feline leukemia

Hello,
I have a neutered male that just tested positive for feline leukemia. He came to my house about eight months ago. I took him to the vet for shots and neutering. The blood work showed a bad liver. I'm from a small town and the vet never mentioned testing him for Feline leukemia. I knew little about it. He is or was an outside cat. He had a bad respitory infection. Was really sick. I had to take him to the vet twice to get him over it. That's when they tested him. He feels fine now. My daughter is keeping him in her apt. She's not supposed to have pets. I have a 13 year old female. My question is if I keep her in one part of the house and him in the other will she get the disease? He's not real happy about being inside all the time. I just don't know what to do. There are several strays in the neighborhood and I've found several sick kittens in the past. Spent a small fortune on them and found them homes. Now I know what the problem is. Am I being fair to make him stay inside all the time? I can't let him out because he likes to roam the neighborhood and he does fight. This is one of the hardest decisions I've had to make yet.

Hi, so sorry about you cat. Although it may be tough, you should keep this cat indoors only and strickly. If you let him outside he will just spread the disease to other cats and worsen an already difficult situation. I have heard cats with felv can live good lives. Good nutrition is your best way of keeping his health as good as it can be. As for your other cat, it would be quite risky. I was told by my vet that Felv only stays in the air for a few minutes, and quite close contact would need to occur for it to transfer to other cat. Theoretically, if you kept them separate (on separate floors), it could work, but just one slip up or encounter, and your other cat could get it. From what I have read, it is best for felv-positive cats to be kept in homes alone or with other positive cats. It is not a good idea to keep them were healthy cats lives. I personally wouldn't take the chance.

Hi Cookie,
The problem I'm having keeping Marble inside is he doesn't like it at all. My daughter can't keep him at her apt much longer because it's not allowed. I kept him in my house for a short time and kept him seperated from my other cat. He tore my carpet up by the door trying to get out. He's always liked to come in but would only stay an hour or two. We've tried everything to make him a happy inside cat. Bought toys, even bought cat grass. I guess he's always been an outside cat and he's having a hard time adjusting. I'm wondering if finding him a home in the country away from other cats would work. The only thing that worries me about that is coyotes. I'm also afraid noone will want him because if he gets sick it'll be exspensive. Getting him over the respitory infection cost me well over $200.00. I just hate to have to put him to sleep. Trying to look at every option. Thanks for replying.

One idea would be to build an outdoor enclosure for him. If possible, you could make the opening into a room where he can go. It would give him the option to be outdoors, and still be safe. It's also possible to find homes that take only FIV or FELV positive cats. You can try contacting rescues in the area, and they might have a waiting list, or info on families who take special kitty's.

Hi Sandie,
Someone told me about a lady in Longview that takes cats with feline leukemia. She lives in the country but has outdoor inclosures to protect them from preditors. The cats can go in and out whenever they want to. Supposedly the reason she takes them in is because she worked for a vet that automatically put the cats with the disease to sleep. It broke her heart so this is her way of coping with it. I'm not going to call her. I feel like I need to go see for myself. Sounds too good to be true. Guess I'll find out this weekend.
Cathy

If it is true, that would be the ideal situation for this cat! Please keep us posted! Good luck!

We have new medecine in Russia called Phosprenil. It helps to cure some disgusting deseases...

Please let me know how this turns out. It's true, most vets will recomend putting a cat with FELV to sleep. It's a very sad fact. It makes my heart smile when I talk to people who only take in these kitty's