Re: fip question
At 09:07 AM 1/3/2007, you wrote: Please be careful about the tummy thing. I have a few cats who look like they are pregnantthey are not and healthy.Some have a strange posture combined with obesity,, Lymphoma and several treatable diseases,,It is just not that common in adult cats and frequently has become a catch term we all dread,Titers are useless also,,, Kelly Hi Michelle, I'm glad to read that Lucy is feeling better, but just for the reference point: my Hepburn that I lost to wet FIP (also not confirmed with a necropsy), succombed quickly, like Beth said, it was over about a week and a half before I decided that she was suffering more than enjoying life. Funny, one of the things that made the decision so hard is that she would purr. I didn't know that it was called the purring disease, but I did know that purring doesn't always mean content, it can also mean pain or fear. In any event, her belly was quite round - think of a very pregnant horse - or maybe a pregnant cat, I don't know, I've never seen one. No real disguising it. I still get nervous sometimes with Satchmo and Beatrix though - especially Bea since she's longer haired and a kitten, and it's hard to tell if she's fluffy, got a full little belly, or is dying - that's pretty much how my mind works. :) My test is to palpate the tummy when they are standing, if you can feel the "ropy"/bumpy muscle, connective tissue, whatever, that's in there, then you're fine, if you can press in and there is "nothing" resisting your fingers, then I would worry. This is not to say that it means wet FIP, it just means that I would worry. Anyway, I am glad that you don't need this info now, but in case it comes up in the future for anyone. By the way, they did draw some of the fluid and tested for lymphoma, it came back negative, so combined with the lethargy, inappetance, and belly...I can't remember if there was a fever, the vet concluded wet FIP. Leslie From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: fip question I spoke to my vet about lucy, and he did not see a reason to bring her in. He agreed that her discomfort for a few hours in the evening is probably related to her ibd and to up her flagyl and pred a little. I have, though, probably irrationally, started worrying about wet FIP. Her sides look a little pooched out to me, which may just be that she had lost some weight for the couple weeks she did not want her turkey mush and looks a bit skinny all over and has just started gaining it back so may be gaining it back in her tummy first. But, not knowing why she is getting uncomfortable for a few hours a day, and being paranoid about fip, I started worrying that maybe the poochiness is fluid accumulation. I looked for a wet fip photo online but can not find one. I found info on wet fip symptoms, and it did say that fluid accumulation can happen slowly and that other symptoms can be intermittent inappetance and depression. Does anyone think she could have fip? When she is not having the discomfort, she is pretty normal, maybe a slight bit less active than usual, but she is eating quite a bit. When cats get wet fip, are the symptoms normally constant? Should I be worried about this? And is fluid accumulation very obviously fluid, or could it look sort of like tummy weight gain (i.e. when I look at her from behind, her butt looks thin and I can see her sides sticking out a bit, rather than just chubby all over like my other cats). Does the fluid feel mush like water, or firm? If I press on her belly, it just feels like her stomach is bigger. Thanks for any thoughts or advice. I think if I call my vet and ask him this he will think I have gone round the bend, but I am feeling anxious. michelle No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.16.4/615 - Release Date: 1/3/2007
Re: fip question
Hi Michelle, I'm glad to read that Lucy is feeling better, but just for the reference point: my Hepburn that I lost to wet FIP (also not confirmed with a necropsy), succombed quickly, like Beth said, it was over about a week and a half before I decided that she was suffering more than enjoying life. Funny, one of the things that made the decision so hard is that she would purr. I didn't know that it was called the purring disease, but I did know that purring doesn't always mean content, it can also mean pain or fear. In any event, her belly was quite round - think of a very pregnant horse - or maybe a pregnant cat, I don't know, I've never seen one. No real disguising it. I still get nervous sometimes with Satchmo and Beatrix though - especially Bea since she's longer haired and a kitten, and it's hard to tell if she's fluffy, got a full little belly, or is dying - that's pretty much how my mind works. :) My test is to palpate the tummy when they are standing, if you can feel the "ropy"/bumpy muscle, connective tissue, whatever, that's in there, then you're fine, if you can press in and there is "nothing" resisting your fingers, then I would worry. This is not to say that it means wet FIP, it just means that I would worry. Anyway, I am glad that you don't need this info now, but in case it comes up in the future for anyone. By the way, they did draw some of the fluid and tested for lymphoma, it came back negative, so combined with the lethargy, inappetance, and belly...I can't remember