[Felvtalk] Cats with FelV

[Ardy Robertson]

Thank you Lorrie - for the clarification. With Tigger I really hoped he
would either become negative or just a carrier and not actively ill after
his interferon treatments, but that was not to be. I wish I had started him
on Winstrol earlier. But you know, if I had not kept him because of him
being positive (when he actually tested negative as a kitten), I would never
have known the greatest love from a cat I have ever had. I have had cats my
entire life and Tigger showed us so much love. Some people don't believe
animals can actually care for humans, other than because they receive their
care from their humans. We know that isn't true -- he loved us and we loved
him. I'm so grateful to have had him for the time we did.

Ardy

-----Original Message-----
From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-bounces at felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of
Lorrie
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 10:14 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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