Kelley thanks. He's a June baby- I think 6/01/07. The vet was also talking about this in these terms. I'd never met this vet before, so it took a while for us to work on a line of communication b/c once I told him about how I had Monkee (Felv), then he kind of opened up. He said the same kinds of things about the corona virus and never really be able to tell through blood tests b/c the antibodies and titers may mean nothing. That said, his concern is still with the cat that is actually presenting some "wet" symptoms maybe (anemia, dehydration, lethargy, malaise, fever of 103 yesterday, poor coat, poor skin (dander), horrible ear wax- but not mites- which I cleaned out yesterday at the vet clinic, red, inflamed gums, and the worst of all- the eye symptoms. Which is what made me take him from the store on Sat. He has one eye that is slightly cloudy and if you really look at it- a different color than his other green eye. It appear amber, as if it's filled with blood or something? Vet said that on exam, he can't clearly see the retinas of both eyes. Ugh. He doesn't have the fat belly (fluid filled) that I have heard mentioned tho. He's anorexic so there's no belly at all right now. Funny thing is, the little guy perked up instantly when I brought him home. He wants to play and run and have a party and I'm like, you look like H*ll! I don't think he knows it! He eats wonderfully- which surprised the vet. Guess he thought a cat with a temp wouldn't be eating, but as soon as I got him home and gave him wet Wellness kitten with nutrical, he just eats away. Of course, my mom is freaking out completely. Totally mad b/c she knows the hoops I jump through to try to get a cat to a vet (even one presenting like this!!!!!!!!!!!!) and it's exhausting mentally. So when I do finally get one to a vet (after being told to just try some Terramycin in his eyes 1st...hello? are you kidding me?!) and the vet looks at me and says, this cat is sick, sick. And I look at him and say, "um, I know, that's why I took him home on Sat. and we're here on X-mas eve and I'm missing work!" It enrages my mom basically. And me too. I'm trying not worry, but I think the vet is suspecting that these June babies that have been problematic kittens (URIs, etc.) may be from the same litter and born to an infected queen- which I told him I don't think they are from the same litter tho. Problem is that I don't have all the info that is needed- I wasn't volunteering for this group yet (b/c Monkee and I were still fighting the good fight against Felv and lymphoma) when someone took these orphans out of Metro AC. They were dumped on me starting back at Labor day and each has cycled through my household at one time. Except Yoda never left! I'm also concerned b/c the group I vol for doesn't combo test- I was only just told this- and I don't know why. They only test for Felv once as kittens- no retesting. Which I guess that's debatable, I just hope that vets know enough to retest a newly adopted cat when the people bring it in. They only give the two FVRCP shots and the vet gives the rabies. They don't vaccinate for Felv, FIV and FIP before adopting. But I am thinking that if since I have fosters and personal cats in my house, I need to have those cats fully protected with all these vaccines- but I guess that is debatable too. I think maybe if I wasn't taking in fosters/recuses, maybe I would go more the why vaccinate if they aren't showing titers route, but with this recent scare, I am reevaluating that. caroline
Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 14:22:15 -0600From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: Archives Hi Caroline, I can't tell you about the archives, but I can tell you about FIP and FIV. FIP is a rare mutation of a coronavirus that almost all cats that have been around other cats, shelter cats, etc have been exposed to. One of my vets puts the exposure rate to coronavirus at 95% at our local pound. So please DO NOT worry about contagion if the cat has FIP. It is a mutation. In the past it was thought that there wasn't a way to diagnose FIP without necropsy, but there are a couple of tests - these do not include the coronavirus titer test, which in and of itself means basically nothing. There is a good webinar about FIP on the Petsmart charities site, if you really want to spend your Christmas listening to a webinar on FIP. But in and of itself it IS NOT contagious. Coronavirus is contagious and it is likely that every cat in your house has been exposed to coronavirus. FIV is much harder to transmit than FELV. It is mostly transmitted through tomcats fighting and/or cats mating. If this is a tomcat and he has been fighting, he may have it, but unless he were to bite another cat in your household I would absolutely not