Conference misery::feline_v1

    In my breeding situation, if one of my cats tested positive for
    leukemia, I would immediately retest.  If the same result came back,
    I would have find a new home for that cat.  Just before I started
    breeding Birmans, one of my household pets tested positive for leukemia
    so I took him to live with my mom.
    
    Jesse (the positive cat) lived with Mom and her cat, Momma Kitty,
    for over two years before he died.  He died of liver and kidney
    failure which could have been brought on by the leukemia, or just
    by old age.  Before I placed Jesse with Mom and her cat, I tested
    Momma Kitty and vaccinated her.  We kept her up on her boosters.
    
    At first, we kept Jesse and Momma Kitty totally separated to protect
    her.  But, since they were both very old, and seemed to want to
    be together, we decided to let them mix.  Momma Kitty tested negative
    right till the end.  She died a month after Jesse, from a tumor
    in her inner ear.
    
    Everything that I have read and heard about leukemia indicates that
    it is not a hardy virus, and cannot survive outside the body in
    a dry environment.  I have read that it is transmitted by very close
    physical contact with a felv+ cat, either  through contact with
    blood, urine, feces, or saliva.
    
    If I were not in a breeding situation, I would probably keep a felv
    positive cat should one of mine turn up positive.  But, I cannot
    run the risk while I am breeding.  I have never had another positive
    test come up (except for the false positive mentioned in another
    note), but if I did, that cat would be neutered/spayed and placed
    in another home, either with other + cats, or only cat home.
    
    Alot of my kitten buyers have lost a cat to leukemia, so it seems
    to be prevalent in our area.  Our town is rural, and most people
    let their cats outside, so alot of cats seem to catch it.
    
    I don't really trust the felv vaccine, but it seems to have helped
    my Mom's cat.                                       
    
    The vet told us that Jesse probably was harboring the virus in his
    bone marrow for most of his life since he didn't test positive until
    he was about 16 years old.  (By the way, July 1st would have been
    Jesse's 18th birthday)  His positive test came after a serious illness
    and the vet speculated that the stress triggered the leukemia.
    
    Jo

    I was interested to read about your vet's theory about Jesse harboring
    the virus for such a long time.  I lost my first cat, Pussycat, to
    FeLV after 8 years as an indoor cat.  It happened within the space of a 
    week or two, with no signs that he was sick before then.  I knew
    nothing abut FLV at the time, but later found out that a neighbor's
    cat who had died a short time before Pussycat, and who used to visit 
    at the back door with him (P was an indoor cat), had died from it.
    I always assumed that it had spread from the other cat to P, and
    really blamed my neighbors for letting their (chronically sick) cat
    roam.  So, maybe it wasn't their fault.  And maybe I can stop
    saying "if only I'd known that the other cat had FeLV, I would have
    kept them separated."
    

    Contrary to what the ads that I see in cat magazines say, everything 
    that I have read about felv indicates that your cat could not get felv 
    by looking at the other cat through your screen door.  The ads are
    put out by Norden, the makers of the leukemia vaccine, so they would
    serve the purpose of convincing the owners of indoor cats to vaccinate
    them, thus increasing their market.
    
    Jesse was a cat of unknown origin, and he could have had it all
    along with out us ever knowing it.  He became really ill in October
    two years ago, while I was out on disability.  He had an intestinal
    obstruction, and in the course of doing a full blood panel to determine
    whether he was a good candidate for surgery, we came up with a positive
    test.  He had been tested yearly prior to that, and had even been
    vaccinated.  I have since read that the virus can be harbored in
    bone marrow and then show up at a later date.
    
    Hope this helps
    
    Jo

    They had a pretty intimate relationship despite the screen door -- nose
    touching, flea jumping (sigh), etc.  I guess I'll never know.  Glad
    mine are both vaccinated now, even though I know the vaccine isn't
    perfect.
    

