hello from Ireland I need advice from FeLV positive cat owners!!

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  • 2 July, 2012 at 1:50 am #51900
    Buttons
    Moderator

    i rescue cats her in the west of ireland and have 6 at the moment all except for two are outdoor cats. My two indoor cats are 9 months old and 11 months old.

    On a routine check up my 11 month old cat tested positive for FeLV and negitive for FIV. I am absolutely devastated as i have gotten very attached to his. He was attacked at 6 weeks of age by a feral cat and due to his injuries he has been left disabled. After months of physo and massages he has regained about 70 function of his right side and im assumng it from this attact he contrated the FeLV.

    I know i could have done nothing about it as the vaccine can only be given at 9 to 12 weeks so he was too young for it then.

    He is a very healthy cat alround showing no signs of symptoms, he has feline herpes but only had one breakout at 3 months that lasted 2 weeks untill i but him on L-lysine. I read that L-lysine is a very good thing to give a cat with a compremised immune system so surely since i’ve been giving this to him unawear he was FeLV+ it has to help??

    I still have him on L-lysine and now on mega c plus, i also put a small ammount of cranberry pure juice to his wet food ( good wet food 9 % protein no cereals or grains and low ash content) also a little bit of water as my vet said the only issue with longterm use of the mega c plus is urinary blockages.

    My question is am i doing all i can for him?? I have him indoors 24/7 and always have had he is wormed regularly (every 2 months in warmer months) but i want to worm him every month to make sure he is parrisite free at all times as he has some contact with my other vaccinated cat.

    Has anyone had a cat diagnosed at a year and they have had a long life?? I hear if they are exposed to the virus as a kitten they will die within 2 or 3 years, an older cat are the ones that live longer. I will be getting an IFA test for him this week but im assuming if he is testing positive now at a year he probably has the full virus?.

    Thanks for your help

    2 July, 2012 at 3:49 am #738692
    CheetahBoysmommy
    Participant

    Hi Button_S, It’s pretty slow here on Sunday nights. More people will be here tomorrow (USA time). We have at least one person who has lived with a FIV cat. She can give you some suggestions in the morning. The only thing I know is that sometimes young kittens test positive when they aren’t really positive so you should always have a second test done later.

    2 July, 2012 at 4:24 am #738693
    SoxsMom
    Participant

    I have had 2 cats that had feline leukemia. Soxs was diagnosed at 9 months and he died the day he was diagnosed, his blood was the color of rust water. Basil my Russian Blue that had always been vaccinated contracted the disease. He lived almost 3 more years and died of kidney complications due to the feline leukemia. It may sound dismal, but it really isn’t because yes cats can live much longer with the virus. Lysine is one of the best things you can give to help him. I recommend getting the IFA test–be sure. Make sure you have a good vet that will help you by treating your cat. Some vets say put them down–find another vet because there are treatments! I also have another group and all they deal with is FeLV+ cats. Please look at the information and join the group–they helped me get through the medical end with my cats–they knew what questions I needed to ask my vet and they knew treatments. My vet wanted me to put Basil down–I said no he shows no symptoms. In the end my vet and I learned a lot together.

    http://www.felineleukemia.org/

    Hang in there and know that you are already doing wonderful things for your cat.

    2 July, 2012 at 3:47 pm #738694
    Buttons
    Moderator

    now i’m completely confused!! I was just in at my vet and i got a second opion of a vet in same practise.

    He said that i should wait another month and retest with the ELISA test as their pratise doesnt do the IFA test to confirm secondary infection of FeLV the test they have only give a positve confirmation on the FIV virus which my cat has tested negitive for.

    The vet thinks there is still a chance he is carring his mothers antibodies even though he is just gone 11 months of age.

    He says there will be a strong positive for cats carring the antibodies at 6 months and under and some still have faint positives upto a year old.

    Im praying so much for him!! I even got a saint francis of assis medal for him its on his collar.

    2 July, 2012 at 4:39 pm #738695
    SoxsMom
    Participant

    ELISA is an excellent test. I am assuming that the initial test was a snap test. Always follow up with a better test to ensure that the cat in fact has the virus. My Soxs was born to a feral cat, all of her other kittens died by 6 months and she died as well–all were FeLV+ I only ended up with Soxs because he was in the engine of a car my daughter’s friend was fixing. He brought her the kitten to see if she could help it as it was covered in oil. I believe he lived longer because of the care I gave him. Even is he ends up being postive, you can care for him, and he can have a longer happier life than first thought. There are people in the group I sent you a link to that have had FeLV+ cats live beyond 12 years! As little as 10 years ago that was unheard of, but now there are affordable treatments and learning how to care for a cat with the virus has extended life expectancy. I will pray with you, but I HIGHLY encourage you to look to the group that deals with this every single day–they know what they are doing and by talking and sharing they have extended the healthy life of many cats!

    2 July, 2012 at 4:44 pm #738696
    SoxsMom
    Participant

    http://www.vetinfo.com/feline-leukemia-elisa-test.html

    http://www.vetinfo.com/immunofluorescence-assay-testing.html

    These links will help you to understand the tests, so you are prepared to talk and ask questions of your vet. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be your cats advocate. Like I said last night–my vet and I clashed at first. I did research and in the end he said I save many lives because he has a different outlook because of all I brought him, and the questions I asked.

