TL; DR: 8-9 month kitty FeLV positive but currently healthy; lives with bonded playmate currently FeLV negative. Need advice on managing the situation.
Let me begin with a disclaimer that I may not be entirely coherent - I’m trying to wrap my head around my cat being FeLV positive
The cat in question is Uno - my first cat, rescued off the streets in January this year. He’s currently 8-9 months, vaccinated and neutered, and in (surprisingly?) good health. Bringing Uno in was my first ever experience with cats of any kind, so I had literally no idea about FeLV or …well… anything. All I could do for him the first month was get him treated for the infections he had from living on the street, clean him up and fatten him up. He was (still is) a very active kitty and responded well to food and medication and grew well. It was only in February (immediately after his first vaccination) that he had his first bout of feline flu. It took quite a long course of antibiotics to control it, and the vets (I visited 2) all put it down to a generally weak kitten immune system, and no one mentioned FeLV. Eventually Uno’s health seemed to improve with age and good food and lysine supplements, and I thought we were over the ‘weak immune system’ phase. Again, through the vaccination and neutering appointments, none of the vets ever mentioned testing for FeLV, and it did not occur to me that this was a ‘thing’ one had to do. As long as the cat was happy and healthy, we seemed fine.
In June, I moved homes and adopted Bandit, another rescue. His foster mom had visited a different (and clearly more thorough!) vet for vaccinations and neutering, and bandit was FeLV/ FIV negative as per his records. I’m kicking myself for this - but I STILL did not think of getting Uno tested for this even as foster mom passed me Bandit’s medical records.
Over the last 3 months - Uno had another bout of feline flu, got treated again, and life continued as normal. Uno and Bandit bonded, to the extent thshare food water and litter. Recently - bandit seemed to come down with feline flu, and I took him to the vet, who again prescribed the usual antibiotics. However, he also had a hacking cough that the vet wasn’t sure what to do about. All this was even more unfathomable as they’re strictly indoor (apartment) cats.
At this point - feeling uncomfortable with the recurring issues of cat health in the house, I decided to visit Bandit’s old vet, and get both cats screened for allergies at least. We went in today and Uno is FeLV positive. Bandit is still negative, much to everyone’s surprise. And ironically enough - Uno is in near perfect health at the moment.
I’ve been told to separate food, water, litter as much as possible, and Bandit will be vaccinated against FeLV as soon as he’s recovered from his cough. Uno will be tested again for FeLV 3-6 months from now, to see if he has fought it off. He’s been prescribed more supplements in the meantime.
I’m …. devastated. Uno is literally like my baby - I brought him up from when he weighed like a pound and was neglected and alone. I didn’t even think I was a cat person till he walked out of some bushes and into my life. But on a more practical front … I’m also struggling to figure out how to separate things for cats who are really bonded. They’re used to eating together and playing together ALL THE TIME. Uno grooms bandit every day (I know, this is a terrible idea right now). I hate the thought of locking either of them away in the spare room, they’ll cry and the other cat will sit waiting at the door for their playmate to be let out. I was so thrilled at how well they had bonded, and now … it’s a bad thing.
I’m trying to read up on FeLV but other than the grave prognoses, and consensus on isolating cats, I’m not really grasping much. Do I find a foster for bandit for a while to protect him? Do I prepare for only a few years at best with Uno? Should I consider rehoming bandit? each of these questions devastates me, and I hate to even think of separating them, but if it means a better life for bandit ... maybe I should? I'm already guilty of exposing him to the virus when he was perfectly healthy.
Not sure what to do or how to handle any of this. Any thoughts or advice would be great!
Let me begin with a disclaimer that I may not be entirely coherent - I’m trying to wrap my head around my cat being FeLV positive
The cat in question is Uno - my first cat, rescued off the streets in January this year. He’s currently 8-9 months, vaccinated and neutered, and in (surprisingly?) good health. Bringing Uno in was my first ever experience with cats of any kind, so I had literally no idea about FeLV or …well… anything. All I could do for him the first month was get him treated for the infections he had from living on the street, clean him up and fatten him up. He was (still is) a very active kitty and responded well to food and medication and grew well. It was only in February (immediately after his first vaccination) that he had his first bout of feline flu. It took quite a long course of antibiotics to control it, and the vets (I visited 2) all put it down to a generally weak kitten immune system, and no one mentioned FeLV. Eventually Uno’s health seemed to improve with age and good food and lysine supplements, and I thought we were over the ‘weak immune system’ phase. Again, through the vaccination and neutering appointments, none of the vets ever mentioned testing for FeLV, and it did not occur to me that this was a ‘thing’ one had to do. As long as the cat was happy and healthy, we seemed fine.
In June, I moved homes and adopted Bandit, another rescue. His foster mom had visited a different (and clearly more thorough!) vet for vaccinations and neutering, and bandit was FeLV/ FIV negative as per his records. I’m kicking myself for this - but I STILL did not think of getting Uno tested for this even as foster mom passed me Bandit’s medical records.
Over the last 3 months - Uno had another bout of feline flu, got treated again, and life continued as normal. Uno and Bandit bonded, to the extent thshare food water and litter. Recently - bandit seemed to come down with feline flu, and I took him to the vet, who again prescribed the usual antibiotics. However, he also had a hacking cough that the vet wasn’t sure what to do about. All this was even more unfathomable as they’re strictly indoor (apartment) cats.
At this point - feeling uncomfortable with the recurring issues of cat health in the house, I decided to visit Bandit’s old vet, and get both cats screened for allergies at least. We went in today and Uno is FeLV positive. Bandit is still negative, much to everyone’s surprise. And ironically enough - Uno is in near perfect health at the moment.
I’ve been told to separate food, water, litter as much as possible, and Bandit will be vaccinated against FeLV as soon as he’s recovered from his cough. Uno will be tested again for FeLV 3-6 months from now, to see if he has fought it off. He’s been prescribed more supplements in the meantime.
I’m …. devastated. Uno is literally like my baby - I brought him up from when he weighed like a pound and was neglected and alone. I didn’t even think I was a cat person till he walked out of some bushes and into my life. But on a more practical front … I’m also struggling to figure out how to separate things for cats who are really bonded. They’re used to eating together and playing together ALL THE TIME. Uno grooms bandit every day (I know, this is a terrible idea right now). I hate the thought of locking either of them away in the spare room, they’ll cry and the other cat will sit waiting at the door for their playmate to be let out. I was so thrilled at how well they had bonded, and now … it’s a bad thing.
I’m trying to read up on FeLV but other than the grave prognoses, and consensus on isolating cats, I’m not really grasping much. Do I find a foster for bandit for a while to protect him? Do I prepare for only a few years at best with Uno? Should I consider rehoming bandit? each of these questions devastates me, and I hate to even think of separating them, but if it means a better life for bandit ... maybe I should? I'm already guilty of exposing him to the virus when he was perfectly healthy.
Not sure what to do or how to handle any of this. Any thoughts or advice would be great!
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