I've also read that there are several FeLV viruses. The virus that is contagious is the "main" virus, while two other viruses arise within the cat after the "main" virus interacts with the cat's DNA. So-called FeLV-B is responsible for increased cancer risk while FeLV-C is responsible for the kind of severe anemia we sometimes see.
In Ember's case, I'm wondering if those viruses were "made". When she has had anemia, it's been very mild (discovered incidentally and not by symptoms), so I'm not sure it was the type of anemia that FeLV can convey. I think those viruses might not always arise in all FeLV cats, as they rely on information already present in the cat's DNA. I also think that we don't know enough about FeLV, so the "main" virus may cause a lot of anemia we see, and the information I mentioned is outdated. On Wed, Jun 26, 2013, at 05:43 AM, Lorrie wrote: > Amanda, My thoughts are with you, because I have had many FelV cats over > the > years. Once this virus is in their bone marrow they will not produce > enough > red blood cells, and death is inevitable. Her vital organs will shut > down > and she will slowly suffocate. A transfusion will only buy her a few > weeks if > that long. Gentle euthanasia is the only option. I am so sorry, but this > is > the kindest thing you can do for her. > > Lorrie > > > On 06-25, Amanda K. Payne wrote: > > Thank you everyone!! As you can imagine, I'm a wreck over it. I'm > > also housesitting at the moment and can't be with her at night. Though > > she's with my boyfriend who loves her dearly, I feel awful that I'm not > > there to comfort her. Over the last ten years, I've had my cats die > > from FeLV, FIP and now Polli is also deathly ill with FeLV. > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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
