Dear Michelle L.: You are so lucky to live where you can get the VO (feline-specific interferon)...is it as expensive in England as it is here? I am curious as to why you would want to obtain interferon-alpha (human type) when you can get the VO? I did not find the I-a to be of any benefit for either of my first two FeLV+ kittys...I lost one at 8 mos. to nonregenerative anemia and one at 16 mos. to what was probably lymphoma in her lungs. With the low dose usually prescribed, there is little liklihood of antibodies developing, but research has not shown it to be of any significant benefit at such a low dose. It may be MUCH cheaper than the VO, but even so, I found it to be a waste of $$, though some listmembers seem to think their cats do better when they are "on" it than "off." In dealing with FeLV, a "one size its all approach" does not apply and each individual cat's immune response seems to vary. The I-a may have some benefit as a mild immune booster for a non-symptomatic cat, but I found it had no value whatsover in dealing with a cat who has developed significant symptoms and is "crashing," which indicates the virus has mutated to one of its more virulent forms. At that point, there really is nothing that can turn the tide, only stem it somewhat, though the VO seems to have snatched Nina's Gracie back from the brink more than once, though was unable to save her sister Jazz.
What I have found to be more beneficial as an immune booster is Transfer Factor. I have two FeLV+ cats, a brother/sister, now two years old, who remain stable and non-symptomatic and who have been on this type of immune support since they tested positive the second time at six months. I rescued a kitten last July who tested positive at six weeks and was going to be PTS. He came to me with runny eyes and horrid diarrhea, but his symptoms cleared after about 10 days on TF and a homeopathic remedy for the diarrhea. I kept him on the same regimen as the other two postives (raw-based diet and immune support with TF and Oli-Vet (olive leaf extract) and when he was neutered at 6 mos., he retested NEGATIVE. He is now a year old and in glowing good health with a personality that is larger than life. I've had two older cats apparently seroconvert from postive to negative status given a good diet and immune support, but Purrki is my first miracle baby. My most notable non-FeLV related success with the TF was in successfully nursing a 10-wk. old kitten through panleukopenia after the vet said she had virtually no chance to survive unless hospitalized and put on an IV. I could not afford to do that and if she had so little chance, I did not want her to die alone in a hospital cage, so took her home to do whatever I could, myself. She had been started on TF at the first sign of a temp, several days before the obvious symptoms of the P-virus, and I really think it was a deciding factor. I kept her on the TF and an abx was added to help fight off opportunistic bacterial infection due to degradation of the gut lining, syringe-fed her, gave her subQ fluids and kept her warm. Her vomiting stopped the second day and the putrid diarrhea began, but it never reached that awful, bloody sort so typical of the end-stage of the disease. My brave little Purrsia made a complete recovery from the dread P-virus, only to crash and be taken out 4 1/2 mos. later by FeLV-related nonregenerative anemia, which she had tested negative for previously. The VO was not then available to us here. Bless you for rescuing Bramble, Buddy and Minstrel from the less than optimum situation they were in, despite their + status. I wish you the best in finding what will work best to keep them stable. Sally in San Jose