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[Mega-Vanity] Home needed for sick kitten (not mine)
Some idiot who didn't spay his cat. | 7/30/04 | Me

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.


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
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To: Notwithstanding
Because he didn't find an abandon child on his doorstep, he found a kitten.
61 posted on 07/31/2004 7:50:24 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Ense et aratro! "Lady Snuggles of the Lethal Yew" Keeper of the thread killing Mr.Ducky RKBA)
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To: HairOfTheDog
Telling people all their money should go to the children, other people's children, and they are wrong to spend their own money any way that brings them happiness, is a socialist attitude.

You stole that thought right out of my head! :)
62 posted on 07/31/2004 8:10:26 AM PDT by dubyas_vision
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To: dubyas_vision

You missed the memo about socialism:

its when PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR OTHERS,

but its NOT when people are simply asked, or strongly encouraged, to do so!


63 posted on 07/31/2004 10:50:04 AM PDT by Notwithstanding (Fides et Ratio)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Please put me on your kitten ping list.


64 posted on 07/31/2004 5:38:51 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: GovernmentShrinker

You are on the list.


65 posted on 07/31/2004 6:04:55 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ('Hey, maybe "Jihadists For Kerry" is what "JFK" really stands for.' --Blood of Tyrants)
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To: Slings and Arrows; Glenn; quantim; republicangel; Bahbah; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; ...

A quick update on the FeLV+ kitten:

The kitten has gotten a reprieve - I'm having the AFT test run, and should have results by Thursday or Friday. [The first test was a test for the virus antibody. This test will let me know whether or not the kitten actually has the virus, or had it and beat it.]

As it turns out, another kitten apparently from the same litter is being fed by my neighbors, who have managed to find a home for it. They have agreed to ask the person adopting the second kitten whenther she'd be willing to take the first, too - as I understand it, if both kittens are from the same litter, they'll either both have it or both not have it, and can thus be in the same house.

Obviously, this is far from certain, but it buys some time.


66 posted on 08/02/2004 5:35:48 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ('Hey, maybe "Jihadists For Kerry" is what "JFK" really stands for.' --Blood of Tyrants)
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To: Slings and Arrows

I hope things continue to move in the right direction for little kitty. I know kittens often test positive for FIV if their mother had it, even if the kitten actually doesn't. Hope it works that way for FLV too, and for this particular little kitty.


67 posted on 08/02/2004 5:44:20 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: GovernmentShrinker

Thanks. As I understand it, if the mother has FeLV, the kittens will get it, but may be able to shake it off - if so, they'll test positive for the antibody, but negative for the virus. Here's hoping!


68 posted on 08/02/2004 5:49:26 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ('Hey, maybe "Jihadists For Kerry" is what "JFK" really stands for.' --Blood of Tyrants)
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To: Slings and Arrows
Retest the kitty in two months with ELISA and the antigen may be gone also. FAT is the most comprehensive and reliable test to see if the kitty has the active virus. In the meantime ask the vet for a prescription for Rhoferon, 30 micrograms daily for seven days and then weekly. It can be injected or used orally. Interferon has some benefit in FeLv positive kitties. I have seen FAT positive FeLv cats live for several years after the diagnosis.

20% of all FeLv cats remove the virus and are FAT and Elisa negative on subsequent testing 60 days after the initial positive test. 20% carry the virus and are asymptomatic. 20% are sickly and are symptomatic and 40% die within a short period of time after initial diagnosis. The odds are in your favour.

I must have missed your initial ping and apologize for not posting to the thread earlier.

69 posted on 08/02/2004 5:53:51 PM PDT by vetvetdoug (In memory of T/Sgt. Secundino "Dean" Baldonado, Jarales, NM-KIA Bien Hoa AFB, RVN 1965)
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To: vetvetdoug

No need for apologies, and thanks for the advice. I do not expect to have the kitty that long, but will pass this on to her new family, if I can find her one. (Mind you, I never expected to have a cat in the first place, so who knows?)


70 posted on 08/02/2004 6:02:17 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ('Hey, maybe "Jihadists For Kerry" is what "JFK" really stands for.' --Blood of Tyrants)
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To: Notwithstanding
Why encourage people to put the energy and compassion and resources into a cat instead of a abandonexd child who needs help?

Be assured if that abandoned child you speak of came crawling up the steps we can all be confident it will fine a home.  Apple, meet orange.

71 posted on 08/02/2004 6:40:16 PM PDT by quantim (Victory is not relative, it is absolute.)
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To: Slings and Arrows; Glenn; quantim; republicangel; Bahbah; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; ...
Well the bad news is in - the AFT test confirmed that the kitten is FeLV+. The not-so-bad news is that I'm in touch with bestfriends.org, an animal-rescue organization specializing in hard-to-place animals, and they're helping me find her a home. No guarantees, of course, but it's a chance.

I've named the kitten Aimee for adoption purposes; here are some photos of her (the last one may take a while to load, but it's worth it):


72 posted on 08/05/2004 5:03:58 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Nothing goes together like spliffs and uzis." --Physicist)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Awwwww, I'm in love. Look at those ears. You are a gonner, Slings.


73 posted on 08/05/2004 5:10:56 PM PDT by Bahbah
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To: Slings and Arrows
Awwww She is adorable!

I would take her if I didn't already have one.

74 posted on 08/05/2004 5:13:45 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Ense et aratro! "Lady Snuggles of the Lethal Yew")
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To: Slings and Arrows

Can she be treated at all?

Prayers for the Official Free Republic Viking Kiity.


75 posted on 08/05/2004 5:15:04 PM PDT by baltodog (There are three kinds of people: Those who can count, and those who can't.)
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To: Bahbah
Problem is, I can't take her - she'd infect Zia, even if I have Zia vaccinated. (The vaccine doesn't reliably protect against long-term contact.) Aimee could still be a good companion to someone, and live a decent life, even with FeLV, but it can't be with me.
76 posted on 08/05/2004 5:15:32 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Nothing goes together like spliffs and uzis." --Physicist)
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To: baltodog
No, she can't - FeLV is a virus, and incurable. The vet said that a FeLV+ kitten generally gets about 7 good years, and then starts deteriorating. It's not much compared to the lifespan of a healthy cat, but it's 7 more than she'd get otherwise.
77 posted on 08/05/2004 5:19:21 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Nothing goes together like spliffs and uzis." --Physicist)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

I understand. If you run into someone who can, though, please freepmail me.


78 posted on 08/05/2004 5:21:00 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Nothing goes together like spliffs and uzis." --Physicist)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Oh, no. That's the little one with lukemia. No, you can't take her. It's very infectious and devastating. We lost one to feline lukemia and it broke our hearts. Neither of my kitties is allowed outside, not ever.


79 posted on 08/05/2004 5:33:06 PM PDT by Bahbah
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To: Bahbah

You understand the situation exactly. I agree re your kitties, and my sympathy for your loss.


80 posted on 08/05/2004 5:37:06 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Nothing goes together like spliffs and uzis." --Physicist)
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