Friday June 26, 1998 27 Messages ======================================== From: WORKPARK@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 02:13:48 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Restraining cats at the vets' Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hey Naomi, Lai-Tai, my negative cat, gets really violent while at the vet's. We had to take her to the emergency vet one night for something and they muzzled her just to look at her, which made the entire situation worse, of course, and the vet intern who was seeing her was terrified of her. This is normally a very lovey cat. Anyway, my usual vet has something called a kitty bag (I think) that they put her in. I haven't seen it, but from what I understand it looks something like a cat-sized duffle bag with lots of zippers. The cat's head sticks out, so they don't fell they are prevented from seeing anything, and the bag keeps the animal nice and snug so they feel they are safer. The bag has lots of zippers on it so they just unzip the area by the paw, neck, or whatever, and it allows them access to the cat without anyone getting hurt. You may want to try it next time, if they have one. I know that Lai-Tai was much less upset with things when they used it for her. Pam ---------------------------------------- From: WORKPARK@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 02:32:51 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Grey's Introduction Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Fuguee, I have one positive (Rissa-Tai) and one negative (Lai-Tai) that we made the decision to keep together. Both have always been indoor cats only. They had been together for two and a half years before Rissa-Tai tested positve in January. Both have been immunized since the day we got them. Lai-Tai has tested negative twice in the last six months with both the ELISA and IFA tests. We figured that she had already been exposed, and that separating them at that point would have made no difference as to whether she eventually becomes positive or not. Besides, they love each other and keep each other company. Never mind the headache for us in keeping one of them confined in a two bedroom apartment! Good luck, I think that keeping them together at this point makes no difference. However, I don't recall if you said that some of your cats were outdoor animals or not - I'd keep them all in from now on so if any of them infected, they don't spread it, and also so they don't pick up anything that Grey might not be able to fight off with his compromised immune system. Pam ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 23:15:09 -0700 (PDT) From: The Drunken Celt Subject: Re: Grey's Introduction To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I will ask him about those indeed..as for the cats.. honest opinion..if my other cats had their shots..could he still co-exsist with them? (ie play with them)? I hate the idea that he has to be separate from the cats' he's been playing with since we got him.. ==Fuguee ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 08:34:25 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: Angela Holderby Subject: Re: Restraining cats at the vets' Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net My isp is screwed right now so I missed the original post on this (probably get it tomorrow!) but I had a vet once who helped give rabies injections for the human society and I was afraid my cat would jump out of my arms and run away (they did these outdoors). He suggested I use either a large potato sack or onion sack (one of the mesh ones that lets the dirt fall out). Place the cat inside--head and all--and they can actually give the injection through the sack. I found that this also worked at the vet. I could leave the head out and the rest of the body was confined, then they could just snip a few of the mesh thingies where they needed to look. It worked well for us...very cheap, too. Unfortunately, the cat looked really goofy in it, but aside from that, I thought it was a good suggestion. Angela. ---------------------------------------- From: meowmama@bellsouth.net Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 08:55:35 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Fires In Florida Update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi All, Thanks so much to all of you have written. We had a little bit of rain yesterday, but nothing that would help, and the lightening even started a few more small fires. The smoke continues and we keep hoping for some rain. Well, actually a LOT of rain!! All's well here, and the furries and doing fine!!! Thanks again for your concern. Kathy G and the 3 furries in Daytona Beach =^.^= Rusty =^.^= Smokey =^.^= Money see us at: http://cgi.gambitsys.com/homey/webdoc5.htm The Cat: Mother Nature's Masterpiece ---------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Grey's Introduction Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 07:07:46 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I think separating the cats can be damaging to both. Since Chaz has gone negative, I would never dream of keping my two separate. Barb has more than I do and hers are not separated. You might check with her. I made the decision to introduce two cats into the household that would have died otherwise. It's a gamble but I know I've extended their lives. My vet feels they have a slim chance of catching it since they've had their shots. We are both aware there is a chance. I'm willing to take that chance. Cheri G., Kitty, Chaz, Harley and Nicky ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 08:31:22 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Fires In Florida Update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Kathy, Glad you are still alright! We're sending lots of vibes here for lots of rain there! It must be awful. This is a very strange year, I guess due to El Nino. Nancy ---------------------------------------- From: Paula Lazo To: "'felvtalk@MailingList.net'" Subject: RE: Keigan Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 09:33:58 -0400 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Naomi: Our best wishes to Keigan for a positive result on the cbc, sometimes felv+ cats do have normal cbc or chemistry profile. Lucky had a normal chemistry profile and a slight abnormal cbc, the first time he had a blood