I would never release either FIV or FeLV positive cats..but then, again, I personally don't do TNR, and could not - those faces would haunt me day and night, and I would worry about them getting sick and dying alone, as you do.
However, look at all the people in this group whose healthy cats aren't getting infected by their FeLV cat(s)! Once they're spayed/neutered, FIV positive cats are no danger to others.but they can still get sick and die alone. From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Beth Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 2:59 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Interesting FeLV info from a rescue group We have a group here that follows the same guidelines, which is the Alley Cat Allies guidelines. I oppose this whole heartedly. I think it is so wrong to release an FeLV positive cat back into a colony. You are spreading a disease. Not to mention that infected cats are probably going to die a lonely, awful death. I don't feel the same about FIV, as long as the colony is closely managed & sick cats are re-caught. This attitude simply gives those who oppose TNR more ammunition against it. Beth Don't Litter, Fix Your Critter! www.Furkids.org <http://www.furkids.org/> _____ From: Natalie <at...@optonline.net> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 10:50 AM Subject: [Felvtalk] Interesting FeLV info from a rescue group http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/HOW_TO_RELEASING_FIV_FELV_POSITIVE_CATS For FeLV, again the ELISA test is almost always the initial test used. In contrast to FIV, the FeLV ELISA does not detect antibodies, but whether the antigen of the virus is present in the blood. In other words, a positive test result indicates the presence of the actual FeLV virus in the blood. But, the test is extremely sensitive and is prone to false positives from improper handling. In addition, a cat in the early stages of FeLV infection can still fight it off. The disease does not take permanent hold until it enters the cat's white blood cells, which only another type of test, the IFA test (Immunofluoresence Assay, also known as the Hardy test) can determine. The IFA test must be performed at a lab and is more expensive. Consequently, if a cat appears otherwise healthy, a positive ELISA test should always be confirmed with an IFA test. Only if other severe pathological symptoms of FeLV are present should an initial positive ELISA ever be relied upon alone.
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