Conference misery::feline_v1

    Kathy,
    
    I think it is wonderful that your parents are willing to give an
    older kitten a good home.  Good for them.
    
    Also, the latest findings on Felv indicate that there is no need
    to wait thirty days before bringing in a new kitty, nor is there
    any requirement to sterilize any of the old kitties toys, etc.
    The Leukemia virus is not hardy, and cannot live outside of the
    body in a dry environment.
    
    Your parents might want to check with their vet, or perhaps get
    a second opinion from another vet, if their vet was the one who 
    recommended the 30 day wait.  If they are anxious to have a kitty
    and one comes available right away, it would be a shame if they
    missed out due to this recommendation.
    
    Jo

re: .1

Jo, 

It was my vet that recommended the 30 day wait, although she did say it was not 
_really_ necessary, as long as bowls, litterboxes, etc. got a good cleaning.
 My parents also want a little time to possibly take a 
vacation without having to worry about getting someone to feed the cat.  (their
current neighbors are not super friendly, along with a few other reasons best
not mentioned now).  They do intend to check with the SPCA in NYC and see what 
they have, since they were kind enough to put T-II down for minimal expense.

However, transporting a cat in NYC is a bit of a chore.  You stuff the kitty in 
the carrier and then head down to the subway 8^).  To take the kitty to the vet
for shots is at least a 1.5 hour expedition.

If I got the kitty,  it would live with me until I went to NYC next (then it's 
just a 4 hour car ride ;^) )  I would also be able to get it tested and it's 
initial shots.

If I find a kitty up here (Mass) quickly, that's all the sooner that I will 
have to go visit my parents.  They like that idea, they save projects for when
I come to visit!!

kmr

    Kathy, 
    
    Glad to hear that you are getting the most up to date info from
    your vet. There are still vets who insist on these waiting periods
    and this can be tough on families who want to share their home with
    another kitty right away.
    
    Boy, life in NYC sounds a little crazy!  Good luck in finding your
    parents a sociable, affectionate, kitty, and have fun completing
    your "honey-do" list.
    
    Jo
    
    

Jo,

	 Life in  the  city is definitely different than out here in the
     'burbs.  IF you have a car, then you pay mega-bucks to park it, and
     it  may not be parked in the most convenient location.  My parent's
     car  is parked on a relatively inexpensive pier on the Hudson river
     -  a  1  hour  round trip to go fetch it (plus subway fare (> $1)).
     Then, once you have your car, there's no place to park, so you have
     to have a second person who can stay with your car, or risk getting
     a ticket for parking illegally.

	 Then you  have  to reverse the process to return the car to the
     parking garage. 

	 Since my  folks  have  to  hike  from the subway station to the
     garage,  they  don't  drag anything along with them when they fetch
     the  car  - when they get back to the apartment, the one who didn't
     get  the  car  is  buzzed  by  the one who did and proceeds to haul
     whatever needs to be loaded into the elevator.  

	 Basically, if  you  are  going anywhere on Manhattan, you don't
     take your car, cuz the subway is much faster.

	 I don't  go to the city too much cuz I can't stand the pace.  I
     find  it  exhausting.   I  hate feeling like I have to look over my
     shoulder  all  the  time.   However, the apartment (coop) that they
     have  is  quite  spacious  for  NYC  standards, and it has a fairly
     decent  view - City Hall Park.  The new kitty would get a birds eye
     view off all the ticker-tape parades!

    Sounds a little like San Francisco, only much WORSE!  And I thought
    "the city" (what we call S.F.) was bad.  I have a friend who went
    to school there and sold her car.  I thought she was nuts, but she
    really didn't need it and it was costing her more to park it than
    it would have to use the public transit.
    
    I can see why you wouldn't want to visit too often.  Sounds like
    alot of exercise just to get there.
    
    Jo

    Hey, Jo, don't forget about this "city" in the South Bay!
    
    You can have your car, and you can park it, but, boy, you better not plan
    on GOING anywhere with it, cause even at noontime on Saturday, we're
    talking stop n go!  Frustrating--at least Jo's lucky cause she lives
    in the REAL burbs! I don't, and we don't have subways up here to
    cope, either.  
    
    Anyway (re. 0) too bad your parents live in NYC, cause Jo has a
    wonderful (WONDERFUL) orange altered male that is as nice, sweet,
    cuddly, and just NICE as a cat can be that she was looking for a
    great home for.  Only Monroe's not a kitten--but he's such the doll!
    
    kim

    Kim, you are right!  I forgot to mention the "free parking" on Highway
    101 everyday... and by the way, how lucky can I be living in the
    'burbs when I have to spend an hour everyday parked on 101!  Oh
    well, as much as I complain, me and the cats really like Morgan
    Hill.
    
    Thanks for the nice mention of Monroe.  He is quite a guy...
    
    Jo

    Jo, yes I will as soon as I have a bit of uninterruptable time...it's
    an epic.  ;)
    
    kim

    Kathy - Maybe my "Paleface" would do - please read 2494.0  She really
    is a honey - you'd definitely have to sedate her for the trip.  She's
    located one mile off 495 in Marlboro.
    Pauline
    

	 My folks  are  looking for something younger.  They really have
     their  heart  set  on  a kitten, so that is what I'm trying to find
     first.