work done. I guess if I had had all those medicines that you in the US are able to give your felv+ kitties, Lucky might still be around. In my case I had nothing but good food quality and care. Keep up the good work Keigan (gaining those needed pounds). Love from Chile Paula and Benito ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 16:02:07 +0000 From: LawBet Subject: Re: Fires In Florida Update To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Organization: Home for Wayward Felines Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb & Kathy, Beware! There be lightning bolts for those not showing the proper respect. The Hulk lies dormant for now; but woe be to those who wake him! :-) The Lurker ---------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 16:28:00 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Keigan Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Paula, Never underestimate the power of good food, good care and love. It goes a long, long way! barb ---------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 16:29:29 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Fires In Florida Update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Nancy, Fires not the fault of El Ninjo, it's my MUCH OLDER BROTHERS fault. I'm not sure, but I'll think of something. barb ---------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 17:01:45 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Grey's Introduction Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Fuguee, Sorry to be so long in responding, between storms knocking out my power, work, 17 cats, 10 cat boxes, two dogs and a partridge in a pear tree...I've been kinda busy. First, most definately, absolutely, have him retested. Normally, they wait a month, then do another ELISA, that's the one the vet can do right in the office. That's prob the one Grey already had done. Please keep in mind, this test is wrong about 30% of the time. (Veterinary MERCK Manual) That is, it will call some positive that are negative and miss some that are positive and it will come out negative. The test your vet prob wants to do is an IFA, that has to be sent out to a lab. That one is more reliable, but there have been reports of even that one missing positives that were only found when a bone marrow test was done. By that that time, the cat was already ill. So tests are certainly helpful and usually reliable, but not always! It sounds to me like Grey has a very good chance of remaining healthy for a long time and maybe even beating the virus with some luck. That's if he is truly positive. At nine months, I'm guessing he was done with his shots, but by any chance had he received a FeLV vaccination within a month of testing? My vet swears that since the shot causes the body to make antibodies, that can give you a false positive if tested to soon after the shot. There are some that dispute that, but that what he says. Anyway, I guess if he were mine, I would start him on ImmunoRegulin. If he is not stressed out by visits to the vet or a ride in the car, I would have it given IV, by the vet. The protocal is on our page, or I can give it to you. Now this drug WILL NOT kill the virus. Unfortunately, we have nothing that will do that except the cats own immune system. ImmunoRegulin is an immune system booster. Puts it in overdrive so to speak, and if the cat is able to beat the virus itself, boosting the immune system may help it do that. Also good food, vitamins and I like a product called Ambrotose. It's a powder that you put on the food that helps the cat produce more Feline Interferon. Right now, there is no feline interferon on the market, tho they are working on it. We use Human synthetic interferon. Well, that's a lot to digest right now. Siamese are tough. I have two and both apparently have a natural immunity. They were exposed to the original carrier and both are negative. I have 17 of the furballs running around. Two are positive. The rest have their shots and are isolated until two weeks after the second FeLV shot. barb ---------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 17:07:23 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Grey's Introduction Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Fuguee, I would put mamma cat and babies somewhere else. The little one's can't get their FeLV shots until they are 3 lbs or 3 months, so they could be in jeapardy. The rest should be ok. Stress is the worst thing for a FeLV cat and it sounds like Grey is getting pretty upset about being isolated. So I think I would move mom and babies, keep Grey inside, its safer anyway. I have all mine together and I have had no new cases since the Vaccinations were given. barb ---------------------------------------- From: meowmama@bellsouth.net Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 16:36:06 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Fires In Florida Update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net > Fires not the fault of El Ninjo, it's my MUCH OLDER BROTHERS fault. Thanks, barb - I've been looking for SOMEONE to blame it on!!!!! Kathy G and the 3 furries in Daytona Beach =^.^= Rusty =^.^= Smokey =^.^= Money see us at: http://cgi.gambitsys.com/homey/webdoc5.htm The Cat: Mother Nature's Masterpiece ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 13:47:35 -0700 (PDT) From: The Drunken Celt Subject: Re: Grey's Introduction To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net ---WORKPARK@aol.com wrote: > Never mind the headache for us in keeping one of them confined in a > two bedroom apartment! tell me about it! we live in a house with my fiance's parents, and his neice and nephew (the folks have custody of the neice and nephew and we help take care of them) and grey LOVES Brittany! every morning when he hears her wake up is when he starts going nuts to get out of our room..and the others get a little upset when they realize they can't come in... > Good luck, I think that keeping them together at > this point makes no > difference. However, I don't recall if you said that some of your cats > were outdoor animals or not - I'd keep them all in from now on > so if any of them infected, they don't spread it, and also so they don't > pick up anything that Grey might not be able to fight off with his > > compromised immune system. > they do go outside..but the entire neighbourhood is aware