[Felvtalk] Cats with FelV

[Lorrie]

Hi Ardy,  As you probably know we rescue and have 13 cats at home
plus 28 more in our cageless sanctuary. Therefore we've had many cats
who have tested positive for FelV.  Most were kittens and they were
isolated in our isolation rooms, and they seemed so playful and well
I couldn't believe they had the FelV virus, then one by one at about
8 months old they suddenly started to get very sick. The longest any
of these kittens lived was 1 1/2 years.  They died of either anemia,
cancer, or tumors, and had to be euthanized.  Kittens seem to have a
worse time with FelV than grown cats because the immune system of
kittens is not fully developed, and they usually die.  However, this
isn't always the case.  We have two grown cats who tested positive as
kittens and lived many years. One is about 9 now and seems fine, the
other one seemed fine and suddenly just died with no signs of illness
at all.  I do not know if these two cats converted back to negative
or not, as they are/were sanctuary cats  who were born of a feral
mother, and they were very skittish. Only one of them was tested
again and she was still positive when spayed at two years old. 
-

FelV is a very complicated virus and we continue learn as much as
possible about it. With FelV I understand three things can happen. A
positive cat can either convert to negative, or carry the virus all
it's life and show no symptoms, or die, usually in their first year.
-

I don't recall saying "most cats have converted after some time", as
sadly "most' don't.  I don't think anyone really knows why some cats
can live with the virus, others can convert, and some die. It's an
awful virus, and I'm sorry your Tigger was one of the cats who didn't
make it.

Lorrie
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On 05-17, Ardy Robertson wrote:
>    Hi Lorrie - if you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by "most cats
>    you have taken in have converted after some time"? Does that mean they
>    no longer have FeLV, and if so, what do you attribute that to?
> 
> 
>    Thank you,
> 
>    Ardy