Posted on 07/30/2004 9:20:26 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows
Some of you know the story of Zia, my new kitten. Well, Wednesday night I found myself in custody of another kitten - poor thing just strolled up to me in my carport, mewing piteously. I took it to the vet, and it turns out the poor critter has good reason to mew - it has feline leukemia and a nasty upper respiratory infection.
This kitty is in trouble - I can't take her becase Zia would be in danger of infection, and no normal shelter would take her for the same reason. I have a call in to Waccamaw Animal Rescue Mission (the local no-kill animal shelter), but haven't heard from them so far. I'm currently boarding her at the vet. If I can't find a home for her by Monday, she'll be euthanized.
The respiratory infection is curable, and she could potentially live a long life. The problem is that she could not be in a house with other cats because of the feline leukemia, and in about seven years she'll probably start to develop other health problems. (So says the vet, I'm no expert.) I also expect she'd have to be an indoor cat because of the leukemia.
The kitten is female, about 6-8 weeks old (possibly a littermate of Zia's), brindled tan coat, and has no fear of dogs. I'll happily drive her to anywhere within a few hours of the Myrtle Beach area, but I doubt an air cargo company would take her without a clean bill of health (and she does have fleas). Sorry, no pics - maybe later.
I know this is a long shot. If anyone is interested in taking her, please post or freepmail.
I am sorry for presuming that you are NOT helping humans in dire straights.
I bet you actually do help some.
But what drives the concern for animals beyond simple appreciation of them and perhaps kepping a pet or two?
To invest in expensive medical treatment when innocent kids anywhere in the world don't have basic needs being met seemsincomrphensible to me.
Can you help me understand?
BTW, I have had many pets in my life - both canine and feline.
The vet thinks the kitten has a fighting chance at a good life - if he had recommended it be put down immediately, I would have accepted it. As it is, a lot can happen in three days.
G-d sent us dogs to remind us what unconditional love is.
He sent us cats to keep the dogs entertained. :-)
Can we assume you set your spending priorities accordingly?
For example, do you spend your money saving kids rather than on cable TV, eating out/entertainment, and vacations?
Do you drive a cheap car and use what you would have spent to save kids?
I am jaded by a family member's actions.
Her adamant and oft-declared refusal to bear and care for any children is legend - and when she was about 40 she began treating expesnsive stuffed animals as if they were persons.
Then she began adopting dogs.
Then she began "resuing' dogs with severe "mental problems".
Thats when she began paying thousands of dollars on therapy and medicine for the dogs.
Now every spare minute of hers is spent on dogs sports and dog rescue.
And to think what all this energy and effort could have done for children in her community who needed support.
Please add me to your kitty ping list! Thanks
yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes
Good questions. I truly don't know the answers - my experience with felines is all of six days worth. I'll ask when I see him again, but in the meantime a Google search is the way to go.
My Shadowfax tested positive for FIP, which is fatal just like FeL. I had a prayer thread on it here on FR. It turned out to be a false positive. I agree that clearly fatally ill cats should be put down, but you shouldn't put your cat down immediately because a test says so.
You're added.
Yes nutty selfish people who think animals are holy but children can go pound sand are annoying.
Check your freepmail.
One thing... QUARTINE IMMEDIATELY! If your cat has come in contact at all with this sick cat... and that includes petting both cats without washing hands in between... IMMEDIATELY! Take your cat to the vet!
If this cat does already have Feline Leukemia and it's not a false positive, your cat has a very high chance of being infected. I don't mean to be alarmist but my cats both have (very mild) feline herpes. The cause? Jabez interacted with a friend's formerly-stray cat for 3 minutes! So separate them IMMEDIATELY, far away from each other. No shared food, no shared water, and no shared air if possible--and wash your hands before handling your current cat!
I didn't put her down immediately - thus, this thread. She is definitely a sick kitty, though, and not to mention the positive FeL test to a potential adoptee would be inexcusable.
Well ok then:)
FIP is much less reliable a test that FeLV, false positives are common in FIP. FIP is a mutant of a virus most cats carry. So when the cat tests positive and is sick, the presumptive diagnosis is FIP, when really the cat may just be a normal carrier of the virus and happen to be sick.
The good news with FeLV is that it is a disease that can be vaccinated against with high efficacy. The majority of cats that "cook" the virus for a while destroy it and live a happy, long, leukemia-negative lives.
I don't make this stuff up:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/56600.htm&word=feline%2cleukemia
The important line to remember in all of this is: "In ¡Ý70% of adult cats, viremia and virus shedding are transient, lasting only 1-16 wk." This kitten is only a few weeks old, she has a good chance of being in that 70%.
(private note to Zia's mom - apologies, I remembered 60% from my classes, Merck says 70%)
Very interesting! Do you know if an adult cat can be vaccinated against FeLV safely?
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