[Felvtalk] Introducing Daisy's Babies

Sat Jul 19 17:49:22 CDT 2008

Thanks MC for explaining the ELISHA test.  I had Mattie tested when her Mom. Daisy, was spayed.  A lady here on the Eastern Shore drives up to MD once a month to a vet who does low cost spaying for rescues.   She doesn't know anything about FeLV and just relayed the vets comments.  

Sissy and Rocket have had two ELISHA tests 4 months apart.  When I 1st rescued them and again when they were spayed.  Since they were FeLV+ I went with the local high cost vet for the spaying.   Didn't want them stressed any more than necessary.  I plan to have the IFA test done late this yr.  Both are currently the picture of health and tired of being quarantined in the bedroom.  

I have read the info on the Ally Cats web site.  I agree that healthy cats should not be PTS.  The Yahoo Rescue group I belong to feels that TNR kitties should not be tested as long as they are healthy when spayed/neutered.   Like the military 'don't ask, don't tell' philosophy.  The exception is any cat that will be placed for adoption.

There were 5 kittens in Sissy and Rocket's litter,  One vanished.  One, Daisy, has been TNR and I have one, Mae, to go.  No idea who their Mom was.  I haven't see any likely candidates around the dumpster site.  With 3 negative inside cats I just can't take them all in.   I think I have lined up a forever home for 2 of the babies, Bright Eyes and Houdini, in a home with FeLV+ cats.  Since Mattie is blind and Capt.CJ only has sight in one eye, I'll keep them.  So far I have just had Mattie tested.  No reason not to believe all 4 babies are positive.  I will have them tested when they are spayed.   Maybe, since they are no longer nursing and eating well, they can kick it.
Thanks for your input.
Sharyl

--- On Sat, 7/19/08, MaryChristine <twelvehousecats at gmail.com> wrote:

From: MaryChristine <twelvehousecats at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Introducing Daisy's Babies
To: felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2008, 2:59 PM

just wondering if you are working with alley cat allies, and following their protocol re: testing and releasing/treating FeLV cats? my understanding is that they do not endorse euthanizing positive, asymptomatic cats, so testing daisy would only give you some health information. i believe they have a really good explanation for how they've come to their decisions re: testing--i am also very aware that their decision regarding this is controversial. all the of the experienced feral rescuers i know personally, however, whether they have specific experience with FeLV or not, have said the same thing: we do NOT kill healthy cats just because they MIGHT get sick at some point.

what a concept!

and also not sure what you mean when you say the cats have tested positive--using which tests? how far apart? 

On Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 10:21 AM, Sharyl <clinebay at yahoo.com> wrote:

I have been feeding a dumpster colony of kitties for several months with the goal of doing TNR (trap/neuter/release) for those that I can not rescue.  Of the 3 kittens I rescued 2, Sissy and Rocket, were FeLV+.  They are about 9 months old now and are doing well.  Both have test positive twice.

Their sister, Daisy, had a litter before I was able to TNR her.  The kittens were approx. 4 weeks old when I got them.  I took them because 1 had both eyes stuck shut and 1 had 1 eye stuck shut.  The next day I was finally able to trap Daisy using a kitten as bait in the carrier.    Daisy has since been spayed and released.  The babies have received one worm treatment, got terramycin salve in their eyes for a week, and have lysine added to their food.  

It appears that Mattie will be blind.  She is the biggest of the 4 and very feisty.   I had her tested and the vet said she was very, very, very FeLV+.  No idea what 3 verys mean.  CJ may have some limited vision in her bad eye.  Bright Eyes and Houdini (escaped from the dog crate twice now) seem healthy.   I am adding L-Lysine and Mega C Plus to their food.  I am looking for advice on what else I can do to help them throw off this virus.  

They will each be tested when I have them spayed.   Sissy and Rocket were several months old when I rescued them.  Didn't know if starting treatments earlier would improve the odds that they could beat this.   Any advise on how to proceed with now 5 1/2 wk old kittens would be appreciated.

By the way Stormie, same colony but different Mom from Sissy, Rocket and Daisy, tested negative.  I did not have Daisy tested.  I knew I could not afford to keep her if she was positive and simply do not have the disposition to have a cat PTS simply because she is positive.   At least she will not have any more litters.  There is one more sister, Mae, that I have been trying to trap for TNR.
Sharyl Sissy, Rocket and the babies

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Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors!
Maybe That'll Make The Difference....

MaryChristine
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