[Felvtalk] both of my cats are FELV positive. What to do now?

[Marsha]

Hi, welcome to the group!  First off, don't panic.  If they appear to be 
otherwise healthy, the most important things are a low stress 
environment and a high quality diet.  My Harley & Milkdud each lived 4.5 
years after I adopted them, in generally good health until the virus 
changed to its active form.  Brock only lived a year and a half (but he 
was probably close to 5 when he died).  All were doing great until 10 
days to 3 months before they died.  Harley did have a severe upper 
respiratory infection (10 days in the hospital) 2 months before he got 
cancer, but those 2 months between, he was a happy boy, his usual 
rambunctious self, causing all kinds of mischief.  All 3 got cancer in 
the end - 2 lymphoma, and Harley's was an inoperable tumor that started 
in the middle ear and spread down to his jaw.

Brock had a heart condition and was on 5 prescription meds plus 2 
supplements for that.  I gave lysine when Harley got his upper 
respiratory infection, but I'm not sure it did much.  I think I gave it 
to Brock also.  He lived with Harley, but never got the infection.  I 
will always wonder if Brock might have been the source.  But it was 2-3 
months between the time I adopted Brock and Harley got the URI.  Mice 
would get in sometimes, and a week or two before Harley got sick, he 
caught a chipmunk in the garage.

Some lucky FeLV+ cats live 10-12 years.  I have had 2 vets say they see 
an average survival of 2.5 years, with a range from 6 months to 10+ years.

Marsha


On 6/5/2016 7:51 PM, Realissa Dekraunti wrote:
> Hi everybody. Thank you for accepting me in this group.  I am just too 
> devastated to think straight. I rescued two cats in October and I 
> found out two days ago that they are both Felv positive. We did an 
> Elisa test on Thursday, and it came back positive, and an IFA that 
> confirmed the positive results. I live in LA and I don't know what to 
> do, where to go, if there is alternative medicine. I love these two 
> cats more than I could ever imagine and it is breaking my heart. Any 
> input, help, direction you could give me, would be incredibly 
> appreciated. They are FIV negative but FELV positive. I have heard 
> there is a medicine called LTCI but that it is very expensive. I am 
> also heard of Virbagen Omega, L Lysin, Interfone. There is so much 
> info that I am overwhelmed.
>
> to add some information.
>
>  Date of birth: May 7, 2015
> ELISA "snap" test at Animal Wellness Center: June 25, 2015 (age: 7 
> weeks). Results: weak positive for FeLV
> IFA confirming test at Animal Wellness Center: June 30, 2015 (age: 7 
> weeks, 5 days). Results: negative
> ELISA "snap" test at Animal Wellness Center: August 1, 2015 (age: 12 
> weeks, 2 days). Results: weak positive for FeLV
> ELISA in-lab test at Animal Wellness Center (sent to IDEXX): August 
> 13, 2015 (age: 14 weeks). Results: negative
>
> June 1, 2016 ELISA test both came positive
>
> June 2, 2016 IFA both came Felv positive FIV negative
>
> Thanks a lot

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