if there was a fever, the vet concluded wet FIP. Leslie From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: fip question I spoke to my vet about lucy, and he did not see a reason to bring her in. He agreed that her discomfort for a few hours in the evening is probably related to her ibd and to up her flagyl and pred a little. I have, though, probably irrationally, started worrying about wet FIP. Her sides look a little pooched out to me, which may just be that she had lost some weight for the couple weeks she did not want her turkey mush and looks a bit skinny all over and has just started gaining it back so may be gaining it back in her tummy first. But, not knowing why she is getting uncomfortable for a few hours a day, and being paranoid about fip, I started worrying that maybe the poochiness is fluid accumulation. I looked for a wet fip photo online but can not find one. I found info on wet fip symptoms, and it did say that fluid accumulation can happen slowly and that other symptoms can be intermittent inappetance and depression. Does anyone think she could have fip? When she is not having the discomfort, she is pretty normal, maybe a slight bit less active than usual, but she is eating quite a bit. When cats get wet fip, are the symptoms normally constant? Should I be worried about this? And is fluid accumulation very obviously fluid, or could it look sort of like tummy weight gain (i.e. when I look at her from behind, her butt looks thin and I can see her sides sticking out a bit, rather than just chubby all over like my other cats). Does the fluid feel mush like water, or firm? If I press on her belly, it just feels like her stomach is bigger. Thanks for any thoughts or advice. I think if I call my vet and ask him this he will think I have gone round the bend, but I am feeling anxious. michelle
RE: fip question
Hi Michelle, Sorry to hear Lucy is having a tough time. I only have limited experience with wet FIP, (12 week old Ally) and that wasn't confirmed by necropsy, but Lucy's symptoms do sound a bit different from what I saw. Ally never seemed to be in any discomfort, even when her belly was quite distended. I found the inappetance and depression to be less of an intermittent problem, and more of something that became gradually worse. She responded very well to antibiotics for her initial URI, but within a couple of days of being off of it would start to sneeze again. Other odd problems cropped up as her immune system began to fail. She had teensy, pin-prick black dots of dried blood in one ear one day, than bright red swimmer's ear a couple of days later in the other ear, then began to get fevers that became less and less responsive to antibiotics. Somewhere between the swimmer's ear and the beginning of the fevers is when I started to notice her belly. It seemed slightly distended (like a wormy kitten), and the area just in front of her hip bones seemed slightly sunken in a triangle shape. It was very slight, but I was worried enough to mention it to the vet when I took her in, but the vet just prodded her a bit and didn't comment. That was on a Thursday, by Sunday there was no question that her belly was filling with fluid, the triangle depression was quite obvious,her spine was protruding, the fever became worse, the antibiotics and steroids were doing nothing, she was glassy eyed and just wanted to snuggle under my chin and purr. This is common enough that FIP is sometimes called "the purring disease". I believe that with FIP, once you notice fluid the progression is usually very quick (Ally was maybe 1-1/2 weeks). If Lucy is still eating that is good. Does her spine feels muscled-over and flat, or raised and knobby? I think that Ally's belly felt pretty firm. If Lucy hasn't had any other illnesses (other than the ibd) lately, is eating and active, I would bet that it is ibd discomfort and not worry too much about FIP. Best wishes, Beth Original Message: I spoke to my vet about lucy, and he did not see a reason to bring her in. He agreed that her discomfort for a few hours in the evening is probably related to her ibd and to up her flagyl and pred a little. I have, though, probably irrationally, started worrying about wet FIP. Her sides look a little pooched out to me, which may just be that she had lost some weight for the couple weeks she did not want her turkey mush and looks a bit skinny all over and has just started gaining it back so may be gaining it back in her tummy first. But, not knowing why she is getting uncomfortable for a few hours a day, and being paranoid about fip, I started worrying that maybe the poochiness is fluid accumulation. I looked for a wet fip photo online but can not find one. I found info on wet fip symptoms, and it did say that fluid accumulation can happen slowly and that other symptoms can be intermittent inappetance and depression. Does anyone think she could have fip? When she is not having the discomfort, she is pretty normal, maybe a slight bit less active than usual, but she is eating quite a bit. When cats get wet fip, are the symptoms normally constant? Should I be worried about this? And is fluid accumulation very obviously fluid, or could it look sort of like tummy weight gain (i.e. when I look at her from behind, her butt looks thin and I can see her sides sticking out a bit, rather than just chubby all over like my other cats). Does the fluid feel mush like water, or firm? If I press on her belly, it just feels like her stomach is bigger. Thanks for any thoughts or advice. I think if I call my vet and ask him this he will think I have gone round the bend, but I am feeling anxious. michelle
