Weddingbee boards

Just wondering what your experience has been with a cat who has tested positively for feline leukemia? We adopted our cat from the humane society this past October, and found out in his first check-up that he has feline leukemia.

I read on here that some cats can fight off the virus in the first stage, and I'm wondering if we should get him tested again at his next check-up. He seems perfectly content and healthy now, but it makes me sad that the site said most cats succumb to it within 2-3 years of diagnosis, or even sooner. He is only 2 years old now.

Thanks, ladies. That's basically our mindset right now, and just trying to avoid thinking what might happen when he gets sick.

Miss Lily, I think my kitty has the same thing as yours? In a way, I'm glad the humane society can't afford to test the cats beforehand, because they would have euthanized him right away!

contrarymary, thanks! Unfortunately, there isn't any cure or medicine. I think it's sort of just a matter of time before he gets sick and there isn't anyway to help it, sadly.

Aw, thank you! And yes, hug those kitties. Mine's falling asleep next to me and occasionally looking at me and grunting, haha. :)

Awww he is so cute! I'm sorry he is sick, but just stay positive, shower him with love and treats, and hope for the best.

Our cats do not have feline leukemia, but one of them (Monster) has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - or something like that spelling wise. He has a leaky heart valve, and a murmur, and his heart may become enlarged. But, he's on meds and everytime he has a checkup, they say his heart looks great! Which is not at all what they initially predicted....

Monster says he hopes your cat stays healthy, and he's sending love his way!

Oh, ktbrady, Monster is adorable! His eyes are gorgeous. I'm glad he is doing better than the vets are predicting! Yoshi says hello and thank you.

Feline leukimia is preventable. It's like parvo in dogs and can be spread to other cats just by having contact with each other, so if you have any other cats you need to keep them separated and don't let your kitty outside. I'm sorry he has it and I hope he can fight it off. *hugs* Hoping for the best here.

Thanks for the support, bees.

rawrkitty - I cried for a week when we first found out! He's actually a buff tabby, so he's sandy colored with green eyes. :)

toffee - I know, I wish his original owner vaccinated him and maybe he wouldn't have it today. Luckily we don't have other cats, and we live in an apt., so he's an indoor kitty all the time.

Here are some color pics of Yoshi:

It is my understanding that Feline Leukimia Virus (FeLV) and FIV are NOT the same thing, although they are both eventually fatal, and both are highly communicable.  From what my vet told me years ago, (and I don't know if this is still considered true or not), but the easiest way to prevent either is simply by keeping your cat indoors.

Just out of curiousity, though, didn't the shelter test him for FeLV and FIV before he was adopted?  Because of the communicable nature, I think that should probably have been tested for before he was made available for adoption.  What if you had had other cats?

He's such a handsome boy!  Hopefully he will be able to live a long and healthy life!

Thanks, Miss Apricot! I think he's pretty cute myself, heehee.

No, the shelter doesn't test for FelV because they said it's not in their budget. We paid to get him tested at his first check-up a week after we adopted him. When we called the shelter to inform them that he was infected (in case they were worried about his having infected other cats, since he was there for a month before we adopted him), they said we could bring him back if we wanted. When I asked what would happen to him, they said they'd euthanize him! They didn't ask who I was or which cat Yoshi was to inform the previous owner or check the other cats at the shelter, either.

I guess we're just lucky we don't have other cats. I know Yoshi's card at the humane society said his previous owner gave him up because they had "too many pets" - makes me wonder if he caught it from his cat friends in his first home. :(

Thanks, lilyfaith. :) I am happy we picked him from all the other cats at the shelter... which is a reputable one in the Twin Cities, so it is interesting that the whole chain of them probably have the same protocol regarding FelV and such.

KWebs, thank you! I am glad to hear from someone whose cat actually beat the virus. And I love fat cats, haha!!

What you said makes me think I should look more seriously at kitty health insurance. Thanks again!