[Mega-Vanity] Home needed for sick kitten (not mine)

Some idiot who didn't spay his cat. | 7/30/04 | Me

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Because he didn't find an abandon child on his doorstep, he found a kitten.

[dubyas_vision]

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! :)

[Notwithstanding]

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!

[GovernmentShrinker]

Please put me on your kitten ping list.

[Slings and Arrows]

You are on the list.

[Slings and Arrows]

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.

[GovernmentShrinker]

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.

[Slings and Arrows]

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!

[vetvetdoug]

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.

[Slings and Arrows]

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?)

[quantim]

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.

[Slings and Arrows]

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):

[Bahbah]

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

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Awwww She is adorable!

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

[baltodog]

Can she be treated at all?

Prayers for the Official Free Republic Viking Kiity.

[Slings and Arrows]

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.

[Slings and Arrows]

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.

[Slings and Arrows]

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

[Bahbah]

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.

[Slings and Arrows]

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