Re: [Felvtalk] New to FLV and have a cat that just tested positive...

2009-10-06 Thread mitchell
I would check out the company IMULAN and their product LTCI.  It is the only
approved treatment aid for FeLV and FIV.  There are people who have used
LTCI and have had amazing results, but every cat is different.  I would
really research it.

On Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 4:11 PM, Anna Waltman anna.walt...@gmail.com wrote:

 Hi everyone,
 I've been lurking around for the last day or two reading your posts.  My
 darling Sylvia, the first cat I have owned as an adult, just tested
 positive
 for FLV on both the in-office and IFA tests.  She's one of my best friends
 and I'm devastated; she was negative as a kitten and has lived inside for
 most of her life (as a little baby, she was a stray-- I adopted her from
 the
 SPCA at five months, and I know she was there for a while before I adopted
 her).  She was given a confident all-clear by my former vet to move with me
 to Massachusetts and live in a multiple-cat household less than three
 months
 ago.

 Upon moving, it became obvious that Sylvia doesn't like being left alone in
 the apartment for long periods of time (prior to our move, we lived with my
 retired parents and their two dogs so she was almost never home alone). I
 decided to adopt a kitten, Beatrice, a few weeks after we moved in, after
 Sylvia had gotten comfortable in the apartment.

 So when Sylvia started meowing strangely and acting a little lethargic, I
 assumed it was a kitty flu but took her to the vet anyway, just to be safe,
 and tested her just to be absolutely sure she was still negative.  What a
 horrible surprise.  She's been living with Bea for a month or two now and
 they're best friends; they wrestle all the time, share food bowls, groom
 each other, etc.  I feel sick with guilt about bringing a young kitten into
 a house with a FLV+ cat, and now chances are I have two positive cats to
 care for.  Our current vet is wonderful, though, and she feels that if we
 vaccinate Bea ASAP and keep a close eye on Sylvia (treating her problems as
 they arise), there's a good chance we can keep both of them healthy for a
 long time.  She says she has other patients and co-workers with FLV+ and
 negative cats living in the same household who never pass it to each other.
 I'm feeding them a mix of Wellness and Innova ENVO and giving the kitten
 multivitamins to boost her immune system and help her fight off the
 exposure.

 I'm a young graduate student in an MA/PhD program and I don't have a ton of
 money.  These kitties had been the most stable thing in my life and this
 diagnosis is totally eating me up, from the inside out.  I love them to
 pieces and want to be the best cat-parent I can to my girls (having chronic
 illnesses myself that significantly increase my risk of certain health
 problems, I'm as empathic about this as anyone).  The horrible potential of
 this disease breaks my heart every time I think about it.  My childhood cat
 passed away a few months before I got Sylvia, and I can't bear to lose
 another one like that (he was very sick for a long time before he died, but
 we don't know what it was.  Could've been FLV or FIV; he wasn't tested
 every
 year, though he was vaccinated.  He was indoor/outdoor and a fighter).

 What do you wish you had known when your cat was first diagnosed, if
 anything?  If there is any advice people have, I would appreciate it, and
 as
 I gain experience caring for my girls I will share what has worked and what
 hasn't with anyone who asks.

 Many thanks and best wishes to you and your families, furry and otherwise.
 Anna
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Re: [Felvtalk] New to FLV and have a cat that just tested positive...

2009-10-06 Thread jbero tds.net
Hello Anna,

I am sorry for your situation.  Felv is an illusive, unpredictable and
sometimes devastating disease.

I think the people in this group have good advice and knowledge pertaining
to this group of cats.

In my experience,  2 died from the anemia and bone marrow suppression that
often kills the younger cats (cats turning positive at less than one year
generally do worse), 1 is doing well - she is about 6 years old and on
interferon (she came to me in good shape already on interferon), the third,
Autumn, nearly died about a month and half ago and is symptomically
improving today.  I started her on the LTCI injections (from Imulan) and
Ambrotose (a mannose supplement similar to Acemannan).  I have heard
multiple stories of cats turning negative on this treatment.

There is no known cure for the virus.  Some cats do well and eradicate the
virus on their own, some become asymptomatic carriers and some die from it.

I wish someone would have suggested I try LTCI and ambrotose (Acemannan)
initially.  The LTCI injection costs about $65 weekly for four weeks and
than monthly.  There were very few side effects identified in the study.
This treatment aid is a somewhat debated issue in this group so you may want
to investigate it yourself.  I have personally reviewed the literature and
think there is promise in it, but others will disagree.

