Dear MC You're Superheroine, you really are, MC. Bless you for turning your crafts room into a kitty nursery. Going by my experience with Flavia, who tested negative at 3 months only to test positive a month later I would not risk mixing the kittens. The only cats Flavia was in contact with during that interim month were (what we assume to be) her siblings and they ALL tested positive at month 4. My assumption is that they all contracted FeLV around the same time; she just happened to be the first to be tested, and it was too early at that point for the virus to be detected--I didn't even know it was possible to be positive but test negative; the vet did not mention a word about it.--or it's possible she infected them or they infected her once they were all together again, in the quarantine room. If the 2 new kittens test negative but are in fact positive, they could quickly infect all the others, esp with kittens being one of the most vulnerable groups. Sorry not to be more helpful but I feel it's better to be safe than sorry. Good luck with your brood. Kerry
----- Original Message ----- From: "TenHouseCats" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "FeLVTalk" <FeLVTalk@felineleukemia.org> Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 12:16 PM Subject: question bout kittens.... okay, group, need opinions here. i currently am the estrogen zone for my part of the state--turned my front room (formerly cat-free space, for doing crafts) into a nursery. four condo cages, one floor-to-ceiling cat tree, scratching posts, lots of toys, etc. 3 big windows, a/c, their own bathroom (well, their own close-by water supply, at least!). i currently have four nursing moms, and 24 kittens. (21 biological kittens and 3 orphans....). all the moms are negative, so i'm assuming the kittens are as well. i've been asked to take in 2 two-week-old orphans. i'm wondering how everyone defines, "PROLONGED, PERSISTENT CONTACT"--ie, do you think that nursing for another couple of weeks would be enough to pass the virus? i WILL test the kittens if i get them, but they're so young i'm not sure i'll trust the results.....). or should i just bottle-feed them and keep them separated? (just heard from the woman who has them, and they're not doing a bottle very well--a momcat and sibkits to cuddle with might be much better for them, but of course i don't want to harm the other kittens....) thoughts, please!!!!! thanks.... -- MaryChristine AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ: 289856892
