My kitten has been diagnosed with FeLV

[Ediacara]

I learned at the beginning of the week that our kitten, Darwin, has been diagnosed with FeLV. FeLV is an immune system virus seen in cats that's similar in many ways to HIV and SIV in primates. It suppresses the immune system, can lead to anemia, can lead to tumors and leukemia (hence the name), and is always fatal. The vet has given her about 6 months to live (although from what I've read, she may have as long as three years).

I'm obviously very upset about this. She was born in April 2007. We've owned her since July of 2007.

She's a purebred Abyssinian, and we were told by the breeder that she'd had all of her shots, and that they'd send all that our way ASAP. Unfortunately, we moved shortly afterward (but kept in touch), and the breeder became very ill, and paperwork from the breeder got put on the back burner. Her brother is from the same breeder, so we didn't push as hard as we should have. We've sent a volley of emails back and forth, yet we still don't have the inoculation records.

She's an indoor cat, lives with her brother (negative for FeLV), and has spent a total of one evening away from us (at the vet's, getting spayed). She has, as far as I know, never met any strange cats. Additionally, the vet is fairly sure she was infected before we ever bought her.

I'm a little unsure of what to do here. The breeder keeps sending a huge amount of information concerning homeopathic remedies, but very little information on when and for what she was inoculated.

[TroglodyteScholar]

1. I don't have any direct experience with it...

...but I know that my brother's roommate had a cat with the virus, but the cat lived a normal and healthy life for several years. They just had to keep it away from other cats.

[Zuiderelle]

2. Oh wow, those are beautiful cats. I'm so sorry she has FeLV.

It had to have come from the breeder. If it were me, I would separate them, and keep the brother who is uninfected away from her, maybe foster him somewhere temporarily? And then I would do whatever I could to report the breeder, as it's certain that she acquired the disease from there. Other cats from that breeder are sure to be infected, and other people will be adopting those cats and potentially affecting other cats in the house.

They are absolutely beautiful. What exquisite faces.

[kedrys]

3. My Imhotep has had it for years and years

He's in pretty decent health for a cat who's at least 10, maybe even 12 or 13. We have to administer meds from time to time, and he's having a bout of stomatitis right now, but he's about the most robust cat I've ever met. Chances are the virus won't be what ends him. The other cats are all negative.

[flvegan]

4. Have you gotten the brother vaccinated against it?

That's the first thing I'd do. Odd, though. If it was a mother-kitten transmission, he should have it as well. If this breeder let litters intermingle, that might have done it.

The good news is that from what I've read, cats that are infected very young tend to live a long time, having built an immune response to the issues associated with it.

I wish you and your kitties the best.

[Taverner]

6. Retroviruses are trippy things

Take HIV for example - a mother can have triplets, and only one of them might have HIV.

[Haole Girl]

5. How sad

Wish I had some words of advice for you, but (thankfully) I've never had to deal with that.

[Care]

7. Tears Are Welling Up In My Eyes

What beautiful creatures. The human race doesn't even deserve the love of companion animals.

I'm sure you will do your best to take care of this wonderful cat. Let's hope that the vet's prediction is wrong and Darwin lives a long and healthy life.

[Maddy McCall]

8. I am so sorry. But advice for everyone who buys pets from breeders. NEVER EVER EVER...

take their word for it that the animal has been vaccinated.

The first thing you should do when buying an animal is take it by the vet on the way home from the breeder. Have an appointment set up.

You cannot trust breeders that their animals have received the vaccinations, wormers, etc. that they say they have.

You cannot trust breeders when they tell you that the animal is "vet checked."

Before you give the money to the breeder, get the breeder's return policy in writing. If you don't get at least a week to return the animal and get your money back, then walk away from the breeder.

EVERYTHING should be in writing. Even if the breeder gives you "vet records," do NOT rely on those...take the animal to the vet for a work-up and for shots and worming immediately after receipt of the animal.

I am so sorry about your kitten's illness. Nothing is worse than to become attached to an animal, only to learn that it had a terminal illness before you even brought it home.

[Lorien]

15. Some vaccinations can be fatal, too

the vaccination for FIP is thought to actually TRIGGER FIP by many vets. My kitten Mithril died of FIP several months after getting his shots. Loads of research turned up many, many warnings on pet vaccines. Best to do a Google search for the latest info from veterinary publications before giving your pets their first shots. Many of the products on the market today (like many products marketed for humans) are questionable as far as safety and effectiveness goes.

[DainBramaged]

9. I had a wonderful, loving kitteh named Ditto

who was black and white like her brother Levi. She lived to the ripe old age of 14 after being diagnosed at the age of 8. I had to keep her with me in my office and wash my hands after I played with her. She lived a very full life and was my bud until she passed in 1986. Her brother died of a heart attack at 10. It was then I decided my kitteh would never go outside again. And none have since.

[DeepBlueC]

10. I'm so sorry ...keep brother vaccinated

Thank God her brother has not contracted it, but you should be absolutely scrupulous about keeping his vaccines up to date.

Some cats can live for quite a while with it if they are well cared for. A friend of mine had a charming stray they took in (Tulip). They were unaware that she had the virus until their own house cat apparently caught it and died of it. Tulip survived for some years after that. She was a darling.

It is shocking and sad news. I hope she hangs in there for you.

[ileus]

11. I lost one of my meowboxes in '00 to FeLV. I've never failed to get my kitties

their shots since. I cried right there in the vets office when they told me. I felt like I'd failed her as an owner....

[Lorien]

12. I'm so sorry to hear this. I would look into some of the alternative

treatments though. A friend of mine works at a natural pet food store, and she hears of all kinds of amazing recoveries from "fatal" illnesses that were cured using alternative medicines. I tried some homeopathic remedies and a raw food diet with my kitty Miro when he was diagnosed with an aggressive, incurable form of cancer. They had given him two months and he lived more than eight-and it was quality time, too. He didn't show any signs of discomfort until the last week. His vets were amazed, but I think that the diet and the Chinese/ homeopathic remedies made all the difference for him. Please read up on whatever your breeder suggests and consider giving it a try. Darwin is a beautiful girl and I know how special Abys are.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. oh they are so gorgeous, gorgeous

and I am so sorry.

[BlueIris]

14. Hugs. nt

[Blue Diadem]

16. I'd suggest having her retested

Speak to your vet again about retesting. I think the time frame suggested varies from 6 weeks to a few months. I'd also make sure your other cat is vaccinated for it, although from what I understand it is not 100% in prevention.

In the late 80's, we had two cats tested. One tested positive and the other negative after exposure to a cat who had adopted us and lived with us a short while. The vet suggested no longer vaccinating Sir Thomas with his usual vaccines due to his being positive and we were told he probably wouldn't live long.

Sir Thomas was about 4 when he tested positive. He wasn't tested again until he was about 14 and he tested negative. By then, we had a new vet and he told us that some cats are able to fight off the virus and that Sir Thomas was perhaps one of them..or the first test could have been a false positive.

[applegrove]

17. Beautiful cats. Sorry about the diagnosis.

[Parche]

18. I Feel Your Pain

We Had 2 kitties die of that....it is so sad, so far there is no cure...

[bertha katzenengel]

19. DinoBoy, I'm sorry.

I know you'll just keep lavishing your love on her.

Get on the breeder. Do you have a lawyer? Threat of legal action may help (if you canb ack it up).

Best of luck.