[Felvtalk] Cats with FelV

[Rachel Dagner]

I have read when a cat first contracts the virus there is a chance they
can fight it off and will no longer test positive, if it progresses to the
I think bone marrow? Then they will not ever get rid of it. There are two
tests one for if they have it and one for if they will always have it.

-----Original Message-----
From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-bounces at felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of
Lorrie
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 11:14 AM
To: felvtalk at felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV

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
-

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

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