RE: fip question
Michelle - if she is eating well, and has not lost weight, she probably does not have FIP - I lost only one cat to FIP a few years ago and lost 6 to dry --- but what's very consistent is that FIP cats' appetite does go down and star losing weight - if it's wet tip, it progresses very fast - other illness like liver disease can also cause fluid in tummy as well -- so usually with FIP kitty with dry form, they may have lost some weight in other area but has a swollen tummy, my gurfunkle did not have FIP, but passed with liver disease and had fluid in tummy -- _ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 11:55 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: fip question I spoke to my vet about lucy, and he did not see a reason to bring her in. He agreed that her discomfort for a few hours in the evening is probably related to her ibd and to up her flagyl and pred a little. I have, though, probably irrationally, started worrying about wet FIP. Her sides look a little pooched out to me, which may just be that she had lost some weight for the couple weeks she did not want her turkey mush and looks a bit skinny all over and has just started gaining it back so may be gaining it back in her tummy first. But, not knowing why she is getting uncomfortable for a few hours a day, and being paranoid about fip, I started worrying that maybe the poochiness is fluid accumulation. I looked for a wet fip photo online but can not find one. I found info on wet fip symptoms, and it did say that fluid accumulation can happen slowly and that other symptoms can be intermittent inappetance and depression. Does anyone think she could have fip? When she is not having the discomfort, she is pretty normal, maybe a slight bit less active than usual, but she is eating quite a bit. When cats get wet fip, are the symptoms normally constant? Should I be worried about this? And is fluid accumulation very obviously fluid, or could it look sort of like tummy weight gain (i.e. when I look at her from behind, her butt looks thin and I can see her sides sticking out a bit, rather than just chubby all over like my other cats). Does the fluid feel mush like water, or firm? If I press on her belly, it just feels like her stomach is bigger. Thanks for any thoughts or advice. I think if I call my vet and ask him this he will think I have gone round the bend, but I am feeling anxious. michelle
fip question
I spoke to my vet about lucy, and he did not see a reason to bring her in. He agreed that her discomfort for a few hours in the evening is probably related to her ibd and to up her flagyl and pred a little. I have, though, probably irrationally, started worrying about wet FIP. Her sides look a little pooched out to me, which may just be that she had lost some weight for the couple weeks she did not want her turkey mush and looks a bit skinny all over and has just started gaining it back so may be gaining it back in her tummy first. But, not knowing why she is getting uncomfortable for a few hours a day, and being paranoid about fip, I started worrying that maybe the poochiness is fluid accumulation. I looked for a wet fip photo online but can not find one. I found info on wet fip symptoms, and it did say that fluid accumulation can happen slowly and that other symptoms can be intermittent inappetance and depression. Does anyone think she could have fip? When she is not having the discomfort, she is pretty normal, maybe a slight bit less active than usual, but she is eating quite a bit. When cats get wet fip, are the symptoms normally constant? Should I be worried about this? And is fluid accumulation very obviously fluid, or could it look sort of like tummy weight gain (i.e. when I look at her from behind, her butt looks thin and I can see her sides sticking out a bit, rather than just chubby all over like my other cats). Does the fluid feel mush like water, or firm? If I press on her belly, it just feels like her stomach is bigger. Thanks for any thoughts or advice. I think if I call my vet and ask him this he will think I have gone round the bend, but I am feeling anxious. michelle
P.S. Re: To Leslie Re: Kitten update and FIP question
P.S. Please keep us posted on Powder's adoption. I would love to hear how Satchmo adjusts to her and the funny stuff that happens after you bring her home! :) Wendy --- wendy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Leslie, > > Congratulations on Powder's future adoption! > Absolutely, there are kittens who throw off the > virus > and become healthy adults, and even if they don't, > they can live with it for a long time. Many die > before age 3, but some do not. My kitty Cricket > lived > to 4.5 years, and I truly believed he would have > lived > longer had he not been stressed out by ten family > members staying with us in our 1500 sq. ft. house > for > a week during Hurricane Rita. He shortly thereafter > developed anemia. If I were you, I would be giving > the L-lysine and the Mega C for the rest of kitty's > life. Also, good quality food, like Evo. And LOTS > of > love and snuggles! Bless you! > > :) > Wendy > > > __ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
