Hiya Debbie! If I'm remembering correctly - I believe I read those comments from the Humane Society and I really don't think they were trying to talk down to you -- they just didn't know *you*. I can see how one might take what they said personally -- but I'd just take two grains of salt and call them in the morning :0)
I have 8 cats and it is truly a challenge for me to give each and every one of them all the personal attention they deserve and be in tune with each of them enough to know if something is amis. I live in Alabama...where all outside kitties are 'ferals' too (rolling eyes)... and the predominant philosophy is to have FeVL+ babies PTS w/o consideration for what their current condition may be or how treatable it may be. (duh) I live on the far edge of the county too -- not EVEN in a town -- the aerial photos from Google Earth show that there is NOTHING around me :0) (as it should be, in my book). Even so -- for the luxury of having a view-- there is sometimes a price to pay (vet wise). Out here you have to listen to your own wits as you well know! Mama Kitty helped me dig holes for roses all day. In less than two months it will be 1 yr to the day that my vet recommended that I say goodbye to Mama Kitty (about the time I joined this wonderful community). Nuthin' doin'. :0) She is SO healthy and happy now. We did treatments with Acemannan, supplements, antibiotics and steroids. (She was severely anemic and right at 7lbs). I haven't weighed her lately but she is truly fat and happy (but not too fat -- she's just gorgeous and her coat feels like silk) Thank goodness I had an open-minded vet who was willing to try anything that might help. Sometimes - they just don't know! (Incidentally - he's up for using acemannan now and recommends it as a treatment option for FeVL+) After all the work was done today, I kicked back on the porch -- ice pack on ankle and Mama Kitty in my lap happy as can be. She's snoozing on my best chair now and has an excellent quality of life. If you could just see her - it would make you smile because you can just tell that she feels good and she is happy. My Phelix is the one with the allergies. He never showed symptom one before my last boyfriend lived here for a while (smoked worse than I used to). (sorry if that is TMI). Phelix's symptoms began then -- tearing the hair from his tummy and his back legs looked like little granny legs. (I should have known that man was bad news) I don't know if it is from the agriculture going on here or what. (I used to use pesticides...now I just use ground water) Since then we did steroid shots...immunoregulin...everything. Tested for ringworm...every test available. Still biting his hair out. The transdermal benedryl from the compounding pharmacist has done more to help with those symptoms than anything. Compounding pharmacist uses muscle testing -- he is a cat person and firmly believes that most cat allergies are rooted in diet. Phelix helped plant roses today too -- we are all exhausted! We're tired but this yard is going to be AWESOME in a few weeks :0) (Probably have close to 100 rose planted here and lots and lots of flower, herbs, and veggies) With 8 cats we have sibling rivalry issues. Those Feliway diffusers and the spray help calm everyone a lot. That and rescue remedy and concentrated cat nip spray. My Phelix was born with only one eye -- in those bouts of sibling rivalry the kids go right for that one good eye -- makes me crazy. Thank goodness -- at least tonight...all is calm and happy at Liz's Kitty Boutique and Day Spa. Glad you joined the group -- keep those posts coming. elizabeth On 3/9/07, Debbie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Thanks for your comments Nina. It is appreciated. We were so relieved when our babies tested negative. Although now I wonder if Elsa who was put to sleep was actually positive. We have tried to eliminate things that might make the scratchy ones less itchy. I use advantage on them and that seems to help quite a bit. Even though they have no fleas. The vets have suggested steroid shots but said they don't like to use them very often. We live on 3 acres in the country so anything could be causing it. There's alot of crops, trees, and pollen. It only started after we had them spayed/ neutered. It also seems to be a certain personality type (high strung). We don't have enough room to give them all their own space. We have one, Tigger, who we let go in the bathroom alot. He is a bully at times but once he gets some alone time he seems better. Sneezy and her daughter Patches we keep in our bedroom. They are both high strung. Sneezy used to be mean to some of the others and once we got her fixed the tables turned. Now they all hate her and she dislikes most of them. She growls when anyone even looks at her. She LOVES people though. We are thinking about building an outside enclosure for some for the summer. Just for short periods of time, so they can enjoy the outdoors. I don't worry much about the Humane Society, but I was somewhat apalled by their remarks. I have been around animals all my life and I have seen my fair share of suffering, but it would never harden my heart to the degree that I would be willing to look the other way when an animal needed help. I