Moral Support Please- FeLV

Hello everyone. My "adopted" feral recently tested positive for FeLV. I am deeply upset, not at my cat, but by the situation. He is the sweetest, most nicest feral anyone can ever meet. He doesn't deserve this, but it is what it is. I guess I am here to just vent/get advice from those who have been through this/and for moral support. 

The vet told me to keep in indoors which is VERY hard since he is so used to being outside. I have to take him in in about a month and see if his body has dissipated the virus. I really hope it does, my family and I have only had him for less than 2 years and would like  love to keep him for much longer. The vet said cats in these situations only live about 3 years from the diagnosis. The thing is he's probably around 5-7 years old and we don't know how long he's had it for. I am praying for my cat and his health and also my family to get through this.

We've never raised an animal, let alone an adult/feral cat and so it is frustrating for us. He is constantly trying to get out the doors and I feel bad because he cries and meows so much. I feel like I'm keeping him away from his natural state. He is especially bad at night because that's when he is most alert and awake. It's also hard because my parents work 5 days out of the week and during the entire day. I am scared of letting him stay indoors all day because I don't want him going crazy. I usually am only home on the weekends because I live at school during the week. Last night, he kept me up till 5 a.m. and that was when I locked him in the garage. He was a bit quieter when I did so I guess that's where he will be sleeping now :/. He has been using the litter box  , but only when I put him in there. The main concern I have is how to keep in sane when he is in here alone for the entire day.

If any of you have any tips or advice, it would be greatly appreciated. I did post a similar thread in the "Caring for Strays and Ferals" forum, but wasn't sure if that was where I should be writing. Thank you all so much for helping and please send some prayers this way. 

I'm so sorry to hear of this diagnosis and know how hard it is to deal with such devastating news. Thankfully it sounds like you and your family are committed to doing whatever it takes to continue to give him a good quality of life. 

The good news is that many cats with FeLV live way beyond the estimated 3 years your vet told you so long as he has a proper diet and regular checkups. I know some who are well into their teens and still going strong! So, don't get fixated on the number or put in your head that he has a limited amount of time left. No doctor can make that determination and, with a little faith, both people and animals oftentimes far exceed what science says they should. 

Your vet is right that he does have to stay indoors though. This is not only for the health of other outdoor cats but for his own wellbeing. A big part of FeLV is that he has a compromised immune system, so something small (like a respiratory infection) can easily turn into something life threatening. Keeping him indoors greatly reduces his exposure to illness, parasites, and fleas. 

It will take him awhile to get used to being a spoiled indoor kitty but there are millions of cats out there who never go outside and are plenty happy about it. The first thing you need to do is enrich the household and make it as "cat friendly" as possible. Make sure he has toys for self play as well as toys for interactive play. Self play toys would be things like some balls and furry mice, as well as more mentally stimulating things like a cat tunnel, a treat dispensing ball, or a crazy circle. One of the best is a toy called 'da bird. It's just a little piece of cardboard attached to a wire. Hang it on the wall for hours of entertainment! Interactive toys are things like wand toys and laser pointers. Each day you should devote several small blocks of time (10-20 minutes) to playing with him. Drop some pillows on the floor to give him places to hide behind and move a wand toy around like it is prey. This will allow him to exercise his hunting muscles and burn off some of his energy. Doing one of these sessions right before bedtime should really help his nighttime crying. 

Next, make sure you maximize vertical space to make his indoor world bigger. It's amazing what a few strategically placed bookshelves and some plywood "cat shelves" drilled into the wall can do! If he can get up high then he can have a whole new perspective on his territory. Plus, it gives him places to go and be alone when he needs it. I would also invest in a tall cat tree and try to put it by a window so he can still watch the outside world. And, it will give him a good place to do all his scratching! 

If he really struggles with being indoors think about building him an outdoor enclosure. This will allow him to be outside while still being protected. An outdoor enclosure can be anything you want it to be- you can nail chicken wire to an existing patio, you can do a freestanding structure in the yard, or even connect the structure to the house with a tunnel so he can come and go as he pleases. There are plenty of companies that sell these types of enclosures or you can build it from scratch. Your creativity is the only limit! 

Yes, the adjustment will take some time but it is totally do-able if you are all patient with each other. It sounds like you are only home on the weekends so talk to the rest of your family about giving him his daily play sessions and what else you are all going to do to enrich his environment.  If you start filling the needs he gets outside while keeping him indoors I have no doubt he will settle in and will fall in love with the new arrangement!

Other tips:

- If he's having some trouble with the litterbox try Dr. Elsey's cat attract litter. I swear it has magical properties. I think it's okay to set him up in the garage while you all adjust and he gets used to using a box but do what you can to bring him back inside as soon as possible (and make sure he has a cozy bed out there)! If he does miss the box make sure you clean it throughly with an enzyme remover (like Nature's Miracle) to prevent re-marking. 

- On that note, make sure he has a few comfy sleeping places inside to call his own. And, you should have at least two litterboxes. If it's a multi story home make sure there is one on each floor. 

- Talk to your vet (and do some research over in the nutrition section) on what sort of diet is best for a cat with FeLV. Making sure he's on the right diet can do wonders for preventing health problems before they begin, giving him a much better prognosis. 

- If he is going to be alone all day try to minimize his boredom by giving him a 10-15 minute play session before you leave. Then, make sure you leave out at least one fun self play item. My two cats are indoor only and they have a little basket that has their toys (balls, furry mice, ect) that stay out all the time. But, each day I always put out something special. Some days they get their cat tunnel, others I turn on a timed laster pointer (it self rotates and turns off after 20 minutes), and sometimes they get a treat ball or a favorite cat nip toy. On mornings that I have a few extra minutes I go around and hide treats around the apartment- they spend hours hunting them down! The key to making these things special is to not leave them out all the time. If all his toys have catnip in them it quickly loses it's appeal. But, if he only gets catnip toys every so often it's a huge deal! 

- If he isn't already spend the money to have him microchipped. If he ever did get out and was turned into a shelter he would almost certainly be put down. Having him chipped with current contact information is the only way to prevent that from happening. I would even go so far as to collar him. 

I am sorry to hear of his diagnosis but I want to reiterate: don't get bogged down in thinking that his days are numbered! If you believe that's what will happen than it will. But, if you turn this negative into a positive there is no limit to what he can do. Don't define him as his illness. He is simply an indoor only cat who needs the same enrichment that all indoor cats need. It's all about making your home his home as well, and a few modifications and additions can do just that. 

 I'm sending all my vibes that he has a good report next month from the vet and that your family is able to band together to give him a good living environment. Please keep us posted on how he does!

Just to reiterate one of eb24's points, FeLV ishighly contagious to other cats, just grooming another cat can transmit it so if your cat goes outside in a way that allows contact with other cats, they are all being put at serious risk. If you have a fence that's at least 3 feet high you can keep your cat inside it and other cats out with this product at www.catfencein.com