To Leslie Re: Kitten update and FIP question
Leslie, Congratulations on Powder's future adoption! Absolutely, there are kittens who throw off the virus and become healthy adults, and even if they don't, they can live with it for a long time. Many die before age 3, but some do not. My kitty Cricket lived to 4.5 years, and I truly believed he would have lived longer had he not been stressed out by ten family members staying with us in our 1500 sq. ft. house for a week during Hurricane Rita. He shortly thereafter developed anemia. If I were you, I would be giving the L-lysine and the Mega C for the rest of kitty's life. Also, good quality food, like Evo. And LOTS of love and snuggles! Bless you! :) Wendy __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: Kitten update and FIP question
I'm glad 'what's her name' will be coming home soon, (I'm sure she'll let you know soon enough what she wants to be called!). High hopes and prayers that she turns out to be one of the fortunate and lives a long, healthy life. I think we would all do better concerning ourselves with tomorrow, but living in the "now". Re Satchmo and the little one... I would talk to him about her coming to live with you. Let him know that she's to be HIS kitten, that you are bringing her home so he will have someone to watch over and play with. The "you were once in her place and she needs us" logic doesn't seem to work as well with my crew! I'm sure with as many kitties as you've had, I don't have to remind you to take the introductions slowly and to shower Satch with attention. Let us know all about it. Hugs to you, and congratulations, Nina It seems to be the same phenomenon of the day that you're getting your hair cut, your have a great hair day - because Satch has been in this sweet, I'm-an-only-cat love-bug mood of late. He must know. ;) Leslie
Re: Kitten update and FIP question
Hideyo, my heart goes out to you. You have done such an amazing job in caring for these cats, you haven't let one of them down for a second. All of my well wishes and Satch's naughty-cat energy will be pointed toward you and your cats. And Sherry, so sorry to here about Nya. It's true what the others have said, that her life was the better for it, even if it was too short by our standards. MC, Maggie, and Nina, thank you so much for replying to my email. MC what a great wealth of information that was, that makes me feel a lot better about bringing in Powder...and losing Hepburn oddly enough. Nina, thanks for you story of the healthy kittens, and Maggie, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that your two stay on this side of the vet's amazement. :) I've actually been thinking about that comment about how cat's perceive things. No yesterday, no tomorrow, just now. Hungry now, happy now, in pain now, pet me now. It's true and it makes things much simpler. I don't think that I'll keep the name Powder (she's female) because it makes me think of the movie or a dilute calico, and her colors are pretty sharp. I don't know what I'll name her, I'll have to see what strikes me. I hope to pick her up tonight, but it'll be after work, so if the humane society needs to speak to my landlord, I'll have to wait until tomorrow. :) It seems to be the same phenomenon of the day that you're getting your hair cut, your have a great hair day - because Satch has been in this sweet, I'm-an-only-cat love-bug mood of late. He must know. ;) Leslie
Re: Kitten update and FIP question
Leslie, How exciting! Will you keep her named Powder or rename her (or is it a him?)? I don't know anything about FIP. I wish I could give you answers as to how long you can expect Powder to be with you, but I'm afraid I just don't know. My girls are now 9 months and seem to be really strong and healthy, a far cry from two months ago when the vet said one of them was on death's door - so I guess they don't know either. Someone on this board (sorry, I can't give credit because I don't remember!) made a really good point that struck me and has stuck - they said that cats have no concept of future, they only know the now. How true! As long as my girls are happy in the moment that's all that matters because they have no mechanism to fear the future (that's quite a gift!). Maggie -- Original message -- From: Leslie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello, it's Leslie again, So here's the FeLV+ kitten update from the Humane Society: I went to visit and play with both kittens last Wednesday and they were so cute. Incredibly active, curious, friendly. The volunteer and I talked about my situation a lot and we agreed that since they are together, it would be ideal to get them a home together. I can't take them both, so I decided to let fate take a hand. Yesterday was my day to volunteer with the dogs, but every 30 minutes or so, I'd wander back over to the cat side and give them a scratch. Since I'm obsessive, I check the website hourly, and at 6 pm last night, Trixie was taken off of it - meaning that she'd found a home! That leaves Powder (the bobtail) and the one that pulled my heart strings a just a little tighter, truth be told. I'm going to call the humane society when they