also get angry about it because I have asked for their help before with injured and/ or stary animals and every time they tell me to take them to the pound! I have actually got that response from 2 different county orgs. We live in the countryside and in a different county than the society that I had contacted. They assumed I was in the same area because the town near by is split down the center into to counties. As far as "hoarding goes" - well, I have 2 opinions on that. I realize how easy it could be to fall into such a thing, but I also think that instead of society critisizing these people for "trying their best" to help - they themselves should help more. Debbie -----Original Message----- >From: Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Mar 9, 2007 12:19 PM >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Subject: Re: Questions and concerns - nervous hair pulling cats > >Hi Debbie, >First let me say HURRAY! for the neg results on all your cats. Your >story has now been added to so many others on the list in confirming >that mixing doesn't seem to be as big a concern as the veterinary >community would have us believe. Such wonderful news for you and your >babies. > >Michelle, one of our list members has a cat that pulls and rends at her >fur over nervous tension. She uses a benadryl compounded transdermal >(made into a cream to apply to the inside of the ear tip) that seems to >work wonders. You could try using an otc antihistamine like benadryl or >Chlorpheniramine to see if it calms them enough to stop the behavior. >I use Chlortabs periodically for my 20lb FIV boy, Starman, when he gets >to chewing on himself (2 to 4mg or .5 to a whole tab daily) and it seems >to keep whatever is making him itch under control. I would strongly >suggest that you figure out a way to deal with whatever is making them >so ill at ease environmentally though. Is there any way to give these >guys their own space? I've used screen doors to separate guys that are >afraid of being in general population so they can slowly be >re-acclimated. That's another long discussion though :-) . > >I read your email to your local Humane Society and their reply to you. >I can understand why you are feeling like they don't appreciate your >efforts and why you are upset at their not being more supportive. My >first thought was that they were less nasty then I would have expected. >Just to play devil's advocate... People at shelters and rescues deal >with such horror day in and day out, that they can become overwhelmed >and stuck in their ways of dealing with it. When they hear of someone >with more than a few pets they probably worry that the situation will >escalate into a "hoarder" situation, or, because they don't know you, >think that somewhere down the line, they will have to step in and deal >with things should they become overwhelming to you. You can see how >quickly that can happen when you have a big heart and not enough >resources to deal with all those in need. I stay far away from any sort >of governmental organizations and NEVER give out my "number" to anyone >that might cause trouble for me and mine, (that includes all >strangers). I think it's commendable that you wanted to let them know >that their views on felv are outdated, but sometimes it's next to >impossible to change a shelter's policies about giving these guys a >fighting chance. You have to remember that they destroy so many >healthy, friendly, "adoptable" animals everyday. Killing those that >have less of a chance at finding a forever home might be the lessor of >two evils in their minds, even if it is a subconscious rationalization. >If I were you and someone from the shelter was aware of my numbers, I'd >write back to them thanking them for their concern and let them know >that I fully intended to adopt out as many as I could and that I would >not be taking in anymore animals until my numbers were lessened, >(whether that was my intention or not). You don't want those guys >sniffing around your house and you don't want to make enemies of them, >no matter what the local ordinances are, they can make trouble for you >if they are so inclined. > >Finally, I want to thank you for all you do for those in need around >you. I'm glad you found the list, not only for what we might be able to >give to you in support, but because it's always affirming to learn of >others "out there" that are as committed as we are to our fur babies. >Bless you and your entire family, >Nina > >Debbie wrote: >> As far as nervous chewing - our vet prescribed ovaban tablets. They >> seem to work but another vet says they can cause diabetes. What is >> this groups opinion on this? I recall years ago they also gave ovaban >> to me for male cat I had adopted. He was aggressive and they said it >> would calm him down. We have 3 cats out of the 14 that have skin >> problems. Sneezy pulls fur out on her hind quarters, Frodo has >> dandruff real bad, and then there is Cassie - she has licked the hair >> from her hind legs. All were fixed fairly young, except the Sneezy, >> the one who chews her hind quarters. She is also Cassie's mother. >> Frodo, the one with dandruff is very heavy and he seems to have >> allergies. Long haired and was bottle fed. >> Any ideas? >> > >
