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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

512.0. "Advice needed in kitten search." by RHODES::BAUMANN () Sat Mar 14 1987 10:46

    I'm looking for a short haired kitten, and I'd like advice on how
    to be sure it doesn't have FeLV.  I'd like to get a kitten from
    an SPCA if possible, but often they don't test for FeLV and won't
    take kittens back if they test positive.  
    
    Any advice would be appreciated.
    
    I live in Belmont, near Cambridge,MA.
    
    
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512.1...I forgot to mention...RHODES::BAUMANNSat Mar 14 1987 10:549
    I forgot to sign my name to the note -- I'm new at
    this and working notes is confusing!
    
    Anyway -- I'd appreciate advice on finding an FeLV free kitty.
    I just lost a much beloved cat -- Castor -- to lymphosarcoma.
    
    Thanks.{
    
    Laura
512.2helpful, hopefully !OBLIO::MCDONALDMon Mar 16 1987 13:0929
    I'm not sure if anyplace like a shelter or SPCA would test for
    FeLV.  You can call them on the phone and check first.  You also
    may be able to find some kittens on this notes file from private
    owners who might test them for you.
    
    There is also no 100 percent guarantee that the test will be
    accurate.  My vet says they are just finding out that some cats
    are dormant carriers of FeLV.  The tests come back negative.
    Then, after the cat gets sick from a cold of some sort, the FeLV
    develops and spreads, at which time it would test positive.
    
    This is not too bad a problem though.  Although about (I think)
    30 percent of cats with FeLV are dormant carriers, only about .1
    percent of them actually develop it or get into the infected
    stage where they can infect other cats.
    
    The shots are not 100 percent effective either.  But they are good
    and well worth it.  Getting the shots in your cat also helps
    support the research that makes the shots cheaper and better.
    
    Don't let all this stuff scare you.  The way I've explained it,
    its probably not accurate.  I might suggest that after you try
    to get an FeLV free cat, and maybe not find one the way you want,
    that you get a cat anyway and take it right to the vet to find out.
    The chances of getting a good pet are in your favor.
    
    Good Luck.
    Bill