In many instances rescued, stray, or abandoned cats will show a false positive because their previous owners had provided the cat with the vaccine to prevent feline leukemia and the new pet owner or shelter would not be aware of the cat’s history. Thousands of cats are euthanized each year because the test for feline leukemia came back positive.
When the attending veterinarian tells the cat owner that they recommend euthanasia because the FeLV virus is aggressive and their cat will suffer. Many cat owners are inclined to say yes to euthanizing as they love the cat, and do not want the cat to be inflicted with pain or suffering.
However cat owners need to look at their cats and determine if the cat is sick, they also need to find out what stage the virus is in before they decide to make life-altering decisions about their cats. If the cat is in stages 1 to 3 the cat's immune system may be able to fight off feline leukemia, however, if you euthanize your cat based on a positive test result, then you will never know if your cat's immune system could eliminate the virus.
However cat owners need to look at their cats and determine if the cat is sick, they also need to find out what stage the virus is in before they decide to make life-altering decisions about their cats. If the cat is in stages 1 to 3 the cat's immune system may be able to fight off feline leukemia, however, if you euthanize your cat based on a positive test result, then you will never know if your cat's immune system could eliminate the virus.
I rescued a Siamese Cat that I named Sam in April of 2009, he was abandoned and roamed the woods by my home, and by the time Sam had found me he was skin and bones. My husband took Sam in for his exam and checkup and the report on his test was fatal, as he had both viruses; feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, CAT-FIV.
The attending veterinarian informed my husband that Sam would have a short life and he recommended that he put the cat down. Normally my husband will make these big decisions because he knows I am pro-life. I think that I can heal any sick or suffering animal and I would say NO to euthanasia. By the grace of God, my husband called me from the pet clinic and told me about my cat's diagnosis.
I spoke to the doctor and asked him if Sam had symptoms of virus and he said no. I then inquired about the stage of his illness, and he said he did not know, but in his experience cats with FeLV and FIV go very quickly and suffer great pain. The veterinarian repeated that putting Sam down would be better for the cat and for us because we would not suffer heartache.
The attending veterinarian informed my husband that Sam would have a short life and he recommended that he put the cat down. Normally my husband will make these big decisions because he knows I am pro-life. I think that I can heal any sick or suffering animal and I would say NO to euthanasia. By the grace of God, my husband called me from the pet clinic and told me about my cat's diagnosis.
I spoke to the doctor and asked him if Sam had symptoms of virus and he said no. I then inquired about the stage of his illness, and he said he did not know, but in his experience cats with FeLV and FIV go very quickly and suffer great pain. The veterinarian repeated that putting Sam down would be better for the cat and for us because we would not suffer heartache.
Since Sam had no symptoms and because his blood had not been checked, I said NO to euthanasia the veterinarian said I could not keep Sam in the same house as my other cats because they would be infected, so the veterinarian called rescue facilities to take Sam until he got sick and would need to be put down. No shelter would accept Sam. My husband and I talked and there was no way that I would euthanize Sam so I decided to make Sam my office cat.
Sam would live the rest of his life behind a closed door. In a room that is 12 x 21 with 10 windows, a cat seat by the window, cat toys, a bed, a comfy chair, carpeting, and a TV that provided him with entertainment by Animal Planet. Sam would hang out with me 8-10 hours per day and I would play with him and love him.
Sam would live the rest of his life behind a closed door. In a room that is 12 x 21 with 10 windows, a cat seat by the window, cat toys, a bed, a comfy chair, carpeting, and a TV that provided him with entertainment by Animal Planet. Sam would hang out with me 8-10 hours per day and I would play with him and love him.
Sam was diagnosed with feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus in April of 2009 and today Sam is playing with toilet paper, he is very proud of himself he has dragged a new roll out of the bathroom and is decorating the office, Sam is happy, healthy and strong.
I was determined to make Sam healthy so I fed him a high-protein food that was enriched with vitamins; Blue Buffalo cat food
. I added a natural antioxidant supplement
to his diet and provided him with a loving environment.
