| Laurel asks.... Do you know ?? |
| IF YOUR KITTY IS DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA, MAKE SURE YOU GET HIM/HER RETESTED A FEW MONTHS LATER WITH THE IFA test ( as your kitty may NOT actually have the virus but only have been exposed to the virus and will become negative several months later. AND there is always the possibility is could be a FALSE POSITIVE which does occur frequently enough to warrant retesting. The FeLV virus is a virus that compromises the immune system of the cat. It is shed through saliva and nasal secretions, lesser amounts in urine and feces, and also milk from infected nursing cats to their kittens. Kittens are much more susceptible to infection than are adult cats, and therefore are at the greatest risk of infection if exposed. As a kitten matures, it undergoes an increasing resistance to FeLV infection. But even healthy adult cats can become infected if sufficiently exposed. Cat-to-cat transfer of the virus may occur especially from a bite wound, during mutual grooming, and (though rarely) through food and water bowls and the shared use of litter boxes. FeLV doesn�t survive long outside a cat�s body-probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions. Cats infected with FeLV, should not be allowed to roam outside and should remain indoor only cats. FeLV is NOT contagious to humans or dogs. Laurel is a beautiful calico miss about a year old who was left outside a nursing home to fend for herself when she was just a kitten. A kind person recognized her sad situation months later and rescued her, but unfortunately she had already contracted the Feline Leukemia virus. Laurel has been spayed and vaccinated and is healthy except for her leukemia positive status. Because of this, she will have to be placed in an only cat home or with another leukemia positive cat or a cat friendly dog home. Keeping FeLV+ relatively stress free in a calm and loving household definitely has a beneficial affect as stress in known to undermine one's immune system. Laurel�s hopes you'll make her wish come true by adopting her and giving her lots of TLC. Or ask about our LONG TERM FOSTER CARE PROGRAM for our "leukemia positive" kitties. Your love would mean the world to these kitties by changing their lonely existence into one of joy. Please email [email protected] for info. |
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| Laurel, Our Forgotten Felines Leukemia (FeLV) spokeskitty, wishes you to know... |