Anyone have experience with feline leukemia?

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t_chelle16

Feeder Fish
Mar 14, 2005
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Scout, our youngest cat, was just diagnosed with FeLV. She got an infection after being spayed and so far has been unresponsive to antibiotics. She's now on the strongest stuff the vet has. If she can manage to kick the fever, he says she can come home and as long as she doesn't pick up any colds and doesn't get stressed, she could very well live for years. We're very hopeful that that's the case. And really, other than being pale and having a fever, she's acting normal and looking pretty good.

The problem is, we have 3 other cats. Only one has been vaccinated before so we took them in and had all 3 tested and the other 2 vaccinated (should get the results tonight). Our vet said that if Scout does pull through the infection and gets to come home, there shouldn't be any problems letting her around the other 3 cats (assuming they're negative) as long as they're vaccinated. But I've also read that the vaccine is only abut 90% - 95% effective.

So does anyone have any experience keeping a FeLV+ cat with vaccinated FeLV- cats?

If we really have to keep them separated, that's what we'll do, but it would be nice if she didn't have to be quarantined for the rest of her life.

-Chelle
 
My mother is a veterinary technician and breeds Persians. I will ask her what she thinks.
 
Thanks. I actually had you in mind when I posted this.

We went back to visit her and she looks a little better from this morning. She was a bit more active and is getting a little more color in her ears.

-Chelle
 
Just got a call from the vet. Tennessee is positive, Romeo & Emily are negative. So we're just going to play it by ear and keep a really close eye on them. If Ten starts showing even the least little sign of not acting right, we'll take her in to get looked at and be put on antibiotics (she's acting perfectly fine for now, though).

I don't think we're going to try to separate them. Romeo & Ten are absolute best buddies and it would break their hearts to be separated. And I've heard from a couple people who had a positive cat with a vaccinated negative cat and didn't have any problems.

-Chelle
 
Good luck. I will be seeing her when I get out of work tomorrow afternoon.
 
My mother basically said that if you do choose to keep them together, it is playing with fire. Because the vaccine isn't perfect they could still get it. She recommends finding a home for the positive cat (there are people out there that take in leukemia positive cats and give them good homes). But, if you can't part with him/her, just realize that there is a risk to the other two.

Also, never never never NEVER let them outside EVER again. If you do, then any neighborhood cats are also at risk. This is how it spreads.
 
Thanks. There's absolutely no way we're giving up Ten or Scout. And they were never outside cats to begin with so keeping them inside is nothing new.

-Chelle
 
If you never let them out how could they have been exposed to it in the first place? Unless one was positive already when you got it...

All of our cats are indoor and always have and will be. We only vaccinate for first shots which can be done at home. They stay immaculately healthy and have never even had fleas.
 
Yeah, never bring a new animal into your home without having it tested first. I'm surprised the shelter didn't have some record of testing. Most will charge you $60 or so for the adoption which covers all the shots and alterations, etc.
 
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