Good luck and God bless.

Jenny
On Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 4:11 PM, Anna Waltman anna.walt...@gmail.com wrote:

 Hi everyone,
 I've been lurking around for the last day or two reading your posts.  My
 darling Sylvia, the first cat I have owned as an adult, just tested
 positive
 for FLV on both the in-office and IFA tests.  She's one of my best friends
 and I'm devastated; she was negative as a kitten and has lived inside for
 most of her life (as a little baby, she was a stray-- I adopted her from
 the
 SPCA at five months, and I know she was there for a while before I adopted
 her).  She was given a confident all-clear by my former vet to move with me
 to Massachusetts and live in a multiple-cat household less than three
 months
 ago.

 Upon moving, it became obvious that Sylvia doesn't like being left alone in
 the apartment for long periods of time (prior to our move, we lived with my
 retired parents and their two dogs so she was almost never home alone). I
 decided to adopt a kitten, Beatrice, a few weeks after we moved in, after
 Sylvia had gotten comfortable in the apartment.

 So when Sylvia started meowing strangely and acting a little lethargic, I
 assumed it was a kitty flu but took her to the vet anyway, just to be safe,
 and tested her just to be absolutely sure she was still negative.  What a
 horrible surprise.  She's been living with Bea for a month or two now and
 they're best friends; they wrestle all the time, share food bowls, groom
 each other, etc.  I feel sick with guilt about bringing a young kitten into
 a house with a FLV+ cat, and now chances are I have two positive cats to
 care for.  Our current vet is wonderful, though, and she feels that if we
 vaccinate Bea ASAP and keep a close eye on Sylvia (treating her problems as
 they arise), there's a good chance we can keep both of them healthy for a
 long time.  She says she has other patients and co-workers with FLV+ and
 negative cats living in the same household who never pass it to each other.
 I'm feeding them a mix of Wellness and Innova ENVO and giving the kitten
 multivitamins to boost her immune system and help her fight off the
 exposure.

 I'm a young graduate student in an MA/PhD program and I don't have a ton of
 money.  These kitties had been the most stable thing in my life and this
 diagnosis is totally eating me up, from the inside out.  I love them to
 pieces and want to be the best cat-parent I can to my girls (having chronic
 illnesses myself that significantly increase my risk of certain health
 problems, I'm as empathic about this as anyone).  The horrible potential of
 this disease breaks my heart every time I think about it.  My childhood cat
 passed away a few months before I got Sylvia, and I can't bear to lose
 another one like that (he was very sick for a long time before he died, but
 we don't know what it was.  Could've been FLV or FIV; he wasn't tested
 every
 year, though he was vaccinated.  He was indoor/outdoor and a fighter).

 What do you wish you had known when your cat was first diagnosed, if
 anything?  If there is any advice people have, I would appreciate it, and
 as
 I gain experience caring for my girls I will share what has worked and what
 hasn't with anyone who asks.

 Many thanks and best wishes to you and your families, furry and otherwise.
 Anna
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 Felvtalk mailing list
 Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
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[Felvtalk] New to FLV and have a cat that just tested positive...

2009-10-05 Thread Anna Waltman
Hi everyone,
I've been lurking around for the last day or two reading your posts.  My
darling Sylvia, the first cat I have owned as an adult, just tested positive
for FLV on both the in-office and IFA tests.  She's one of my best friends
and I'm devastated; she was negative as a kitten and has lived inside for
most of her life (as a little baby, she was a stray-- I adopted her from the
SPCA at five months, and I know she was there for a while before I adopted
her).  She was given a confident all-clear by my former vet to move with me
to Massachusetts and live in a multiple-cat household less than three months
ago.

Upon moving, it became obvious that Sylvia doesn't like being left alone in
the apartment for long periods of time (prior to our move, we lived with my
retired parents and their two dogs so she was almost never home alone). I
decided to adopt a kitten, Beatrice, a few weeks after we moved in, after
Sylvia had gotten comfortable in the apartment.

