 FELV + adult cats and 3 adult neg that just live all together. My vet, who cares for a number of FELV cats in his practice, is not particularly concerned about mixing. It is not an easy disease for an adult cat to getits not airborne and the virus dies in seconds when exposed to the air! My cats all ate out of the same dishes, groomed each other, shared toys, shared litter boxes. Also, its still possible for kitten to throw off the virus over the coming weeks/months. You may want to wait some time before doing the IFA, the lab test. SO,dont panic more folks will give you a whole more details weve all been in your situation and it will work out. Just maybe, start calling other vets to see who in your area is more familiar with FELV Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kandbz_ mom Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 11:42 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV Thanks to the two people who have responded so far! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do have a question..both of my other cats had their booster shots as kittens...but, is this FELV vaccine something they should be getting every year? I was told that since they are indoor cats, the only shots necessary were the first sets. Is that correct? I am going crazy with worry. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi there, I would not euthanize a cat because they tested positive, unless they are very ill and suffering. You may want to try finding a more enlightened vet. I had a kitten come up light positive awhile ago. She was negative the next time I had her tested. There are no guarantees this will happen every time, but it does happen. If your other cats are vaccinated it is very very unlikely they have contracted it. Other folks on this list have more experience and will probably be more helpful to you, I just wanted to say welcome and give you some hope. Thanks, Kelley - Original Message - From: kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:08 am Subject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a checkup they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
RE: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
What types of food do you all recommend? Should I be feeding her dry, canned or both? She eats whatever is put in front of her, but especially likes the canned food. Is IAMS a good brand or should I get something better? Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:You will get more than these responsesyouve come to a great place w. some very knowledgable people with first hand experience!First off, I think you might consider changing vets to someone who is much more current and familiar with FELVthere is absolutely no reason to euthanize a cat because its FELV+! Thats a very dated protocol! I had 4 catsone tested pos for FELV when she was 4 and shed been around the other cats her whole life (2 of the younger ones had come in as kittens). They all tested neg and I just get them a yearly FELV vaccine. They had not received vaccination prior to my Tucson testing pos.Now I have 2 FELV + adult cats and 3 adult neg that just live all together. My vet, who cares for a number of FELV cats in his practice, is not particularly concerned about mixing. It is not an easy disease for an adult cat to getits not airborne and the virus dies in seconds when exposed to the air! My cats all ate out of the same dishes, groomed each other, shared toys, shared litter boxes.Also, its still possible for kitten to throw off the virus over the coming weeks/months. You may want to wait some time before doing the IFA, the lab test. SO,dont panic more folks will give you a whole more details weve all been in your situation and it will work out. Just maybe, start calling other vets to see who in your area is more familiar with FELV Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kandbz_ momSent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 11:42 AMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVThanks to the two people who have responded so far! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do have a question..both of my other cats had their booster shots as kittens...but, is this FELV vaccine something they should be getting every year? I was told that since they are indoor cats, the only shots necessary were the first sets. Is that correct? I am going crazy with worry.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi there,I would not euthanize a cat because they tested positive, unless they are very ill and suffering.You may want to try finding a more enlightened vet.I had a kitten come up light positive awhile ago. She was negative the next time I had her tested. There are no guarantees this will happen every time, but it does happen.If your other cats are vaccinated it is very very unlikely they have contracted it.Other folks on this list have more experience and will probably be more helpful to you, I just wanted to say welcome and give you some hope.Thanks,Kelley- Original Message -From: kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:08 amSubject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVTo: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Do you Yahoo!? Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