Sam’s immune system was able to fight off Feline Leukemia in the third stage. He no longer has leukemia, but he does have feline immunodeficiency. Sam can can live a longer life.
I was determined to make Sam healthy so I fed him a high-protein food that was enriched with vitamins; Blue Buffalo cat food
. I added a natural antioxidant supplement to his diet and provided him with a loving environment. 
Sam’s immune system was able to fight off Feline Leukemia in the third stage. He no longer has leukemia, but he does have feline immunodeficiency. Sam can can live a longer life.
If your cat tests positive for Feline Leukemia wait 30 days and have them tested again, it could be a false positive. If your cat has the Feline Leukemia virus and has no symptoms then help the cat to fight it off by boosting the immune system. Sam is alive today because I said NO to euthanasia.
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| Sam gives the puppy the right paw - FIV cats rule! |
2 comments:
Why the **** would you euthanize a cat that isn't sick? What is wrong with those people?
Any cat owner who euthanize a healthy cat, simply because they have a "virus" should be charged with all crimes against hurting or suffering animals. Same for the vets who do it.
Only a complete fool or an unloving, barbaric child would ever euthanize an animal that is otherwise healthy, simply because "it will suffer in the future".
My cat has feline leukemia, and I was petrified the vets might try to kill my cat, creating all sorts of rescue imaginations in my head. Fortunately, none suggested it because he wasn't dying, he had healthy moments, and one vet said he might not even have it because he seems very healthy and it's been quite awhile since he was tested.
Online information says it's an instant death sentence to get Feline Leukemia virus, but the reality is that it is NOT a death sentence even when positive. Cats can live 4 years typically, or even up to 8 years. We were told by two vets to just not expect anything past 8, and 10 would be extremely lucky (but possible).
Just like humans, cats can be resistant to the virus even if positive. HIV in humans isn't a death sentence, and to some (rare) cases it doesn't even give AIDS to the blessed resistant person. So why euthanize cats simply because they have the virus? Absolute insanity.
It scares me to even think people would euthanize their "loved" animals simply because of a "doctors" suggestion, when the animal is NOT presently suffering. You say these people actually exist? Wow, unbelievable. They shouldn't be allowed to own animals, and need to wake up to reality and the simple fact doctors (vets) are not the end-all-be-all deity of reality.
Our cat is FeLV positive, and is now approaching 2 years without any suffering or harm at all caused by the virus. He's completely healthy, despite what the internet says about FeLV. THANK YOU for writing the truth, and informing people that FeLV is NOT a death sentence. I really appreciate you educating the internet, because there is a plethora of false, misleading information about FeLV out there (even among MD Vets)
RonnyRulz:
When my husband heard the veterinarian say that words that Sam had Feline Leukemia and AIDS and that the disease had no cure, that he would get sick quickly and suffer and it was best to euthanize him, my husband froze...he actually believed that Sam was going to die in less than a month.
I think people like my husband believe everything that the veterinarian says. The thing is the vet did not draw blood to test his white and red count, he just assumed Sam was dying.
Yes it scares me also that people would think that it is the best thing for a cat to euthanize the cat when they have no symptoms of the FeLV or AIDS virus. Cats can live a long time, and some never get ill.
My friend cried for months over a 12 week old kitten she had euthanized because the veterinarian said the cat had AIDS. She never called me; she did what the Vet said. She has a hard time looking at Sam playing with his toys; he is healthy because I said NO to the veterinarian who wanted to kill him in April of 2008. There was no reason for her kitten to die, her kitten was not sick, the kitten tested positive to screening only.
IMO: People need to do what is best for their cats, especially if they test for the antibody but have no other symptoms. People need to start saying NO to euthanasia; feline Leukemia and AIDs are not death sentences. Some cats cat beat FeLV, some cats can live a long life…some cats have blood transfusions and are fine for several more years. But when you cat does get cancer and the veterinarian can do no more for them, then it is time to put them down. Never allow the cat to suffer. I made that promise to my cat Sam, and to my FIV cat Missy and as hard as that promise may be I will stick to it.
Thanks for your comment RonnyRulz sorry I could not get back with you sooner I had major computer problems.
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