So when Sylvia started meowing strangely and acting a little lethargic, I
assumed it was a kitty flu but took her to the vet anyway, just to be safe,
and tested her just to be absolutely sure she was still negative.  What a
horrible surprise.  She's been living with Bea for a month or two now and
they're best friends; they wrestle all the time, share food bowls, groom
each other, etc.  I feel sick with guilt about bringing a young kitten into
a house with a FLV+ cat, and now chances are I have two positive cats to
care for.  Our current vet is wonderful, though, and she feels that if we
vaccinate Bea ASAP and keep a close eye on Sylvia (treating her problems as
they arise), there's a good chance we can keep both of them healthy for a
long time.  She says she has other patients and co-workers with FLV+ and
negative cats living in the same household who never pass it to each other.
I'm feeding them a mix of Wellness and Innova ENVO and giving the kitten
multivitamins to boost her immune system and help her fight off the
exposure.

I'm a young graduate student in an MA/PhD program and I don't have a ton of
money.  These kitties had been the most stable thing in my life and this
diagnosis is totally eating me up, from the inside out.  I love them to
pieces and want to be the best cat-parent I can to my girls (having chronic
illnesses myself that significantly increase my risk of certain health
problems, I'm as empathic about this as anyone).  The horrible potential of
this disease breaks my heart every time I think about it.  My childhood cat
passed away a few months before I got Sylvia, and I can't bear to lose
another one like that (he was very sick for a long time before he died, but
we don't know what it was.  Could've been FLV or FIV; he wasn't tested every
year, though he was vaccinated.  He was indoor/outdoor and a fighter).

What do you wish you had known when your cat was first diagnosed, if
anything?  If there is any advice people have, I would appreciate it, and as
I gain experience caring for my girls I will share what has worked and what
hasn't with anyone who asks.

Many thanks and best wishes to you and your families, furry and otherwise.
Anna
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Re: [Felvtalk] New to FLV and have a cat that just tested positive...

2009-10-05 Thread Cougar Clan
If you have access to a holistic vet, check in with her/him.  Mine,  
Betty Boswell, kept Dixie Louise healthy and happy.  Betty works well  
with my regular vets who are wonderful too.  The combination worked  
miracles for three absolutely wonderful years then something through  
Dixie into anemia in a matter of a couple of days and she left this  
world.  There are a number of supplements, including colostrum, that  
the holistic recommend.  Provide the best food you can (it sounds like  
you are doing this) and all the love you have.  Do not count the days  
or look at a calendar.  You do not know the future.  You, as well as  
the cats, started dying the day you were born.  We all are going to  
die sometime.   Accept it and live and enjoy every day you have with  
your wonderful family.  I learned a lot from the Royal Princess Kitty  
Katt (who died from non-FeLV cancer) and Dixie Louise Doodle Katt,  
JP.  The ability to recognize the mortality of ourselves and those we  
love is difficult but, when done, frees us to love so much more  
completely and without fear of the future.


Bless you and your little friends.
On Oct 5, 2009, at 4:11 PM, Anna Waltman wrote:


Hi everyone,
I've been lurking around for the last day or two reading your  
posts.  My
darling Sylvia, the first cat I have owned as an adult, just tested  
positive
for FLV on both the in-office and IFA tests.  She's one of my best  
friends
and I'm devastated; she was negative as a kitten and has lived  
inside for
most of her life (as a little baby, she was a stray-- I adopted her  
from the
SPCA at five months, and I know she was there for a while before I  
adopted
her).  She was given a confident all-clear by my former vet to move  
with me
to Massachusetts and live in a multiple-cat household less than  
three months

ago.

Upon moving, it became obvious that Sylvia doesn't like being left  
alone in
the apartment for long periods of time (prior to our move, we lived  
with my
retired parents and their two dogs so she was almost never home  
alone). I
decided to adopt a kitten, Beatrice, a few weeks after we moved in,  
after

Sylvia had gotten comfortable in the apartment.

So when Sylvia started meowing strangely and acting a little  
lethargic, I
assumed it was a kitty flu but took her to the vet anyway, just to  
be safe,
and tested her just to be absolutely sure she was still negative.   
What a
horrible surprise.  She's been living with Bea for a month or two  
now and
they're best friends; they wrestle all the time, share food bowls,  
groom
each other, etc.  I feel sick with guilt about bringing a young  
kitten into
a house with a FLV+ cat, and now chances are I have two positive  
cats to
care for.  Our current vet is wonderful, though, and she feels that  
if we
vaccinate Bea ASAP and keep a close eye on Sylvia (treating her  
problems as
they arise), there's a good chance we can keep both of them healthy  
for a
long time.  She says she has other patients and co-workers with FLV+  
and
negative cats living in the same household who never pass it to each  
other.
I'm feeding them a mix of Wellness and Innova ENVO and giving the  
kitten

multivitamins to boost her immune system and help her fight off the
exposure.

