Peggy, I believe that you misunderstood what I wrote. I wasn't talking about any of us who do rescue or have multiple cat households and therefore may not have separate places for sick cats - I always had a space for FIV, but not for FeLV until three years ago, not by choice, but due to necessity because if I didn't take them, who would? I wasn't talking about people who love their FeLV+ or FIV+ cats...I'm talking about the ones who just want to be rid of them - death or abandonment! Those are the ones who call me; I don't hear from the ones who keep their sick cats (except members of this group). When I talk about people who don't want their own positive cats (almost always the ONLY cat they have in the house) - why shouldn't I expect them to take care of a FeLV+ cats, instead of either killing or giving them up to shelters for others to care for them. Our FIV+ cats have a room of their own, and the two FeLV+ cats have a large condo that we built for them - I don't keep any cats in cages except for recuperation and/or introduction purposes. Even after doing this for 18 1/2 yrs now, I still cannot get used to people who aren't' more loyal to their sick cats! Natalie
-----Original Message----- From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Peggy Verdonck Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2011 1:39 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] observations from adoption process... Sometimes it's not fair to state that Natalie. There are people who really love their Felv+ cat(s) and just want the best for them AND for their other Felv negative cats. Not everybody has the space to keep healthy and 'sick' cats separate and try to find different solutions so everybody will be happy in the end. Unfortunately that's often hard to find. It is also not fair to stick the Felv+ cat in a separate room or a cage for the rest of their lives! When I found out Oreo had Felv and still had hope for her, I tried to find somebody who already had a Felv + kitty. That would have been the best for everybody. Unfortunately the disease turned for the worse in no time and it turned out I didn't have to make a decision. It was already made for me :-( I still have to test all 6 (+ found kitten who is in bathroom isolation) cats tested for their second round, after losing Oreo. I have night mares about one or more being + this time (after being neg the first go around). My cats (and my horses and dogs) are my everything! 2011/1/8 Natalie <at...@optonline.net> > You cannot believe how many people, when they find out that their cat is > FeLV positive, ask the vets to immediately kill them! My vet, is the last > one to ask - he will NEVER do it. But there are many vets who actually > suggest to their clients that the kindest thing to do is to put them out of > their misery, when they're not even exhibiting any symptoms yet. I get > calls from such people, asking if I would take their cat - my response is, > why can't you keep the cat you claim to love so much? I happen to have > two, > because I had no choice, but I wasn't going to throw them out, not accept > them, or have them killed. They're wonderful cats, but I doubt that anyone > will adopt them - so I will have them for life. I wish there were a decent > place for FeLV cats - but as nice as some of them may appear, they are NOT > - > not in this area. > > -----Original Message----- > From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org > [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Emeraldkittee > Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2011 6:08 PM > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: [Felvtalk] observations from adoption process... > > Just wanted to share something I have encountered - we are considering a > pal > for Whimsy, and have been in touch with wonderful, amazing rescues, > shelters, and fosters. I have encountered many times kitties who have > never > had an IFA and sometimes only one ELISA. Obviously, this doesn't sit quite > right with me, and I need an IFA. Of course, it's an expensive test and > totally understandable why it's not done as much. I have offered to pay > for > one (for a kitty who has lived in a cage for a year) and wish I could get > all of those in question this luxury. It's a dilema I didn't anticipate. > I > have had to explain on many occasions what it is as well. > > I'm so touched by all the passion and committment out there for these > special kitties. You wouldn't believe the long, stunned silence on the > phone when I ask "Do you have any Feline Leukemia kitties for adoption?" > I've had shelter people shout for joy and almost cry at my inquiry. It's > also made me aware of where I will be directing my donations to. My > favorite local shelter takes care of these guys, but I am definitely going > to redirect my other donations to smaller groups that care for these > sweethearts - that welcome them with open arms. > > I realize, too, that having Whismy come into my life, for however long it > may be, has made me an advocate for FeLV adoptions, and when you start see > how many people you can inform, you truly see how to effect change. It may > be one person in one waiting room at your vet clinic, but if that gives one > of these cats the chance to live out their years, it is definitely powerful > action. The horror of the inital diagnosis seems to disipate and you > see...yes, we can handle it; if not us, who? > > Shannon and Whimsy > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