    Karen,
    
    You've mentioned several times that your cat contracted FeLV from
    having contact with a neighbor cat through the screen door.  When
    you first mentioned this, a long time ago, it seemed really unlikely
    to me, but I was a bit concerned about it since my cats hang out at
    screen doors and do occasionally come into contact with neighborhood
    cats.  At the Tufts Veterinary Feline Symposium last spring (1988) 
    there was a presention on FeLV.  I related your story to the vet
    and I was practically laughed out of the room by the rest of the
    attendees.  The vet said that it was *extremely unlikely* that your
    cat could have possibly contracted the disease this way and that
    it was much more likely that he was harboring the virus in his
    bone marrow all those years.
    
    I never mentioned this here before because you always seemed so
    insistent/adamant that this is the way that your cat got it, that
    I thought you might get upset if I suggested otherwise.   So, don't
    feel guilty about having let your cat come into contact with the
    other.   
    
    Donna 
    
    

      When we lost our cat two weeks ago to FeLV, I contacted a senior
    veterenarian at Tufts and had a long discussion with him about the
    disease. It is COMMON for a cat to carry the FeLV virus from the
    mother's womb via the bone-marrow. If this happens, there is only one
    way to detect it, and that's by dong a bone-marrow sample and testing
    it. It is NOT reccommended that the bone-marrow test be done, since 95%
    of cats do NOT have it in their bone-marrow, and it is a very expensive
    and extremely painful procedure. IF a cat DOES have it in the marrow,
    ther is a good chance that the disease will never attack the host
    animal, but there IS always the chance that it will also. There is NO
    WAY to predict the timing. It may strike in a few weeks, months or
    never. If it DOES however, it is fatal. 
    
      The Dr. confirmed the facts presented about saliva, blood, feces,
    etc. being the primary transmitter of the disease. 
    
      He also stated that approximately 20% of cats vaccinnated will NOT be
    immunized. Some of them have an immune system reaction that actually
    rejects the vaccine, and others simply do not become immunized because
    their systems are such that the vaccine does no good. Both of these
    categories are susceptable to the disease. 
    
      IF a cat IS immunized and the vaccine DOES take effect, the immunized
    cat CAN be in the same house with FeLV Positive animals and WILL NOT
    contract the disease. But there is also the CHANCE that a cat that
    tests negative and has been immunized COULD still be a bone-marrow
    carrier.
    
      Vaccinating a FeLV Positive cat will not hurt the animal, but the
    vaccine companies are quick to state that it will do no good either. I
    have had five people who dispute this totally. Each of these five
    people have had a FeLV Positive that had been vaccinated and had come
    up NEGATIVE!!! One had tested positive for 7 years and was vaccinated 7
    times--the EIGHTH time she tested NEGATIVE and has been NEGATIVE ever
    since then(5 years now..) The theory that some vets have is that the
    vaccine may be triggering the cat's immune system to reject the living
    virus as well as the vaccine. It surely cannot hurt, and if 1 in a
    thousand DO come up Neg. I personally would think it is worth the
    effort.
    
      I have a FeLV Positive who is about 8.5 years old. She was "Dumped"
    in front of my house 4 years ago, and has tested positive every year.
    We have NOT had her vaccinated, but will be starting this fall. A
    friend of mine had a 17 year old cat who tested positive all his life.
    He died in his sleep.
    
    
      We adopted the FeLV Positive from a previous note, and we will not
    hesitate to adopt others. If we can give a baby 1 month, a year, 5
    years, or 20 years, at least each day will be a happy one. If the cat
    contracts the disease, we know what our responsibility is. We will not
    allow an animal to suffer. We are as close to this latest kitten in one
    week as we are to all our animals, and if she gets the disease it will
    be a heartbreaking time for us. It will be the same though, if she
    lives to be 25!! We'll hurt and miss her a lot. That's part of having
    pets though, and it doesn't get any better with repetition.
    
    JMcD

    Thank you very much for entering all that excellent information.
    I, and I'm sure all the others,  appreciate it very much!
    
    I applaud your one happy day, week, month, year theory.  If that's
    all there is then let what ever there is be wonderful.  Pets and
    children are only lent to us on a temporary basis.  We don't own
    them - we just borrow them and enjoy what ever time we have with
    them to the fullest.
    
    Sounds to me like you 'did good'.
    
    E.T.

