Dear Delusional -
No, MC, just kidding!
It is a problem - how do you find those exceptions that pop up? And I'll bet it's harder on the breed rescues, when they encounter the FELV cats. Right now, we just have people who'll take them. Or, when They've already adopted and are in love, they keep the kitty.
Right now I'm sold on interferon alpha, so waiting to see if my two FELV fosters to pass the 3 years of age mark, then I'll be totally raving about interferon.
And, I'm waiting to see the Interferon-Omega cure for Nina's cat.
I've also ordered some of Dr. Belfields vitamins.
Gloria
At 01:31 PM 4/6/2005, you wrote:
bottom line seems to be that ANY cat that tests positive for FeLV needs to be retested in 90 days.... the problem, of course, is that what rescue/shelter has the holding capacity for this....
i've been thinking about this for awhile--whether folks with confirmed FeLVs would be willing/able to work with rescues and serve as foster parents during the waiting period. as we know, many cats will retest as negative if given the chance, but the panic induced by the term FeLV makes it hard for rescues to hear about options if they haven't already a plan for dealing with cats who test positive. (i'm working with two breed rescues right now re: developing such a plan... )
another issue involved: we tell people NOT to euthanize their FeLVs because we love ours, but not everyone can handle the emotional and financial demands a FeLV involves--but how many of us realistically can/will offer to take in these saved cats? i don't know what the answer is--tho education is DEFINITELY part of it; i've had both rescues and catparents calm down enough to look at alternatives once they're given accurate information on what FeLV is and isn't, how it's transmitted etc.
i'd really like to see this discussed--even better, to see it solved! (yeah, right.... and how long have i been delusional?)