RE: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Hello! No, actually, her vet told her to wait and get the kitten tested again. What's funny is, I usually do not go to this vet...he was recommended by two of my sisters. He was nice, but didn't want to "waste time" on a kitten that could be sick."Rosenfeldt, Diane" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ihopetheladywhohasthiskit'sbrotherdoesn'tgotothesamevet. Diane R. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:45 AMTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSubject: Re: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVI have been on this list for a few years and I can tell you that you have come to the right place for expert answers about felv. Young kitten can throw off the virus and test negative. If she is healthy now I wouldn't even consider euthanasia. This electronic mail transmission and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged.They should be read or retained only by the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the transmission from your system. In addition, in order to comply with Treasury Circular 230, we are required to inform you that unless we have specifically stated to the contrary in writing, any advice we provide in this email or any attachment concerning federal tax issues or submissions is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, to avoid federal tax penalties. Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
By any chance, would anyone know of a good vet in AZ?? I live in Mesa, but would be willing to travel to Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, etc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hello and welcome!I'm very glad you listened to your heart and didn't euthanize. Your baby may throw off this virus yet -- and even if she doesn't, chances are that she may have a good quality of life and even live a long time! Some FeVL+ cats never present symptoms. There is a lot you can do to help ensure that she has the best possible chancesfeeding her a healthy diet...staying attentive to how she feels so that you can get her treatment at the first signs of illness...keeping her environment clean and giving her lots of love. With FeVL+ kitties...it's often their susceptibility to other diseases that presents the most problem since the virus tends to weaken their immune system. Keeping her healthy, happy, and stress free will go a long way.We don't always agree on treatments or protocols on this group - but you won't find a nicer bunch of people or anybody who cares more. It's a great place for information and moral support.Glad you found us!elizabeth*Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.* -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.orgSent: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:01 AMSubject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVHello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.Thanks. __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free. How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messengers low PC-to-Phone call rates.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Sheila, thanks for your message! It gave me a reason to be optimistic! I was reading an article yesterday that Vitamin C supplement may help cats with felv. Is there any truth to that?[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have been on this list for a few years and I can tell you that you have come to the right place for expert answers about felv. Young kitten can throw off the virus and test negative. If she is healthy now I wouldn't even consider euthanasia. Many of us here have Cats who live long and healthy lives. I have had several who have lived to there teens and some who die young ,but it is always worth it to give them a chance. I don't separate my positives from negatives,but some of us do . I'm not as knowledgeable as some of our members all I can tell you is to love her and feed her good quality foodkeep her away from other sick kitties. You'll soon be hearing from others about supplements that will keep her immune system strong. Listen to what they have to say .There are many here who I trust more than my vet,because I have had vets tell me to put to sleep several cats before that have gone on to live long happy lives. My Charlie Brown is 14 years old felv positive and healthy as can be. My vet wanted to put him to sleep years go and I said no and I am so glad I did. Welcome to the group. Sheila in SC Do you Yahoo!? Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
RE: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
My cats are all indoor and Tucson, one of my FELV+ turned into a real porko I sort of weaned them all off as much of the dry food as I can and try to give them wet most of the time. I feed them Wellness cause it doesnt have all those fillers that just put on the pounds. Used to give them IAMS Now I give them a little dry at night and if its real hot, they sometimes dont want the wet and I give in! I was giving my FELV+ some vitamin and immune system boosters and Vitamin C but theyre sort of fussy so Im not real consistent. Bottom line, decent food, lots of loving, stress free lifethats your best shot! Sounds like youre doing fine! Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kandbz_ mom Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 12:15 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV What types of food do you all recommend? Should I be feeding her dry, canned or both? She eats whatever is put in front of her, but especially likes the canned food. Is IAMS a good brand or should I get something better? Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I had 4 catsone tested pos for FELV when she was 4 and shed been around the other cats her whole life (2 of the younger ones had come in as kittens). They all tested neg and I just get them a yearly FELV vaccine. They had not received vaccination prior to my Tucson testing pos. Now I have 2 FELV + adult cats and 3 adult neg that just live all together. My vet, who cares for a number of FELV cats in his practice, is not particularly concerned about mixing. It is not an easy disease for an adult cat to getits not airborne and the virus dies in seconds when exposed to the air! My cats all ate out of the same dishes, groomed each other, shared toys, shared litter boxes. Also, its still possible for kitten to throw off the virus over the coming weeks/months. You may want to wait some time before doing the IFA, the lab test. SO,dont panic more folks will give you a whole more details weve all been in your situation and it will work out. Just maybe, start calling other vets to see who in your area is more familiar with FELV Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kandbz_ mom Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 11:42 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV Thanks to the two people who have responded so far! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do have a question..both of my other cats had their booster shots as kittens...but, is this FELV vaccine something they should be getting every year? I was told that since they are indoor cats, the only shots necessary were the first sets. Is that correct? I am going crazy with worry. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi there, I would not euthanize a cat because they tested positive, unless they are very ill and suffering. You may want to try finding a more enlightened vet. I had a kitten come up light positive awhile ago. She was negative the next time I had her tested. There are no guarantees this will happen every time, but it does happen. If your other cats are vaccinated it is very very unlikely they have contracted it. Other folks on this list have more experience and will probably be more helpful to you, I just wanted to say welcome and give you some hope. Thanks, Kelley - Original Message - From: kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:08 am Subject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a checkup they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be h
Re: RE: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Iams is not really a great brand. That being said I do feed it sometimes to my rescues/foster cats because I have 30 of them and I can't afford to feed them the premium foods right now. My sick kitty gets this stuff (she does not have FELV, she has a heart condition, but it is still important to keep up her immune system): http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=product-detailpxsl=%2F% [EMAIL PROTECTED] You want to look for something without grains in it. Iams does have grain in it. Their bodies do not process grain. I have learned lots about food from this list and I am grateful for the knowledge. Kelley - Original Message - From: kandbz_ mom [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 11:16 am Subject: RE: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org What types of food do you all recommend? Should I be feeding her dry, canned or both? She eats whatever is put in front of her, but especially likes the canned food. Is IAMS a good brand or should I get something better? Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:You will get more than these responses?you?ve come to a great place w. some very knowledgable people with first hand experience! First off, I think you might consider changing vets to someone who is much more current and familiar with FELV?there is absolutely no reason to euthanize a cat because its FELV+! That?s a very dated protocol! I had 4 cats?one tested pos for FELV when she was 4 and she?d been around the other cats her whole life (2 of the younger ones had come in as kittens). They all tested neg and I just get them a yearly FELV vaccine. They had not received vaccination prior to my Tucson testing pos. Now I have 2 FELV + adult cats and 3 adult neg that just live all together. My vet, who cares for a number of FELV cats in his practice, is not particularly concerned about mixing. It is not an easy disease for an adult cat to get?its not airborne and the virus dies in seconds when exposed to the air! My cats all ate out of the same dishes, groomed each other, shared toys, shared litter boxes. Also, its still possible for kitten to throw off the virus over the coming weeks/months. You may want to wait some time before doing the IFA, the lab test. SO,don?t panic? more folks will give you a whole more details? we?ve all been in your situation and it will work out. Just maybe, start calling other vets to see who in your area is more familiar with FELV? Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:Felvtalk- [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of kandbz_ mom Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 11:42 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV Thanks to the two people who have responded so far! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do have a question..both of my other cats had their booster shots as kittens...but, is this FELV vaccine something they should be getting every year? I was told that since they are indoor cats, the only shots necessary were the first sets. Is that correct? I am going crazy with worry. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi there, I would not euthanize a cat because they tested positive, unless they are very ill and suffering. You may want to try finding a more enlightened vet. I had a kitten come up light positive awhile ago. She was negative the next time I had her tested. There are no guarantees this will happen every time, but it does happen. If your other cats are vaccinated it is very very unlikely they have contracted it. Other folks on this list have more experience and will probably be more helpful to you, I just wanted to say welcome and give you some hope. Thanks, Kelley - Original Message - From: kandbz_ mom Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:08 am Subject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a checkup they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Welcome! I've only been on this board a little over a month, so I don't have a lot of practical advice to give you. I can tell you that my kitten was diagnosed at 6 months after being sick off and on from the time I got her at 4 months. The vet believes she contracted it from her mother. I went through a lot of tears and agonizing in the beginning too. At first there were some family members and friends who said I should euthanize Lucy to keep her from endangering her sister Izzie, who was negative at the time,somesaid to separate them,others said I should start her on various drug treatments. Four weeks ago I was told Lucy was days away from death, I just gave her antibiotics, love, and her sister spent lots of time with her, and she bounced back. When Lucy was diagnosed as positive her sister Izzie tested negative but I decided to keep them together. Izzie is now positive, but there is no way to know if the first negative was a false negative or if she actuall y did contract it in the time after I made the decision to keep them together.When Izzie was diagnosed two weeks ago I went through the tears again - with the added guilt of wondering if deciding to keep them together was the right decision or not. Last night, when it finally cooled down a bit, my girls spent the eveningtrying a new cat foodwith shrimp, crab, and sardines, thenrunning laps around my place, and then woke me up at 3 am to show me that they had taken the drain capoff the bath tub and dropped four of their toy mice down the pipe - they desparately wanted me to get the mice out for them. In other words, they were kittens being kittens - and while I may have cursed them at 3:00 by 3:01 they had me laughing. What I have come to realize is that there is a ton of information out there and lots of opinions - it is great to hear them all, but to make your own decisions. I stand by my decisions, because I see the way they love each other and love their time together. I truly believe that they would rather be together for a shorter time on this earth than apart for a longer time. So my advice is this, collect information, seek advice and opinions, and then make a choice and stick t o it with no regrets or recriminations. I am so glad I didn't euthanize Lucy, so glad I didn't separate them, and so glad they know they can count on me at 3:00 am to rescue their toy mice. I don't know what to expect- they could be gone by a year, or last several more. It is frustrating not knowing, but for now I'm just enjoying their company. Good luck to you and your kitty! Maggie
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
oh maggie, thank you for that story!! I'm laughing myself silly because that's just sooo "kitten" ehhehehe[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Welcome! I've only been on this board a little over a month, so I don't have a lot of practical advice to give you. I can tell you that my kitten was diagnosed at 6 months after being sick off and on from the time I got her at 4 months. The vet believes she contracted it from her mother. I went through a lot of tears and agonizing in the beginning too. At first there were some family members and friends who said I should euthanize Lucy to keep her from endangering her sister Izzie, who was negative at the time,somesaid to separate them,others said I should start her on various drug treatments. Four weeks ago I was told Lucy was days away from death, I just gave her antibiotics, love, and her sister spent lots of time with her, and she bounced back. When Lucy was diagnosed as positive her sister Izzie tested negative but I decided to keep them together. Izzie is now positive, but there is no way to know if the first negative was a false negative or if she actuall y did contract it in the time after I made the decision to keep them together.When Izzie was diagnosed two weeks ago I went through the tears again - with the added guilt of wondering if deciding to keep them together was the right decision or not. Last night, when it finally cooled down a bit, my girls spent the eveningtrying a new cat foodwith shrimp, crab, and sardines, thenrunning laps around my place, and then woke me up at 3 am to show me that they had taken the drain capoff the bath tub and dropped four of their toy mice down the pipe - they desparately wanted me to get the mice out for them. In other words, they were kittens being kittens - and while I may have cursed them at 3:00 by 3:01 they had me laughing. What I have come to realize is that there is a ton of information out there and lots of opinions - it is great to hear them all, but to make your own decisions. I stand by my decisions, because I see the way they love each other and love their time together. I truly believe that they would rather be together for a shorter time on this earth than apart for a longer time. So my advice is this, collect information, seek advice and opinions, and then make a choice and stick t o it with no regrets or recriminations. I am so glad I didn't euthanize Lucy, so glad I didn't separate them, and so glad they know they can count on me at 3:00 am to rescue their toy mice. I don't know what to expect- they could be gone by a year, or last several more. It is frustrating not knowing, but for now I'm just enjoying their company. Good luck to you and your kitty! MaggieBarb+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 Groups are talking. Were listening. Check out the handy changes to Yahoo! Groups.