If you would rather keep this baby than adopt her out, I say go ahead and have Velvet vaccinated (unless s/he is sickly) and let Binxy out of that bathroom. The only thing might be to introduce them gradually, like with Binxy in a cage for a few days, to see if they're going to be aggressive. Of course, that's actually prudent for any new arrivals. I have only had one cat with FeLV, and only for a very short time, but his first night in our house he got out of the back hall where we were isolating him and intermingled with the other cats in our household, and they are all fine after almost 2 years since their exposure to him. He hadn't bit anybody, and I don't know if he shared food/water/litterbox with them, but very obviously he didn't transmit anything by just interacting with them.
I'm glad you found this list. It's a wonderful resource. Diane R. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:07 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: I really need some advice I recently adopted a 4 yr old cat from an ad on the local Detroit Metro Craigslist. I also have Velvet whom I adopted from the SPCA 16 yrs ago who obviously has been tested then and free from both FELV and FIV. I had been keeping the new cat, Binxy, totally separate in the bathroom until she settled down a little and stopped cowering behind the pipes under the cabinet enough for me to take her to the Vet. Of course I knew in the back of my mind that she could have either disease since the people who gave her to me had obviously done little to care for her--not spayed, nails unclipped, no brushing, ear mites, no vet visits in four years, etc. But, I have a soft spot for callies and I figured that an older cat had a far lesser chance of being adopted since most people want kittens. She is really cute. Anyhow, she tested positive for FELV today---the Vet himself did the test so there is little chance that it was not done properly. This leaves me in quite a dilemma. For Velvet's sake, keeping Binxy just isn't a realistic option and she can't stay in the bathroom much longer. I am living in a shared housing situation and although my landlord does allow animals, he let me know that the house needs the downstairs bathroom back. Plus what kind of life is that for a cat who is very loving and social? Now that she is over her initial fear and shock over being unceremoniously dumped in a strange place, her cuddly, loving personality is emerging. Were she a more offish or mean type, the thought of having her peacefully put to sleep probably wouldn't be as difficult. Aside from the ear mites (and most likely worms) she seems to be healthy and I'm sure could have a good quality of life in a home as an only cat or with another pos. cat---but how to find such a situation? I am at a total loss and don't know where to turn. I have already called several rescue groups in this area and been faced with the obvious---with the highly contagious nature of this disease, they just don't have the resources or facilities to deal with this and put all the other neg cats at risk. If I take her to the Humane Society, I'm pretty certain she would be immediately put down if they would even allow her into the building at all. I have never been faced with a situation like this as all of the cats which I have had throughout my life were from a Shelter, or rescue group and tested before they even came through my door. Do any of you have any suggestions or know of anybody or any group in this area which specializes in placing pos. cats? I really don't want to see such a sweet cat be euthanized, but I just don't have a clue what to do now and I must do something soon. I found this list as I was doing a google search for fel-pos rescue groups. Any other groups I have encountered are either way out of my area or only take animals from other shelter or from off the street---not from the general public. If there are no resources in my current area in Pontiac-Detroit-Metro in Michigan, if you know of any near Philadelphia, Pa or nearby New Jersey, I am scheduled to go back there to visit friends soon and could take her along. I am so hoping that some of you may know of some resources. Thanks in advance for any advice you could give me. I really appreciate it. Buttons -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Access your email from home and the web This electronic mail transmission and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged. They should be read or retained only by the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the transmission from your system. In addition, in order to comply with Treasury Circular 230, we are required to inform you that unless we have specifically stated to the contrary in writing, any advice we provide in this email or any attachment concerning federal tax issues or submissions is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, to avoid federal tax penalties.