open in an hour and confirm that it wasn't a computer glitch. So now that it looks like I will be taking Powder, I have one question and one request. The question: my last + cat to pass, Hepburn, was taken down by FIP, she had the wet variety, potbelly and all. So whether or not my current + guy, Satchmo, introduced it to her, he was certainly exposed to it before I knew what she had. Should I worry about this in introducing a + kitten to him? I would feel just awful about giving something to a cat that I'm trying to help. What do you think? The request: I know that it's riskier than average to expect a kitten to make it the long haul with leukemia, but do any of you have these success stories? I've heard of kitten's turning negative from you (and please reiterate those and if you did anything special to reach that conclusion), but are there kittens that are positive that grow to be healthy, positive adults? I have already embraced (or am trying) your philosophy that the control we have is over our attitude toward the events in life, not the events themselves (well, to some extent, but not totally). So if my expectations in adopting this kitten are that if we have two months, that's a success, and anything above that is a gift, then that's what I'll do. Thank you all so much, Leslie
Re: Kitten update and FIP question
Hi Leslie, I haven't been able to keep up with the list, I'm betting others with more knowledge than I have posted about potential FIP risks to Powder. From what I understand about it, there are genetic risks involved that take most of the protection against it out of our hands. All I can say is that giving Powder a chance in your loving home would seem to outweigh your concerns. A shelter situation would certainly expose her to greater health risks than Satchmo alone. Maybe I'm operating from the ridiculous premise of "it just wouldn't be fair", but I think Powder is better off with you no matter what happens because of it. You asked about success stories... My little Timmy and his brother Lucky were 2 of 6 kittens born with felv. We didn't find out the litter was pos until the first kitten died. Lucky has never been tested, (he was adopted out and they decided they didn't care what the result of the test was, they were just going to love and care for him), and Tim tested neg when he was finally tested at about 6mos. They are going on 3 yrs now and are both healthy and strong, (the other 4 kittens died between 6mos and 2 yrs old). I think your philosophy of taking each day as a blessing and being grateful for whatever time you have, (while remaining proactive and optimistic), is the best one we can have under any circumstance. I am sure that my little felv angels were part of my life to help me with just this lesson. Blessings and thanks to all our special needs loved ones and all those that have the courage to care for them! When does Powder come home? Nina Leslie wrote: Hello, it's Leslie again, So here's the FeLV+ kitten update from the Humane Society: I went to visit and play with both kittens last Wednesday and they were so cute. Incredibly active, curious, friendly. The volunteer and I talked about my situation a lot and we agreed that since they are together, it would be ideal to get them a home together. I can't take them both, so I decided to let fate take a hand. Yesterday was my day to volunteer with the dogs, but every 30 minutes or so, I'd wander back over to the cat side and give them a scratch. Since I'm obsessive, I check the website hourly, and at 6 pm last night, Trixie was taken off of it - meaning that she'd found a home! That leaves Powder (the bobtail) and the one that pulled my heart strings a just a little tighter, truth be told. I'm going to call the humane society when they open in an hour and confirm that it wasn't a computer glitch. So now that it looks like I will be taking Powder, I have one question and one request. The question: my last + cat to pass, Hepburn, was taken down by FIP, she had the wet variety, potbelly and all. So whether or not my current + guy, Satchmo, introduced it to her, he was certainly exposed to it before I knew what she had. Should I worry about this in introducing a + kitten to him? I would feel just awful about giving something to a cat that I'm trying to help. What do you think? The request: I know that it's riskier than average to expect a kitten to make it the long haul with leukemia, but do any of you have these success stories? I've heard of kitten's turning negative from you (and please reiterate those and if you did anything special to reach that conclusion), but are there kittens that are positive that grow to be healthy, positive adults? I have already embraced (or am trying) your philosophy that the control we have is over our attitude toward the events in life, not the events themselves (well, to some extent, but not totally). So if my expectations in adopting this kitten are that if we have two months, that's a success, and anything above that is a gift, then that's what I'll do. Thank you all so much, Leslie
Re: Kitten update and FIP question