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Oh how funny! :0) Kittens are so wonderful. Shrimp,crabmeat, and Sardines in aspic is the hands-down family favorite at Liz's Kitty Boutique and Day Spa. *Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.* -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 12:50 PM Subject: Re: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV Welcome! I've only been on this board a little over a month, so I don't have a lot of practical advice to give you. I can tell you that my kitten was diagnosed at 6 months after being sick off and on from the time I got her at 4 months. The vet believes she contracted it from her mother. I went through a lot of tears and agonizing in the beginning too. At first there were some family members and friends who said I should euthanize Lucy to keep her from endangering her sister Izzie, who was negative at the time,somesaid to separate them,others said I should start her on various drug treatments. Four weeks ago I was told Lucy was days away from death, I just gave her antibiotics, love, and her sister spent lots of time with her, and she bounced back. When Lucy was diagnosed as positive her sister Izzie tested negative but I decided to keep them together. Izzie is now positive, but there is no way to know if the first negative was a false negative or if she actuall y did contract it in the time after I made the decision to keep them together.When Izzie was diagnosed two weeks ago I went through the tears again - with the added guilt of wondering if deciding to keep them together was the right decision or not. Last night, when it finally cooled down a bit, my girls spent the eveningtrying a new cat foodwith shrimp, crab, and sardines, thenrunning laps around my place, and then woke me up at 3 am to show me that they had taken the drain capoff the bath tub and dropped four of their toy mice down the pipe - they desparately wanted me to get the mice out for them. In other words, they were kittens being kittens - and while I may have cursed them at 3:00 by 3:01 they had me laughing. What I have come to realize is that there is a ton of information out there and lots of opinions - it is great to hear them all, but to make your own decisions. I stand by my decisions, because I see the way they love each other and love their time together. I truly believe that they would rather be together for a shorter time on this earth than apart for a longer time. So my advice is this, collect information, seek advice and opinions, and then make a choice and stick t o it with no regrets or recriminations. I am so glad I didn't euthanize Lucy, so glad I didn't separate them, and so glad they know they can count on me at 3:00 am to rescue their toy mice. I don't know what to expect- they could be gone by a year, or last several more. It is frustrating not knowing, but for now I'm just enjoying their company. Good luck to you and your kitty! Maggie Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Thank Goodness you didn't listen to that vet! How ridiculous is that, to not want to waste time on a kitten, that doesn't happen to be showing symptoms, but will most likely be sick sometime down the road?! What exactly did he go to vet school for? I hate to think about vets like that out there, giving antiquated advice to people that might not be as caring as you, who might not follow their heart and start looking for answers. He needs to be educated, but for now, you need to find yourself a different vet. Start looking for a board certified Internist that will be versed in anything that you may run up against. Developing a relationship, or at least knowing where you can go, before you need a specialist, will save time and give you some peace of mind. Why was your baby's, (what's her name?), brother tested? Is he sick? Try to make sure whoever adopted the brother and the other kits from the litter know that there are ways to help keep them healthy and that felv is not necessarily the death sentence some still believe it to be. Tell them to join our list! As to your fears for your other cats... They are both adults, and if I'm understanding you correctly, they've both been vaccinated for felv at least once in their lives. They probably are just fine, (quick, say a prayer!). My negs and pos were all mixed in our household for months before we discovered that there was felv in the house. Everyone remained together and the negs never turned up pos. Most people don't realize just how prevalent felv is. It's all around us, all the time. Most healthy adult cats either get it and clear it, or don't get it at all. It's kittens, geriatrics, or sickly cats that have a problem with felv because of their weakened or immature immune systems. They're the ones that end up at the vet's and when they don't get better, they are tested for felv. That's probably why some vet's are so pessimistic about it, by the time they discover it, the poor kitty is in dire shape. If I were you, I'd get your other two cats tested, just so you know what you're dealing with. Felv is like aids in that it weakens the immune system and allows other secondary, or opportunistic illnesses to take hold. These other diseases, that an otherwise healthy cat would not be as susceptible to, can wreak havoc, (they are also more prone to the same things that all of us live in danger of, like cancers). That's why taking an aggressive approach to health care, (don't wait to see if they get better on their own when they are sick), doing your best to eliminate stress, and boosting their immune system with sups and quality