Conference misery::feline_v1

    I am so sorry to hear about James T. - he couldn't be in any better
    hands, though.  As far as I am concerned the sun rises and sets on 
    Dr.'s Moss and Mulcahy.
    
    I don't know too much about the AIDS virus in cats/animals - would be
    interested in finding out more.  My two cats are both indoor
    exclusively so I hope that that will protection them.
    
    I hope you get to bring him home with you tomorrow - he sounds like a
    real love.
    
    Marilyn, Otis and Tiffany
    

    My prayers are with James T.  He sounds like such a sweetie...and
    I think all you have to do is continue to love, spoil and pamper
    him.   He sounds like he found a wonderful home....even though
    it caused an identity crisis!   I can't picture a little cat
    thinking he's a St. Bernard!!!  That must be a sight!!
    
    Thinking of you James T.
    
    Sandy

    We're thinking of your and James.  What a magnificent cat he
    must be.  Please let us know how he is doing.
    

    Good Luck to James T.
    Sounds so cute that he thinks he is a St B.
    
    SueJ

    I think that it is possible for James T. to live a relatively normal
    life while remaining Feline Aids positive.  Like human aids, a positive
    FIV test doesn't necessarily mean that the cat will become ill with
    Feline Aids.  He may remain positive but never develop symptoms.  And,
    just like Aids, he will have to be treated symptomatically if problems
    do develop.  
    
    The one thing that you need to be aware of is that he is now a means of
    infection for other cats.  Keeping him isolated from other cats, and
    indoors only is the main way to prevent the spread of this disease.
    His illness is not contagious to your dogs as far as all the literature
    reads right now.  They are finding that this is a species specific
    disease of cats.
    
    Good luck to you and James T.  The diagnosis is not necessarily a death
    sentence for him.  He sounds like a fighter to me. :^)
    
    Jo

    How does a healthy cat contract Feline AIDS from an infected cat - from
    bites?  Also, what are the symptoms?

    James T. was, as far as we can tell, an outdoor only cat for about 4
    years before I got him. Part of his left ear was missing and he had a
    number of bite marks. Dr. Moss says it is generally transmitted by a
    cat bite. The symptoms can vary. The only reason James T. was diagnosed
    was through the blood test. He was so sick that she was checking him 
    for everything to find out why he wasn't responding. She told me some
    of the symptoms (there is quite a list and I don't remember them all).
    Persistant mouth problems, tumors, anorexia, seizures and other fun
    things. Also pathology. I inquired if I should lock up the kitchen
    utensils? Is James T. going to come after us with the carving knife.
    Dr. Moss thought not, but said "If you hear cello music in the middle
    of the night, better check on him" {for you non-horror movie fans, lots
    of your better serial killers are accompanied by cello music}.
    
    The happy part is that he is coming home today. Dr. Moss called me last
    night to say James T. had been bathed, which he hated. Then she dried
    him with a hair dryer. He loved that. When he wasn't eating a few days
    ago, she went out and got him some salmon. He vaccuumed that right up.
    With friends like that, I'll need a second job. Now James T. will
    expect salmon and nice warm hair dryer air baths. Considering how much
    I've missed him, he'll probably get it. Hope the St. Bernard won't
    expect the same.

    Thats great ! Glad to hear it,... Hugs and Purrrss from all!

    Feline Aids is an immunodeficiency virus.  It attacks that immune
    system and leaves the cat open for all kinds of illnesses.  Basically,
    almost any kind of chronic health problem can be a symptom of FIV. 
    That can range from eye infections, upper respiratory infections,
    chronic skin conditions, weight loss, lethary, bladder and bowel
    problems, and any kind of problems with any of the major organs.  
    
    It is a good idea to have any and all new cats tested for FIV now.  In
    a lot of vet offices, the test can be performed at the same time that
    the Felv test is done.  That means only having to draw one sample of
    blood for both tests.
    
    Currently, the cats that have the greatest risk for FIV infection are 
    outdoor, or feral, whole male cats.  These cats are most likely to get
    into territorial battles.  Any cat that goes outdoors though is at
    risk.  
    
    Glad that James T. is coming home.  BTW, would love to know how you
    settled on that name. :^)
    
    Jo

    Glad to hear James T. is coming home and keep us posted as to how he's
    doing.
    
    Giudi +3

    James T. is home, doing his Camile impressions. One minute he is too
    weak to do anything, the next he lets out a yowl to get "room service".
    He is still very wobbly (Dr. Moss says the vestibular problem can take
    3 weeks to clear up) and falls over alot. I hadn't realized he could
    tell time so well until Friday night. He insisted on sleeping with the
    rest of the family, but he needed help to get up to visit the facility.
    He woke me at 12:23, 2:23, 4:23 and 6:23. Honest. NO exaggeration. I
    was impressed. Also tired, miffed and progressively more cranky. He is
    eating well and has discovered a very efficient timesaver. He eats as
    much as he wants, then goes to sleep with his head in the food dish, in
    case he wants seconds later. This is also to discourage his brother and
    sister from helping themselves to leftovers. Obviously, he will need
    another bath in the not too distant future. I'm hoping his strength
    will return shortly and he'll be able to get around better.
    
    His name evolved over several weeks. When he was first brought into the
    hospital (after losing an argument with an auto), he was John Doe.
    John didn't fit, so someone decided on James Doe. A certain vet, who
    will go nameless, is a mega-Star Trek fan and added the T. {The cartoon
    ST insists the T. is for Tiberius and who am I to argue}. The Doe was
    changed to Cat, and his general attitude brought about the Esquire. If
    he weren't a loyal American, I imagine he would have insisted upon
    being knighted.
    
    He appreciates all your good wishes and sends his warm regards to all.

    eh, hum....the CARTOON!!???    :^)
    
    Captian Kirk has been James Tiberius Kirk for as long as I've known,
    not just on the cartoon.  And here I was thinking I'd discovered
    another hard-core Trekker.  (Note that I did NOT say TrekkIE).  ;^)
    
    Glad to hear he's home and doing well.  Sounds like he's living up
    to his namesake with his courage and adaptability.
    
    BTW - Did anyone else see Data's cat on  Star Trek TNG??  It was in
    one episode.  Its a Somali.
      Nancy DC
    
    p.s. While we're on the subject of cats in Star Trek - Isis is named
    after the black cat in the Gary Seven episode of Star Trek (the 
    original).

    to supplement some of the previous notes...
    
    I have one of my cats who is FIV positive.  FIV is apparently more
    difficult to pick up than FLV (feline leukemia) but unfortunately there
    is currently no vaccine.  The primary transmission means, as mentioned
    in previous notes, is biting.  *IF* the cat is not a biter, he or she
    may be kept with other cats, but that is running a big risk.  I keep
    mine in solitary with supervised, held visits to the rest of the house
    with the other cats.  He does go outside when the other cats aren't out
    and hangs around with the dogs.
    
    From what I understand, FIV is somewhat like FLV in that there seem to
    be stages of remission.  I don't believe that, as with FLV, a cat can
    actually rid himself or herself of the disease (i.e., beat it
    completely).  Since FIV is still not understood that well, it's always
    best to err on the side of caution with respect to other cats.
    
    

    well, it sounds like "his highness" james t. is in good hands!
    
    i agree with nancy that james t. kirk was always james tiberius kirk
    (except in one early episode where he was listed "james r. kirk" on a
    tombstone.)  
    
    i didn't know what breed of cat data had, but i was curious as to what
    was in the "feline supplement 74" that he fed the cat...
    
    diane with stella & stanley