I'm a young graduate student in an MA/PhD program and I don't have a  
ton of
money.  These kitties had been the most stable thing in my life and  
this
diagnosis is totally eating me up, from the inside out.  I love them  
to
pieces and want to be the best cat-parent I can to my girls (having  
chronic

illnesses myself that significantly increase my risk of certain health
problems, I'm as empathic about this as anyone).  The horrible  
potential of
this disease breaks my heart every time I think about it.  My  
childhood cat

passed away a few months before I got Sylvia, and I can't bear to lose
another one like that (he was very sick for a long time before he  
died, but
we don't know what it was.  Could've been FLV or FIV; he wasn't  
tested every

year, though he was vaccinated.  He was indoor/outdoor and a fighter).

What do you wish you had known when your cat was first diagnosed, if
anything?  If there is any advice people have, I would appreciate  
it, and as
I gain experience caring for my girls I will share what has worked  
and what

hasn't with anyone who asks.

Many thanks and best wishes to you and your families, furry and  
otherwise.

Anna
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Re: [Felvtalk] New to FLV and have a cat that just tested positive...

2009-10-05 Thread gary
Sorry your kitty has tested positive. Since you are considering vaccinating
Bea, are you assuming she is still/originally negative?Perhaps, it was
Bea who infected Sylvia, you should test Bea ASAP.  

Since I started to take in FeLV cats, I have had two young adults and one
kitten manage to throw off the virus and now test negative.  Although, my
understanding is that once they test positive on the IFA test, converting to
negative is very rare.

If it was Sylvia who had it in the first place and the kitten has been with
her for two months and doesn't have it, she probably won't get it, but I
would still vaccinate if she is negative.  It takes a series of two shots
and about 4 or 5 weeks to develop the full immunity the vaccine gives. 

There are a lot of things out there that people are using for immune
boosters and you can see some of the treatment things on the website, some
are available and some are not, forget Staph Protein A, you can't get it.  I
have tried Immuno Regulin and it didn't help my guys.  Best Friends in Utah
uses it as a immune booster once a month administered Sub-Q.  Since I have
it, I have been considering giving it a try.  It is very hard to determine
if something you are using as an immune booster is actually doing anything.
I am presently trying Acemannan on a couple of new positive kittens I have,
we will see how that works.

The best thing to give them is a good diet, low stress, plenty of love and
vet quickly if they appear sick.  After losing four to a very fast moving
anemia, I check their gums frequently for signs of anemia.

Gary 

-Original Message-
From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org
[mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Anna Waltman
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 4:12 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: [Felvtalk] New to FLV and have a cat that just tested positive...

Hi everyone,
I've been lurking around for the last day or two reading your posts.  My
darling Sylvia, the first cat I have owned as an adult, just tested positive
for FLV on both the in-office and IFA tests.  She's one of my best friends
and I'm devastated; she was negative as a kitten and has lived inside for
most of her life (as a little baby, she was a stray-- I adopted her from the
SPCA at five months, and I know she was there for a while before I adopted
her).  She was given a confident all-clear by my former vet to move with me
to Massachusetts and live in a multiple-cat household less than three months
ago.

Upon moving, it became obvious that Sylvia doesn't like being left alone in
the apartment for long periods of time (prior to our move, we lived with my
retired parents and their two dogs so she was almost never home alone). I
decided to adopt a kitten, Beatrice, a few weeks after we moved in, after
Sylvia had gotten comfortable in the apartment.

So when Sylvia started meowing strangely and acting a little lethargic, I
assumed it was a kitty flu but took her to the vet anyway, just to be safe,
and tested her just to be absolutely sure she was still negative.  What a
horrible surprise.  She's been living with Bea for a month or two now and
they're best friends; they wrestle all the time, share food bowls, groom
each other, etc.  I feel sick with guilt about bringing a young kitten into
a house with a FLV+ cat, and now chances are I have two positive cats to
care for.  Our current vet is wonderful, though, and she feels that if we
vaccinate Bea ASAP and keep a close eye on Sylvia (treating her problems as
they arise), there's a good chance we can keep both of them healthy for a
long time.  She says she has other patients and co-workers with FLV+ and
negative cats living in the same household who never pass it to each other.
I'm feeding them a mix of Wellness and Innova ENVO and giving the kitten
multivitamins to boost her immune system and help her fight off the
exposure.

