Releasing a feral/stray FELK+ cat back

I'm getting some of this information third hand but this is what I know:

a roughly three year old male cat was trapped in the basement ceiling for a week and then humanely trapped.  The cat was in the basement ceiling of a very high security government office complex.   County Animal control deemed it feral and would have euthanized it.  The kind soul after some running around was able to get the cat neutered four days ago.  He tested positive for FELK.  I do not know the type of test they used, presumably the SNAP test.  The cat is currently in a large dog cage in the man's garage. 

The vet said the cat was probably owned at one time, so not 100% feral, and based on the behavior in the dog cage, I agree.  In decent health, although fur was matted (long hair).   But the biggest problem is what to do with the cat who tested positive for FELK.  The high security office complex borders on to an army base.  There probably aren't any colonies at the complex but may be some at the army base, roughly a mile away.

We're reaching out to sanctuaries and people who accept FELK+ cats, but what if we strike out.  Is there a more definitive test that would indicate whether the disease is active, the cat simply has antibodies and/or at what stage?

Thanks.

PS:  he tested negative for FIV.

I think the SNAP test is just that - a quick snapshot of the antibodies. If he's three years old, he is probably truly positive, so I am not sure whether releasing him is the best idea. His health is already compromised, plus FeLV is pretty contagious, right? Aren't the chances of him infecting another cat pretty high? I may be wrong but that is my understanding of the disease.

I am sending vibes that you hear back from a rescue. I do not know of any strictly for FeLV kitties. Sorry!

Wait - I just realizes I thought you'd written FeLV. What is FeLK?

I Binged both terms and got this...

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/HOW_TO_RELEASING_FIV_FELV_POSITIVE_CATS

FeLK = feline leukemia = FeLV.  As I understand it, FeLK is more high transmittable and more serious.

Thank you so much for the link.  I talked with someone who is in charge of a cattery.  He too pointed out that if the cat is part of an established colony, he has already exposed the cats to the disease.  Feral cats by and large die a horrible death (being run over by a car, bites from wild life, disease), so releasing a comprised cat back into the wild isn't anything different.  No one knows how this cat ended up in the ceiling of this huge government, high security complex; it does border an army base, so maybe the cat got lost?  I do have one lead on a woman who takes FELK/FELV cats, my contact at the cattery is checking into it.

Oh, poor baby. Good luck with the possible new home. Maybe you should get a pet psychic to have the cat tell you how he got in. You could open a consultant business with the government. I know that sounds funny, but If the cat got in, there's a security breach somewhere!

You know honestly that's what I thought too in passing:  I half wondered if they x-rayed the cat for explosives or mini cameras/sound equipment!

My son works in military security, so I would not be surprised if they did. It is a serious business, unfortunately, even though i can see the humor in this particulat situation.

I'm no expert on the virus or feral cat in general, but from my point of view it seems like a very irresponsible thing if there are any other cats in the area.  Others may have different ideas, but I would do everything reasonable to prevent spread of the virus!
 

Thanks.  I have a lead on a woman who takes in only FELK+ cats.

No one knows where the cat came from, or if part of an established colony.  If the latter, he has no doubt exposed other cats already to the virus.  Hopefully, their immune system is healthy enough that they won't catch it.