FIP is currently considered to be a MUTATED form of the common corona virus--up to 90% of cats who have been in a multi-cat environment will have been exposed to one of the corona virii. (the same percentage of humans show the same exposure rate!). there is some question about whether or not there is one form of the virus that is more likely to mutate into FIP than others, but the chief proponent of that seems to be the lab that created a test for that strain, which in research has not proved to be reliable or accurate. in other words, most cats have been exposed to corona viruses, but most cats do NOT develop the mutation that causes FIP. the corona virii are contagious, the mutation per se is NOT. current research is showing that there is a genetic predisposition for FIP, which may turn out to be the major factor--right now, no one can predict who will get FIP, there's no way to protect against it, and, essentially, there's no treatment. if you have siblings of the kitty that developed FIP, those would be the most likely to develop it, but the new cat should be at no additional risk. MC On 8/7/06, Leslie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hello, it's Leslie again, So here's the FeLV+ kitten update from the Humane Society: I went to visit and play with both kittens last Wednesday and they were so cute. Incredibly active, curious, friendly. The volunteer and I talked about my situation a lot and we agreed that since they are together, it would be ideal to get them a home together. I can't take them both, so I decided to let fate take a hand. Yesterday was my day to volunteer with the dogs, but every 30 minutes or so, I'd wander back over to the cat side and give them a scratch. Since I'm obsessive, I check the website hourly, and at 6 pm last night, Trixie was taken off of it - meaning that she'd found a home! That leaves Powder (the bobtail) and the one that pulled my heart strings a just a little tighter, truth be told. I'm going to call the humane society when they open in an hour and confirm that it wasn't a computer glitch. So now that it looks like I will be taking Powder, I have one question and one request. The question: my last + cat to pass, Hepburn, was taken down by FIP, she had the wet variety, potbelly and all. So whether or not my current + guy, Satchmo, introduced it to her, he was certainly exposed to it before I knew what she had. Should I worry about this in introducing a + kitten to him? I would feel just awful about giving something to a cat that I'm trying to help. What do you think? The request: I know that it's riskier than average to expect a kitten to make it the long haul with leukemia, but do any of you have these success stories? I've heard of kitten's turning negative from you (and please reiterate those and if you did anything special to reach that conclusion), but are there kittens that are positive that grow to be healthy, positive adults? I have already embraced (or am trying) your philosophy that the control we have is over our attitude toward the events in life, not the events themselves (well, to some extent, but not totally). So if my expectations in adopting this kitten are that if we have two months, that's a success, and anything above that is a gift, then that's what I'll do. Thank you all so much, Leslie -- MaryChristine AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ: 289856892
Kitten update and FIP question
Hello, it's Leslie again, So here's the FeLV+ kitten update from the Humane Society: I went to visit and play with both kittens last Wednesday and they were so cute. Incredibly active, curious, friendly. The volunteer and I talked about my situation a lot and we agreed that since they are together, it would be ideal to get them a home together. I can't take them both, so I decided to let fate take a hand. Yesterday was my day to volunteer with the dogs, but every 30 minutes or so, I'd wander back over to the cat side and give them a scratch. Since I'm obsessive, I check the website hourly, and at 6 pm last night, Trixie was taken off of it - meaning that she'd found a home! That leaves Powder (the bobtail) and the one that pulled my heart strings a just a little tighter, truth be told. I'm going to call the humane society when they open in an hour and confirm that it wasn't a computer glitch. So now that it looks like I will be taking Powder, I have one question and one request. The question: my last + cat to pass, Hepburn, was taken down by FIP, she had the wet variety, potbelly and all. So whether or not my current + guy, Satchmo, introduced it to her, he was certainly exposed to it before I knew what she had. Should I worry about this in introducing a + kitten to him? I would feel just awful about giving something to a cat that I'm trying to help. What do you think? The request: I know that it's riskier than average to expect a kitten to make it the long haul with leukemia, but do any of you have these success stories? I've heard of kitten's turning negative from you (and please reiterate those and if you did anything special to reach that conclusion), but are there kittens that are positive that grow to be healthy, positive adults? I have already embraced (or am trying) your philosophy that the control we have is over our attitude toward the events in life, not the events themselves (well, to some extent, but not totally). So if my expectations in adopting this kitten are that if we have two months, that's a success, and anything above that is a gift, then that's what I'll do. Thank you all so much, Leslie
