USUALLY people get it when you phrase it that way--but some just don't. people would show up at the sanctuary saying they couldn't possibly keep their FeLV because it was going to die.
so i guess that means we all have to give up loving anything that lives, huh? since they'll all die, sooner or later.... what a sad, boring life that would be--when it's so much easier to just love and love and love--and velcro the cats to the walls when they're driving you crazy. (yes, i'm kidding.....) MC On Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 3:19 AM, Marylyn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > If you have ocassion to see the vet tech again, you might mention that > life has no guarantees and that we need to enjoy every second with > those we love......they may drop dead of a heart attach, cancer, > accidents, be struck by lightening (yes, I know several people who > have lost both 2-legged and 4-legged friends this way) etc. Perhaps > she will rethink either her beliefs or her hurtful wording. > On Jun 4, 2008, at 9:15 PM, Laura Mostello wrote: > >> I have had Duncan for a year now and he is fat, active and symptom- >> free. Now Celery and Baby Girl have joined him. They are all healthy >> and love each other's company. A vet tech said to me recently, >> "Enjoy your FeLV + cats while you have them, because they'll >> probably be dead within a couple of years." Nice. I've been upset >> about her comment since then, but with luck she'll be proven wrong. >> >> --- On Wed, 6/4/08, MaryChristine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> From: MaryChristine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> Subject: Re: Hi again :) >>> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>> Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 6:26 PM >>> current wisdom is that positive cats can remain asymptomatic >>> for >>> years, until the virus is triggered. no one really knows, >>> however, >>> what it is that activates it. culprits high on the list are >>> serious >>> illnesses, but i know that at the sanctuary, we had >>> positive who got >>> very sick, were treated (often surgically) and recovered >>> quite fine to >>> go on for a number of years. stress is another thing >>> suspected of >>> awakening the virus, but how do you define that? the best >>> we can do is >>> the best we can do: give them as calm and safe and loving >>> an >>> environment as possible, feed them the best food that your >>> own >>> research tells you to (that varies because everyone has >>> their own >>> opinion, and last year before the pet-food recall, some >>> people were >>> accused of murdering their cats because they didn't >>> feed them things >>> that others thought they should--things that turned out, in >>> some >>> cases, to ACTUALLY kill, while the other foods did not); be >>> extra >>> vigilant about any health concerns or behavior changes, and >>> have them >>> attended to right away--and did i mention love them as long >>> as you >>> have them, because no matter how long that is, it won't >>> ever be long >>> enough..... >>> >>> there are no guarantees for any of us--the healthiest cat >>> or dog or >>> human can drop dead tomorrow--to worry about it all the >>> time >>> accomplishes nothing, and probably creates a level of >>> stress that the >>> cats can pick up. >>> >>> there have been FeLVs in my life who have only had five >>> months to >>> share with me, and other whom i've known for >>> years--it's the quality >>> that matters. >>> >>> (and take lots of pictures--i get incredible joy from >>> looking at the >>> photos of the silly little furcritters that aren't >>> wandering this >>> earth anymore--and i just grin when i see their faces >>> looking out at >>> me, and remember how they graced my life.) >>> >>> MC >>> >>> On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 12:28 PM, Laurieskatz >>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>>> YES. Squeaky tested positive at age 13 and lived to >>> age 22, symptom free >>>> except for his final 3 weeks. >>>> Laurie >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf >>> Of Sue Koren >>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 6:33 AM >>>> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> Subject: Re: Hi again :) >>>> >>>> Does anyone know if a positive cat who stays positive >>> but not sick for a >>>> certain length of time, if the chances are that they >>> will not become sick? >>>> Or could the sickness just come on them at any time >>> regardless of how long >>>> they have harbored the virus and remained healthy? (I >>> hope that made some >>>> kind of sense) >>>> Sue >>>> >>>> ---- MaryChristine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> ============= >>>> yes, cats can retest negative on IFAs if enough time >>> has passed so >>>> that the virus can work itself out of the system. just >>> as with initial >>>> exposure, the time period given varies from 60 to 120 >>> days, depending >>>> on who/what you read--i go for the 120 days or longer, >>> so i don't >>>> always wonder...... tho it's not mentioned in the >>> current on-line >>>> merck manual, and i never thought to keep the >>> reference back when i >>>> first read it in 2003 or so, it used to refer to a >>> case where it took >>>> a cat seven or nine (my memory is going) for a cat to >>> revert to >>>> negative on an IFA. >>>> >>>> generally, however, if 120 days or so has passed since >>> last possible >>>> exposure, i figure they're not gonna >>> seroconvert--but until/if the >>>> virus gets activated, they're just positive, not >>> sick. >>>> >>>> my little pastel calico, lorelei, who came to me last >>> summer solstice, >>>> just retested positive on the IFA when she was spayed, >>> so i'd say that >>>> it's pretty definite that she's gonna stay >>> positive..... but it didn't >>>> really matter, because it wasn't going to change >>> anything one way or >>>> another, so there was no rush here to retest.... >>>> >>>> and for those who don't know, all my others are >>> either vaccinated, or >>>> were inadvertently exposed almost eight years ago, so >>> she's no threat >>>> to anything other than my peace of mind--calico, after >>> all..... >>>> >>>> MC >>>> On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 5:51 PM, Laura B >>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>>>> A few weeks ago I joined this list but >>> couldn't post, so Belinda very >>>> kindly >>>>> posted an introduction for myself and my FeLV+ >>> kitty, Laura. Thank so >>>> much >>>>> for the replies we got, we read them all. >>>>> >>>>> I wanted to send in a little update on Laura >>> (still don't have a new name >>>>> for her), she is doing very well. Most of her fur >>> is growing back (she >>>> had >>>>> bald patches) and since being on the l-lysine she >>> is not drooling nearly >>>> as >>>>> much (she had herpes lesions in her mouth). She >>> seems to be settling in >>>> and >>>>> loves her room with a view. I spend as much time >>> with her as possible, >>>> and >>>>> my nieghbor (another cat person) comes over daily >>> to give her a snack and >>>>> some lovin. >>>>> >>>>> I think she has also put on a little weight, which >>> is good because she >>>>> is quite thin, other than that she is doing well. >>> My vet just had me >>>> bring >>>>> her in and restest her, (IFA), she came back >>> positive again. Do cats ever >>>>> test neg on an IFA after testing positive? Vet >>> also retested the three >>>> cats >>>>> in her care that were positive on snap tests a >>> month ago when she >>>> discovered >>>>> Laura's status. Out of the three only one >>> retested pos on an IFA test. >>>>> >>>>> Anyway, just wanted to pop in and thank you all, >>> also give a little update >>>>> on my sweet girl. >>>>> >>>>> Best regards, >>>>> >>>>> Human Laura and furry Laura >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>>> >>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! >>>> Maybe That'll Make The Difference.... >>>> >>>> MaryChristine >>>> >>>> AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats >>>> MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> ICQ: 289856892 >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> >>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> >>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> >>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! >>> Maybe That'll Make The Difference.... >>> >>> MaryChristine >>> >>> AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats >>> MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> ICQ: 289856892 >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Felvtalk mailing list >>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Felvtalk mailing list >> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > -- Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! Maybe That'll Make The Difference.... MaryChristine AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ: 289856892 _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