that there is an outbreak of sorts (a few people have lost cats over the past year) so everyone is getting their shots updated..including the rest of ours. But I have discovered (thru controled release ) that he mostly just wants to be out where other people are..right now (at 1:30pm) he's sleeping in the living room under a table, one of our other cats is sleeping on the other side of the room..and the dogs are asleep with him. I make a point for him to stay away from the kittens and their momma (just cause she hasn't had her shot yet) but the others are up to date.. so far so good..I thought yesturday that he wasn't eating..got worried..turned out he didn't like that partciular kind of food I gave him..we fed him this morning and he ate every bite! thanks folks! --Fuguee ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 13:56:08 -0700 (PDT) From: The Drunken Celt Subject: Re: Grey's Introduction To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb? what say you..I have 4 other cats..all with shots (plus one more that just had kittens..they are about to get theirs so I've kept them separate from grey, she and the kittens have tested negative tho) He's getting worse at missing them..a couple of nights he started to go nuts at the door around 5:30AM (feeding time for most)..last night he started at midnight..he runs around the room knocking things over until one of us gets up..so I let him out! as far as we all could tell..he pretty much just slept in the hallway or the kids room (neice and nephew)..outside to potty, and then back again,.silly cat.. --Fuguee ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 14:29:06 -0700 (PDT) From: The Drunken Celt Subject: Re: Grey's Introduction To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net the babies spent 100% of their time in my fiance's parent's room..the mamma comes out occasionally to eat, that's about it..they are separate from everyone else..have been since birth..the moment we found out grey was positive we took mamma and babies in to get tested (we had thought grey was the father) but they have all tested negative.. but it seems the consensus is..he can run the house..(there is a doggie door the cats use..we have to keep it blocked to keep them from going in and out..but it can be done..) thanks people..I think you just made sleeping much easier for us..:> --Fuguee ---------------------------------------- From: Paula Lazo To: "'FelvTalk List'" Subject: Sick Benito Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 17:58:40 -0400 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Dear friends: Benito had been doing OK all week, his diarrhea had stopped and other than his huge appetite and big belly, he was OK. Today I noticed he didn't eat as much as always and was a bit down, but I tried not to make too much out of it and left for work. A few hours ago I had the chance to stop by the apartment on my way to a meeting. Benito hadn't eat at all, that was strange so I decided to offer him some tuna, being a street cat he would have loved that, but instead he just smelled at it and didn't pay much attention. I walked into the bathroom and found out Benito had vomitted on the floor, it was food from this morning, you could still see the pellets he had eaten. I don't know whether he had diarrhea or not, it was hard to tell what the litter box content was. He was acting almost normally just a little depressed. Today he's supposed to have the felv test, we have an appointment at 7:00 pm. I know this message isn't about felv, but you are the only people I can talk to about my cat with so much confidence, here in Chile pets aren't that important. Please if any of you has an idea to what this might be, I'll be relieved. I don't have much experience with sick cats, Lucky was my first one. Garrita has always been healthy (thanks God) and Mancha died too soon. I'll be looking forward to hearing from any of you. Love Paula and Benito ---------------------------------------- From: GinaTex@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 22:08:58 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Sick Benito Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Paula Hope that Benito is feeling better. Did the vet have any idea what caused his vomiting? How did the test go? Wishing you both luck Gina ---------------------------------------- From: Paula Lazo To: "'FelvTalk List'" Subject: Benito Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 18:14:29 -0400 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I'm off to the vet's office right now and I won't be able to read your messages until thursday, monday it's a holiday here in Chile and I don't work. Wish us luck. I hope you all have a great weekend. Love Paula and Benito ---------------------------------------- From: GinaTex@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 22:19:24 EDT To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Re: Grey's Introduction Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Fuguee Hi I have not had the chance to respond to any of your posts. We have a mixed household 1 positive and 3 negative none of which are separated from one another All of them live indoors strictly. It was not until the kittens where 5 months old where they allowed to be mixed with our positives. The most important thing about a FeLv cat is keeping them as stress free as possible. I agree with Barb about moving the kittens and the momma and letting Grey have free run of the house. It would be much more stressful for him to keep him confined. Our Sophia is 4 years old, tested postive at 6 months old and has never been sick since. My personal opinion is keeping them confined indoors gives them a better chance of not catching any diseases or colds from other animals outside, esp with their immune system not being as strong. Good Luck with him Gina ---------------------------------------- From: meowmama@bellsouth.net Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 20:05:02 -0400 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Benito Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Paula, Lots and lots of vibes winging their way to you! We'll be waiting to hear from you whenever you can post. Hugs to you and little Benito! ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 19:10:01 -0700 (PDT) From: The Drunken Celt Subject: Re: Grey's Introduction To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net ---Newtanator@aol.com wrote: > > Fuguee, > Sorry to be so long in responding, between storms knocking out my > > power, work, 17 cats, 10 cat boxes, two dogs and a partridge in a pear > > tree...I've been kinda busy. 17 cats! Goddess Bless you..I'd love to keep every cat I saw! we have 2 14 year old cats, one 10 year old, mina who is over 1 year, grey who is 9 months, Daria who is about the same, and daria's 5 babies who are 3 weeks old..:> plus two dogs, and about 5 desert turtles..:> and yes the vet said the next test they will run is the one where they check his bone marrow..he told me to wait two weeks and then bring him in (I think its a coincidence that they are moving offices over the next two weeks..) I have been giving him all of the holistic things I can find..to boost his vitamins and immune system myself.. > It sounds to me like Grey has a very good chance of remaining healthy > for a long time and maybe even beating the virus with some luck. That's > if he is truly positive. At nine months, I'm guessing he was done with > his shots, but by any chance had he received a FeLV vaccination within a > month of testing? this is where I feel like a bad bad mother. no he hasn't had any shots at all..I went away for a little while and my fiance was taking care of all the kitties..and he completely forgot to book the appointment for shots and neutering..so I did and this is what I found out... on the flip side..I've read of the false positives and the reasoning.. I honestly believe Grey has a 'cold'. Both my fiance and I just got over one, plus the two children that are with us also have had colds recently.. three of the cats had their Feline Lek shot almost a year ago now (like the end of june last year) so I already know they are due. One other got her shots and spaying done in December..so she's still good..and then there is mama and babies..which are being done when the vet opens up.. right now grey is sleeping under my computer table..he had a good day..sleeping out in the living room of the house..I even let him outside for a little, he literally ran outside and slept in the sun for an hour and then came back in the house....more and more I believe either his positive was a mistake..or that he's fighting it off..cause this is not a sick cat at all.. --Fuguee ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 23:17:39 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Fires In Florida Update Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, I know whatcha mean. I think most things are MY much older brother's fault. . . and they probably are! You're feeling pretty frisky, aren't you, Barb? Nancy ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 23:20:37 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: "'FelvTalk List'" Subject: Re: Sick Benito Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Paula, it could be that Benito just ate too much. Being a street cat, he is so excited by getting a regular diet, that he may have just overate. Hopefully, in a day or two, he'll be better. Nancy ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 23:33:34 -0500 (CDT) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Debby: Echinacea dosage Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Debby, Somehow I don't have your original post. I don't know If I erased it in my middle=aged stupidity or just didn't get it so . . . if I ask REALLY stupid questions, I apologize. Anyway, WELCOME to the list. One thing I wanted to comment on is I have an article that advises against the use of Echinacea except where there is a healthy immune system. This article advises against its use in FELV, FIV, and FIP cats. I think I got the article from Joan Doljan (sp.?) PUFFERINO as part of her packet before I subscribed to this list. Now I have to tell you I use it for my FIV cat and I have used it for an FELV cat. I can't tell you if it helped or hinders. All I can tell you is what this article said and let you decide. I know that lets you in a uncertain place, but I thought I better give my input. Again, WELCOME to this wonderful list. The people here truly got me through a horrible ordeal with the sickness and death of my wonderful, big, beautiful black Panther (died May 18th). It was hard, but without their suggestions and unfaltering support, it would have been impossible! They are truly wonderful! Nancy ---------------------------------------- Date sent: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 21:38:49 -0700 (PDT) From: The Drunken Celt Subject: Re: Re: Grey's Introduction To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net ---GinaTex@aol.com wrote: > > Fuguee > Hi I have not had the chance to respond to any of your posts. We have a > mixed household 1 positive and 3 negative none of which are separated > from one another All of them live indoors strictly. It was not until the > kittens where 5 months old where they allowed to be mixed with our > positives. The most important thing about a FeLv cat is keeping them as > stress free as possible. I agree with Barb about moving the kittens and > the momma and letting Grey have free run of the house. It would be much > more stressful for him to keep him confined. Wonderful! With all of your help we've taken a situation wherein we thought we were going to lose a loved one..into a much much better situation! The only problem with keeping him inside is that all of our cats use a dog door (including the dogs!) so most nights he'd be in our room (which isn't too bad, he usually sleeps all night anyways) and then during the day I am around to make sure animals can get out to potty! > Our Sophia is 4 years old, tested postive at 6 months old and has never > > been sick since. My personal opinion is keeping them confined indoors > > gives them a better chance of not catching any diseases or colds from > > other animals outside, esp with their immune system not being as > > strong. > how much does environment play into that? I am in southwestern AZ, so getting a cold from the cold doesn't really come into it..:> we dont' really have much of a problem with other animals coming into the yard cause the dogs chase them off..I was also thinking that maybe a cat leash might be an interesting idea, so that I can take him outside for walks etc.. --Fuguee ---------------------------------------- END