    One of my 6 cats tested FeLV+. I brought him into my home 2-1/2 years
    ago knowing about the disease and have never been sorry about doing
    so. Three of my others have been tested as FeLV-, two have never been 
    tested. They were all strays when I adopted them, most have a physical 
    handicap of some sort; ALL lead good lives. The way I feel is that they
    get good food, clean litter boxes, a warm, clean bed (which frequently
    happens to be mine), medical treatment & routine shots, and lots
    of love and attention. They are all indoor cats who never had to
    know "fear" again. Out of my 6 there is only 1 who MIGHT have been
    able to survive on her own - but I doubt it.So I feel Francis is an 
    addition like adding any of the others. Besides he checks in at
    a solid 17 pounds.
    Pat
    
    the others, and they are happy too.
    
    

    Years ago when any cat tested FLV+ the vet immediately recommended
    euthanasia.  Now, with the vaccination and with the knowledge that
    an FLV+ cat can live years in good health, this recommendation is
    not made anywhere near as often.
      I applaud John's "quality of life" philosophy and agree with it
    wholeheartily.  My crew is all immunized against FLV even tho they
    are indoor cats (out on leashes only).  My reasoning was that I
    could never predict what was going to happen and because it was
    possible for them to come in contact with the virus (if one got
    out, if I took in a stray etc) I would rather spend the money for
    the vaccination as a precaution.  I also immunize against rabies
    for the same reason.
      I believe that generally an FLV+ cat is placed in a home as an
    only cat or with other cat(s) that also test positive.  My belief
    is that the risk of contagion from these cats is not as high as
    you would think.  The real problem is the pool of feral, stray,
    and neglected outdoor cats.  
      I am currently considering adopting a stray cat that I have
    been feeding for *months*.  I've even been treating him for an
    injured foot, which is healing beautifully :-)  I'm concerned
    because I know there's an excellent chance that when I bring him
    into the vet he'll test FLV+ which means that I have to do some
    serious thinking about whether to ever allow him in the house
    with my other 4.  I haven't decided yet and if anyone wants to
    offer some views on the subject please feel free to send mail.
    This is new ground for me.  I've never adopted a stray before.
      Nancy DC
    

    Well, I've adopted 4 feral and one stray and they all tested negitive
    (they are also all immunized now, too).
    
    Deb

    re: .10 - That's what Jo told me.  So if I decide this guy
    really is a stray (How DO you know for sure?) I'll have him
    tested and worry about the results when I get them.
    
    I do want to clarify that I'm not sure that it would even
    be possible to move this cat indoors.  If he won't accept
    being indoor only, I'm not sure I want an indoor/outdoor
    cat with  my other 4.  I'm mostly concerned about having
    to treat 5 cats for fleas, worms, earmites etc on a reg-
    ular basis.  I guess I was thinking in terms of getting
    him to the vet for shots and neutering initially and then
    maybe building him an outdoor shelter or letting him in
    during really bad weather.  Of course, if he indicated
    he wanted to come in at other times I'd probably be a
    softy and let him in.
    
    It was pointed out to me that I'm being inconsistent here
    as I was so desperate to get Tym a home (He's still with
    us BTW, his new home isn't quite ready).  I think that
    the feedback/advice I was looking for had more to do with
    dealing with stray cats - ie. How might he react to the
    cat carrier, should I tell my vet this is a stray and ask
    him if he's willing to treat the cat?  Might the cat attack
    the vet?  etc etc etc.  I'm so insecure around this guy and
    he really is a nice cat, its just taken months to get him
    to the point where he doesn't run away when we come out and
    will let us pat him and even pick him up for very short 
    periods of time. 
      Nancy DC
    

    Nancy,
    
    Both Jesse and the cat I wrote you mail about, Bill, were originally
    whole toms when we found them.  Both were great about the vet and
    the carrier.  Neither shredded myself or the vet.  And both were
    very grateful to become indoor cats.  My theory is that after years
    of having to take care of themselves, they were all too willing
    to let me take over.
    
    An outdoor enclosure sounds like a great idea, *if* he doesn't take
    to being indoors.  Also, why not put him in the garage next time
    you see him, then quickly call the vet and make an appointment.
    I had to do that with Bill since I had no idea where he went when
    he wasn't hanging out waiting for food.
    