worry. THe other thing about FIV is that there is an FIV vaccine, which once you have your cat vaccinated with he will always test + for FIV. There's a seperate test that purports to determine if the + result is from but you have to send the blood to a well-renowned university - I want to say it is UC Davis, but not quite sure. You don't say how old this cat is, but kittens can test FIV+ from maternal antibodies until about 6 months. IF you can send me a picture of the spay site I might be able to help you there. A little ooziness is normal. I may actually have follow up instructions on my computer I can send you, I will check. Feel free to call me if you like. On Dec 25, 2007 2:02 PM, Caroline Kaufmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I can't access the Archives. I keep trying and I keep getting an error message. It's not my internet service, obviously, or I wouldn't be able to send this email. Anyone else tried? I'd really like to get to the Archives because I took a cat into my home that I took from the store on Sat. because he looked horrible and no one else is doing anything about it (of course). Took him to the doctor yesterday (had to fight to get approval to even do that and the cat is obviously sickly looking- I'm so frustrated), and the vet is very concerned about "infectious disease." Thank god- but I think he was shocked that the cat hasn't been treated yet, so I made it very very clear that I just got my hands on this cat and have been playing "clean-up duty" since the end of Aug. on these orphaned Metro AC June babies and that the group I VOLUNTEER FOR has made my self-appointed task of cleaning up their neglected messes, very very difficult. I didn't mince words. It was Christmas Eve and I spent 2 hours and 15 mins at the vets and NOT being able to work and I just cracked I guess. The vet is suspecting- based only on the physical exam b/c we won't get the blood tests (full panel) back on Wed. (hopefully)-- FIP, FIV, and/or Felv in that order. I am not so worried about Felv b/c I have dealt with that before and I just don't think it's transmitted that easily in non-fighting cats (my own opinion). But I have never dealt with FIP and FIV and this cat was mingled with my other fosters by the adoption agency I volunteer for before I ever even took in any cats. So basically I am freaking out that I may have FIP cats on my hands and not have known it b/c of course I am now wondering if that is what has been wrong with my weak little Possum cat all this time. I'm mad and scared and feel like I was asked to take in cats yet not given the resources to deal with them fully and protect them from each other; not to mention the caring for them with 2 hands tied behind my back b/c to get approval to take them to a vet (for the agency to pay for it) takes more arguing and hoop jumping-- the cat has to be practically dying to be able to get approval without being told things like "well, if it would make YOU feel better...but I think you are overreacting." And I spent literally hundreds of dollars premium food and litter that I just don't have any money left over to rush cats out to vets and pay for it myself. I'm just sick over this. I'm trying to care for this little guy until we get the results back. I have to give him fluids- which I have never done and he's a fighter. He got fluids yesterday at the clinic, but he was still somewhat sedated from when they took his blood, so I am sure my attempt today will not go half as smooth. He's not happy about being in a crate in a room by himself either and it breaks my heart. So I wanted to look through the archives because I know FIP and FIV have been discussed before. Also, of my 3 barn kittens (totally separated from the other fosters- so don't worry about that), I have one now who's little spay site seems a tad oozy. Nothing scary scary like blood or a lot of fluid, but it just doesn't look totally right. Not that I know what totally right looks like tho because I've never had a kitten this young spayed and I wasn't really given any follow-up care instructions- just been using my own common sense. But of course, I am worried. And of course, it's Christmas and that makes it very hard to call and ask anyone! Caroline Get the power of Windows + Web with the new Windows Live. Get it now!-- Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time.http://www.rescuties.orgVist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home?tag=rescuties-20http://www.zazzle.com/rescuties*Please help Clarissa!http://rescuties.chipin.com/clarissasheart _________________________________________________________________ Get the power of Windows + Web with the new Windows Live. http://www.windowslive.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_powerofwindows_122007