    Again know I am here and will pray with you that your baby really is free of this virus, but if he isn’t I am here to help with whatever support I can give for his treatment!

    2 July, 2012 at 5:05 pm #738697
    Buttons
    Moderator

    thanks so much guys i have looked at the links you posted some of which i have already read but its great i have your support other than my boyfriend there is no one else that understands why im going to such lenghts for him.

    2 July, 2012 at 5:35 pm #738698
    Skyron
    Participant

    I think absolutely nothing of ELISA tests. I’ve had so many cats test positive for FIV/FeLV with those things, only to be confirmed negative with propper blood tests. I would wait another month and try again with the ELISA of money is an issue, but if you want to be sure, especially with other kitties who could potentially be infected, I would say do the blood work and have the peace of mind.

    2 July, 2012 at 6:33 pm #738699
    Mo
    Participant

    http://www.felinewellness.com/?articles=felv-how-to-prevent-it-and-what-you-can-do-to-manage-it is another good link about managing felv using holistic/natural medicine.

    2 July, 2012 at 7:53 pm #738700
    Buttons
    Moderator

    one other question. I cant seem to find the answer anywhere. My vet said there is a slim possibility my 11 month old still has his mothers antibodies in his system but for the life of me i cant find the info to suggest that this is a common or rare occurance . Could an 11 month old can still have the mother antibodies??

    2 July, 2012 at 8:47 pm #738701
    CheetahBoysmommy
    Participant

    Kittens do test positive sometimes because of what their mothers had. I don’t know how long antibodies will stay in a kitten’s system, but it could be possible that an 11 month old still has some. It’s also possible that the test was compromised in some way. Don’t give up hope.

    2 July, 2012 at 9:28 pm #738702
    Skyron
    Participant

    Another thing to consider is if he has had any vaccinations recently? I’ve had kitties test positive because of the antibodies they got from vaccinations they had had within two weeks of being tested?

    2 July, 2012 at 9:47 pm #738703
    Buttons
    Moderator

    he only ever had his cat flu jab i assumed since the last time he was ever outside at the age of 6 weeks he would be fine. I’ll never make that mistake again.

    Although the vet said they wou’d’nt have vaccinated anyway with a positive test.

    At this stage if he has it or not im gona keep doing what im doing, monthly worming, excelent diet, mega c plus and L-lysine supplements and cranberry juice when i cant get my hands on D-mannose powder (its impossible to get here in ireland)

    sometimes i wish i lived in the states! America is so far ahead of ireland in new meds for animals/pets there seems to be so many more opertunities for treating sick animals.

    Here in ireland by law cats are still classed as vermin and can be treated as such they can be trapped , poisioned ect ( just short of tourture and you wont get in any kind of trouble with the law) there are some great rescues and people that devote their lives to rescuing but (excuse my french) its like pis$in againts the wind here !!

    Its still a very common acurance that people throw kiittens in river older people dont understand why they should spay and neuter its very disheartening but i’ll keep rescuing

    3 July, 2012 at 12:22 am #738704
    CheetahBoysmommy
    Participant

    Even if your little guy doesn’t have much time on this planet, you can still make sure that his life here is full of love, warmth and security. I think any pet that goes to the Meadow too early still remembers deep down how good his life was here. I don’t think they ever even think about the fact that they weren’t here very long. They wait for you and are just as happy to see you when you get there regardless of whether they were under your care for 1 week, 1 year or 20 years.

    3 July, 2012 at 7:30 pm #738705
    Puddytat
    Participant

    Go to bestfriends.com. Great organization and so much information. Enjoy the kitties! Please go to this site. It is not an automatic death sentence.

    3 July, 2012 at 7:32 pm #738706
    AV
    Participant

    Welcome Buttons!….. I don’t know much, but I’m here to say welcome aboard to the fluffiest and most knowlegable site on the net!…….((prayers for your little guy!))

    3 July, 2012 at 7:55 pm #738707
    Buttons
    Moderator

    thanks av! This is the best cat forum i’ve come across so far. To be honest most of my family, friends think i get too attached to my cats and treat them like children im know as the typical crazy cat lady by all my friends most of the time i dont mind but sometimes it gets too me.

    I dont know anyone thats as fond of cats as i am. Ireland is more of a dog loving country ( i have 3 rescue dogs too) so people look at me funny when i say i have 6 cats. Also indoor only cats are nearly unheard of here so your really mad if you have an indoor only cat espicially a disabled one like i have most people just tell me not to waste my time and have kids!

    So its great i’ve found somewhere to talk about my cats

    3 July, 2012 at 8:11 pm #738708
    AV
    Participant

    …that’s what we’re all about!…. looking forward to getting to know you!

    10 July, 2012 at 6:40 am #738709
    LaurenEE
    Participant

    Ok, I’m a little delayed on the post, but I had a Siamese kitten test positive when I was younger. My vet told me to not give up hope, because some cats who are FeLV can live long lives, and sure enough my cat, without any special medicines or treatments, died at a grumpy old age of 16. So don’t give up hope, FeLV is not a death sentence. Besides, it’s not how long you live that matters, it’s how you live it 🙂

    22 August, 2018 at 2:35 am #870136
    Stephanie
    Participant

    Hey Buttons, I noticed you posted his back in 2012, do you have any updates on your kitty? My vet just told me my kitten tested positive for FeLV, as you can imagine I am devastated and just trying to find out more information.

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