I'm a young graduate student in an MA/PhD program and I don't have a ton of
money.  These kitties had been the most stable thing in my life and this
diagnosis is totally eating me up, from the inside out.  I love them to
pieces and want to be the best cat-parent I can to my girls (having chronic
illnesses myself that significantly increase my risk of certain health
problems, I'm as empathic about this as anyone).  The horrible potential of
this disease breaks my heart every time I think about it.  My childhood cat
passed away a few months before I got Sylvia, and I can't bear to lose
another one like that (he was very sick for a long time before he died, but
we don't know what it was.  Could've been FLV or FIV; he wasn't tested every
year, though he was vaccinated.  He was indoor/outdoor and a fighter).

What do you wish you had known when your cat was first diagnosed, if
anything?  If there is any advice people have, I would appreciate it, and as
I gain experience caring for my girls I will share what has worked and what
hasn't with anyone who asks.

Many thanks and best wishes to 

Re: [Felvtalk] New to FLV and have a cat that just tested positive...

2009-10-05 Thread Jane Lyons

Hi Anna
I can identify with your devastation and can understand the fear and
uncertainty around the diagnosis of a best friend. Most of us have  
been there.


The statistics fluctuate, but it has been reported that 80% of cats  
have a natural
immunity to FLV, and if you read the archives on this list you will  
discover that
transmission is not as certain as was once believed although all of  
us living with

FLV kitties know that one time is enough.

My advice would be to research supplements that will boost their  
immune system
and feed them the best diet you can. I think I've been able to bring  
a formally mistreated kitten
(she was thrown from the window of a moving truck onto the porch of a  
100+ cat home/shelter)
back from the brink because she feels so loved and cared for, that  
she is 'not going anywhere'
if she can help it. As we all know, a lot of love and care helps 'a  
body'.


Because she was so highly symptomatic at one time, we are giving her  
an on again off dose of
Interferon, which some people feel is cruel because of side  
effects. Our kitten plays and eats
with abandon so I am reluctant to change anything that is keeping her  
well and side effects are impossible

to imagine.

You'll get good advise here. Mine would be to keep their immune  
systems tuned (DMG liquid is one I use)
be careful of stress and just love them. I know I am nuts, but I do  
bliss therapy sessions daily. I make sure
that she gets to sit in my lap and purr as loudly as she can for 10  
minute intervals. I've concocted the notion

that the purring is helping her heal and so far, it is working.

You will get over the shock and will discover that they have a lot to  
teach us about 'present time' and that

love never is subject,object.

Welcome to the three of you !
Jane




On Oct 5, 2009, at 5:11 PM, Anna Waltman wrote:


Hi everyone,
I've been lurking around for the last day or two reading your  
posts.  My
darling Sylvia, the first cat I have owned as an adult, just tested  
positive
for FLV on both the in-office and IFA tests.  She's one of my best  
friends
and I'm devastated; she was negative as a kitten and has lived  
inside for
most of her life (as a little baby, she was a stray-- I adopted her  
from the
SPCA at five months, and I know she was there for a while before I  
adopted
her).  She was given a confident all-clear by my former vet to move  
with me
to Massachusetts and live in a multiple-cat household less than  
three months

ago.

Upon moving, it became obvious that Sylvia doesn't like being left  
alone in
the apartment for long periods of time (prior to our move, we lived  
with my
retired parents and their two dogs so she was almost never home  
alone). I
decided to adopt a kitten, Beatrice, a few weeks after we moved in,  
after

Sylvia had gotten comfortable in the apartment.

So when Sylvia started meowing strangely and acting a little  
lethargic, I
assumed it was a kitty flu but took her to the vet anyway, just to  
be safe,
and tested her just to be absolutely sure she was still negative.   
What a
horrible surprise.  She's been living with Bea for a month or two  
now and
they're best friends; they wrestle all the time, share food bowls,  
groom
each other, etc.  I feel sick with guilt about bringing a young  
kitten into
a house with a FLV+ cat, and now chances are I have two positive  
cats to
care for.  Our current vet is wonderful, though, and she feels that  
if we
vaccinate Bea ASAP and keep a close eye on Sylvia (treating her  
problems as
they arise), there's a good chance we can keep both of them healthy  
for a
long time.  She says she has other patients and co-workers with FLV 
+ and
negative cats living in the same household who never pass it to  
each other.
I'm feeding them a mix of Wellness and Innova ENVO and giving the  
kitten

multivitamins to boost her immune system and help her fight off the
exposure.