    Jo

    well, the twins were still young; since they have simple taste (they
    like only the best), they adapted to a life of leisure quite well.
    
    
    Niky was wild when I trapped him and my back room. I had to put on a
    heavy coat and leather gloves to put him in the carrier and into the
    upstairs bedroom he got quarrenteed in. He was a real nasty SOB, and
    when I had him neutered 5 days after I got him (built up a little
    strenght). He stayed at the vets until Saturday. When I picked him up,
    he was the sweetest, most "gentlemanly" cat I ever met. He had been
    feral for all of his approximatly 2.5 years and is now a certified lap
    cat.
    
    
    Spiro was feral for about 5 to 6 years, but was a charmer from day 1
    (he got lots of handouts in the neighborhood). He is even nicer since
    he was neutered. He is a lap cat, too.
    
    The interesting thing here is that I've even left the door open infront
    of them and none will dart to the door. I think Jo hit the nail on the
    head when she used the word "greatful".
    
    Deb
    

    re: .12 & .13  Thanks guys.  I appreciate the encouragement.
    Guess I'm afraid that my friend will be so angry with me for
    taking him to the vet that he'll run away and never come back.
    Of course, he's been eating at Nancy & Jack's wildlife resteraunt
    (just ask the raccoons, oppossums & skunks around our place) for
    many many months so he'll probably keep coming around.  Who knows,
    he may just understand that we're trying to help.
      Now I really should turn this note back over to the original
    subject - Feline Leukemia.  Sorry for diverting things and thanks.
       Nancy DC
    
      

    Hello,
    
    We picked our 8 week old kitten on April 28th, went to the vets last
    Wednesday for a check up.  This afternoon the vet called back to say
    that our kitten is FeLV positive.  
    
    How can this be?  An 8 week old kitten?
    
    We are heartbroken.
    
    Peter, Anne, Rascii, for our new kitten, Louie.

    Peter, wait a month, and then have her re-tested.  If she is your
    only cat, keep her inside, and don't let her have contact with any
    other cats until re-tested.  If you do have other cats, keep the
    kitten confined until the second test results are in.
    
    She could come up negative the second time around.  Stranger things
    have happened.
    
    Good luck!
    
    
    -Roberta
    

    Roberta is right.  There is a chance of false positives with the
    leukemia test.  Keep her in, wait a month and then test again. 
    If the vet did a tear or saliva test, ask for a blood test the second
    time around.
    
    Jo

    And please let us know how things are going.  This must be very
    difficult for you.
    

    I believe the more accurate test is called the Hardy Test.  I would
    ask for that one specifically.  And even if the cat is positive,
    if you are keeping her indoors and she's an only cat then she may
    live for many many years perfectly healthy.  I know that there are
    other folks in this file who have FLV + cats and you would then be
    able to take in other FLV + kittens who are otherwise healthy.  You'd
    be doing a great service.
      Nancy DC

    Thank you for the information and wishes.  Our kitten Louie had a
    blood test and I think it was a Hardy but I will double check.
    
    Being FLV + is not Louie's only problem.  The vet noticed a hard
    tummy and prescribed sulfa for that.  I understand it's totally 
    unrelated to the positive result.  I expect the medication to do
    it's job.
    
    In addition, we have a three year old cat - Rascii.  He has had
    his FLV shots on schedule, but we are keeping the cat and kitten 
    apart in the house.  
    
    We are sick to think of losing the kitten Louie, but we are con-
    cerned and hope the older cat Rascii does not test positive three 
    or six months down the road.
    
    We haven't made a firm decision yet on what to do, I think we need 
    more time and information.
    
    Thanks Feliners,
    
    Pete, Anne, Rascii, and Louie Tewhey
    
    

    We got our second and third opinions.  We made the heartbreaking
    decision to have our kitten euthanized.
    
    In two or three months we hope to get a tested FLV - kitten.
    
    Pete, Anne, and Rascii
    
    

    I respect your strength.  That is a tough decision to make.  
    have added Louie's name to the Silver Lining Memorial list and
    he will be comemmorated with our Q4 gift.  If you aren't familiar
    with the Silver Lining Memorial see note 2228.
      Much sympathy
       Nancy DC