food, is so important. Welcome to our group, (what's your name btw?), Nina kandbz_ mom wrote: Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a checkup they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Maggie,Thanks so much for your message! By reading all the responses on here, I now know that I made the right decision by not allowing the vet to euthanize Angel. I kept telling my mom how I couldn't live with myself if I allowed a kitten with no symptoms to be killed. Angel is such a sweet kitty...while we were waiting for the vet to come in the room, she jumped in the chair with me and laid on my lap. Thanks so much for the words of encouragement!Karen[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Welcome! I've only been on this board a little over a month, so I don't have a lot of practical advice to give you. I can tell you that my kitten was diagnosed at 6 months after being sick off and on from the time I got her at 4 months. The vet believes she contracted it from her mother. I went through a lot of tears and agonizing in the beginning too. At first there were some family members and friends who said I should euthanize Lucy to keep her from endangering her sister Izzie, who was negative at the time,somesaid to separate them,others said I should start her on various drug treatments. Four weeks ago I was told Lucy was days away from death, I just gave her antibiotics, love, and her sister spent lots of time with her, and she bounced back. When Lucy was diagnosed as positive her sister Izzie tested negative but I decided to keep them together. Izzie is now positive, but there is no way to know if the first negative was a false negative or if she actuall y did contract it in the time after I made the decision to keep them together.When Izzie was diagnosed two weeks ago I went through the tears again - with the added guilt of wondering if deciding to keep them together was the right decision or not. Last night, when it finally cooled down a bit, my girls spent the eveningtrying a new cat foodwith shrimp, crab, and sardines, thenrunning laps around my place, and then woke me up at 3 am to show me that they had taken the drain capoff the bath tub and dropped four of their toy mice down the pipe - they desparately wanted me to get the mice out for them. In other words, they were kittens being kittens - and while I may have cursed them at 3:00 by 3:01 they had me laughing. What I have come to realize is that there is a ton of information out there and lots of opinions - it is great to hear them all, but to make your own decisions. I stand by my decisions, because I see the way they love each other and love their time together. I truly believe that they would rather be together for a shorter time on this earth than apart for a longer time. So my advice is this, collect information, seek advice and opinions, and then make a choice and stick t o it with no regrets or recriminations. I am so glad I didn't euthanize Lucy, so glad I didn't separate them, and so glad they know they can count on me at 3:00 am to rescue their toy mice. I don't know what to expect- they could be gone by a year, or last several more. It is frustrating not knowing, but for now I'm just enjoying their company. Good luck to you and your kitty! Maggie __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Hi, Nina!Thanks for your message! My name is Karen and my kittens name is Angel. What brand and type of food do you feed your felv cats? I want to make sure I get Angel ona good one that will benefit her.Thanks,KarenNina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thank Goodness you didn't listen to that vet! How ridiculous is that, to not want to "waste time" on a kitten, that doesn't happen to be showing symptoms, but will most likely be sick sometime down the road?! What exactly did he go to vet school for? I hate to think about vets like that out there, giving antiquated advice to people that might not be as caring as you, who might not follow their heart and start looking for answers. He needs to be educated, but for now, you need to find yourself a different vet. Start looking for a board certified Internist that will be versed in anything that you may run up against. Developing a relationship, or at least knowing where you can go, before you need a specialist, will save time and give you some peace of mind. Why was your baby's, (what's her name?), brother tested? Is he sick? Try to make sure whoever adopted the brother and the other kits from the litter know that there are ways to help keep them healthy and that felv is not necessarily the death sentence some still believe it to be. Tell them to join our list!As to your fears for your other cats... They are both adults, and if I'm understanding you correctly, they've both been vaccinated for felv at least once in their lives. They probably are just fine, (quick, say a prayer!). My negs and pos were all mixed in our household for months before we discovered that there was felv in the house. Everyone remained together and the negs never turned up pos. Most people don't realize just how prevalent felv is. It's all around us, all the time. Most healthy adult cats either get it and clear it, or don't get it at all. It's kittens, geriatrics, or sickly cats that have a problem with felv because of their weakened or immature immune systems. They're the ones that end up at the vet's and when they don't get better, they are tested for felv. That's probably why some vet's are so pessimistic about it, by the time they discover it, the poor kitty is in dire shape. If I were you, I'd get your other two cats tested, just so you know what you're dealing with. Felv is like aids in that it weakens the immune system and allows other secondary, or "opportunistic" illnesses to take hold. These other diseases, that an otherwise healthy cat would not be as susceptible to, can wreak havoc, (they are also more prone to the same things that all of us live in danger of, like cancers). That's why taking an aggressive approach to health care, (don't wait to see if they get better on their own when they are sick), doing your best to eliminate stress, and boosting their immune system with sups and quality food, is so important.Welcome to our group, (what's your name btw?),Ninakandbz_ mom wrote: Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks. Do you Yahoo!? Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Goodness..keep the cats and let them enjoy life as long as they can. It may be a few minutes or it may be 20 years. No one knows the time they are to leave this world. The question came up with Dixie Louise (then an unnamed throw away now Dixie Louise Doodle Katt, Junior Partner) in June of last year. She had been around my mother's for months and I decided to get her spayed. My vets tested her and, unfortunately, it came back positive. My vet was broken hearted when he told me. I was, am still, building a log home on a farm I have, was staying at my mother's who couldn't handle a cat in the house, and on and on and on. Things have worked out. 13 months after the test she is the most alive, happy cat I have ever seen. She is about to become a farm house cat and she is very excited.FELV + is not a death sentence and, even if you want to think of it that way, consider...we all start dying the day we take our first breath. Love your little ones, take them to a good holistic vet who can supplement your regular vet and just handle things on a daily basis. Would you want to be killed because you tested positive for a potentially deadly disease? I wouldn't. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: kandbz_ mom To: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:01 AM Subject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELV Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks. __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release Date: 7/18/2006
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Hi,Kittens often fight off the virus. If your cats have never been tested they could have given it to her actually. My advice would be to vaccinate everyone and then retest in 3 months to see if anyone is truly negative. At that point I would only vaccinate the negatives.The virus is not spread that easily and it doesn't sound like your vet is very up to date on felv.Good luck. One of our members just lost an felv positive cat this week who was 16 years old. There's certainly no need to euthanize your new kitten.tonyakandbz_ mom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old.The lady I got herfrom emailed me and saidmy kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.Thanks. __Do You Yahoo!?Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: I'm New....kitten tested positive for FELV
Hey,I didn't realize your 2 older cats were vaccinated. They are probably safe. You might want to boost them though.tkandbz_ mom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks to the two people who have responded so far! Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do have a question..both of my other cats had their booster shots as kittens...but, is this FELV vaccine something they should be getting every year? I was told that since they are indoor cats, the only shots necessary were the first sets. Is that correct? I am going crazy with worry.[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi there,I would not euthanize a cat because they tested positive, unless they are very ill and suffering.You may want to try finding a more enlightened vet.I had a kitten come up light positive awhile ago. She was negative the next time I had her tested. There are no guarantees this will happen every time, but it does happen.If your other cats are vaccinated it is very very unlikely they have contracted it.Other folks on this list have more experience and will probably be more helpful to you, I just wanted to say welcome and give you some hope.Thanks,Kelley- Original Message -From: kandbz_ mom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:08 amSubject: I'm Newkitten tested positive for FELVTo: Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Hello! I recently adopted a kitten...she is now 15 weeks old. The lady I got her from emailed me and said my kittens brother tested positive. We went to the vet for a checkup on Monday and she tested positive for Felv. The vet came out right away and said I may want to think about having her euthanized. I asked if we could wait and then do the other test, the one done at the lab. He said we can, but since she came up positive so young, she probably does have Felv. I am just heartbroken. SHe has no symptoms and is just the sweetest cat ever. I have to get my other two cats tested for it. My cats are 7 and 3 yrs old. They have never been tested for Felv because they don't automatically test here. When you take a cat or kitten in for a "checkup" they just routinely give out the vaccine and don't test unless you ask for it. You would think that as fast as this disease spreads, they would be testing EVERY kitten/cat. I'm worried that my other two cats are going to have it now, too. Does anyone know, would I have to have all three of them euthanized if that were the case?? I'm still learning about this disease from reading things on the internet. Would it be possible to keep her?? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