I'm a young graduate student in an MA/PhD program and I don't have  
a ton of
money.  These kitties had been the most stable thing in my life and  
this
diagnosis is totally eating me up, from the inside out.  I love  
them to
pieces and want to be the best cat-parent I can to my girls (having  
chronic

illnesses myself that significantly increase my risk of certain health
problems, I'm as empathic about this as anyone).  The horrible  
potential of
this disease breaks my heart every time I think about it.  My  
childhood cat

passed away a few months before I got Sylvia, and I can't bear to lose
another one like that (he was very sick for a long time before he  
died, but
we don't know what it was.  Could've been FLV or FIV; he wasn't  
tested every

year, though he was vaccinated.  He was indoor/outdoor and a fighter).

What do you wish you had known when your cat was first diagnosed, if
anything?  If there is any advice people have, I would appreciate  
it, and as
I gain experience caring for my girls I will share what has worked  
and what

hasn't 

Re: [Felvtalk] New to FLV and have a cat that just tested positive...

2009-10-05 Thread Chris
Most important thing I wish I had known was NOT to panic.  My Tucson was 5
years old before she was diagnosed and had been around my other cats exactly
like Sylvia has been with Bea.  That was 5 1/2 years ago and so far,
everybody is just fine.  No one but Tucson tested positive.  I feed them all
Wellnes food as well and basically, they live a pretty stress free
life--LOL.  It sounds like you have a really good vet and that's half the
battle.  Watch for early signs of any sort of infection, cold, etc.  

Christiane Biagi

-Original Message-
From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org
[mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Anna Waltman
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 5:12 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: [Felvtalk] New to FLV and have a cat that just tested positive...

Hi everyone,
I've been lurking around for the last day or two reading your posts.  My
darling Sylvia, the first cat I have owned as an adult, just tested positive
for FLV on both the in-office and IFA tests.  She's one of my best friends
and I'm devastated; she was negative as a kitten and has lived inside for
most of her life (as a little baby, she was a stray-- I adopted her from the
SPCA at five months, and I know she was there for a while before I adopted
her).  She was given a confident all-clear by my former vet to move with me
to Massachusetts and live in a multiple-cat household less than three months
ago.

Upon moving, it became obvious that Sylvia doesn't like being left alone in
the apartment for long periods of time (prior to our move, we lived with my
retired parents and their two dogs so she was almost never home alone). I
decided to adopt a kitten, Beatrice, a few weeks after we moved in, after
Sylvia had gotten comfortable in the apartment.

So when Sylvia started meowing strangely and acting a little lethargic, I
assumed it was a kitty flu but took her to the vet anyway, just to be safe,
and tested her just to be absolutely sure she was still negative.  What a
horrible surprise.  She's been living with Bea for a month or two now and
they're best friends; they wrestle all the time, share food bowls, groom
each other, etc.  I feel sick with guilt about bringing a young kitten into
a house with a FLV+ cat, and now chances are I have two positive cats to
care for.  Our current vet is wonderful, though, and she feels that if we
vaccinate Bea ASAP and keep a close eye on Sylvia (treating her problems as
they arise), there's a good chance we can keep both of them healthy for a
long time.  She says she has other patients and co-workers with FLV+ and
negative cats living in the same household who never pass it to each other.
I'm feeding them a mix of Wellness and Innova ENVO and giving the kitten
multivitamins to boost her immune system and help her fight off the
exposure.

I'm a young graduate student in an MA/PhD program and I don't have a ton of
money.  These kitties had been the most stable thing in my life and this
diagnosis is totally eating me up, from the inside out.  I love them to
pieces and want to be the best cat-parent I can to my girls (having chronic
illnesses myself that significantly increase my risk of certain health
problems, I'm as empathic about this as anyone).  The horrible potential of
this disease breaks my heart every time I think about it.  My childhood cat
passed away a few months before I got Sylvia, and I can't bear to lose
another one like that (he was very sick for a long time before he died, but
we don't know what it was.  Could've been FLV or FIV; he wasn't tested every
year, though he was vaccinated.  He was indoor/outdoor and a fighter).

What do you wish you had known when your cat was first diagnosed, if
anything?  If there is any advice people have, I would appreciate it, and as
I gain experience caring for my girls I will share what has worked and what
hasn't with anyone who asks.

Many thanks and best wishes to you and your families, furry and otherwise.
Anna
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