Comments on: My foster kittens just got tested positive for feline leukemia. Will they live?

By: J C

J C — Sun, 09 May 2010 09:10:27 +0000

The problem with testing for FeLV is that there is a period of time between exposure, and then having enough antibodies in the blood to test positive for the disease. You have two possibilities here – a false negative on the two kittens, or a false positive on the other two. I imagine they were tested using the SNAP test? There is another test (ELISA, I think it’s called) that is more definitive, but it’s also much more expensive. Since Fell is so contagious, if the two kittens that are showing positive actually do have it, it’s fairly certain that the other two kittens will turn up positive also.

If kept indoors, given proper vet care, and fed a healthy diet, many FeLV+ kitties can live a long life, but there is no cure – only the prevention of any illnesses that would cause them to die due to their weak immune system. Some are actually just carriers of the disease, and don’t show any symptoms. Others are very sickly. They can live with other FeLV positive cats, and with dogs. But they are very contagious to other cats, and the Fell vaccine does not prevent the disease 100% (estimates are at 80%).

Talk to the vet about sending out for the other FeLV test, and hope for the best.

By: chigwell_shell

chigwell_shell — Sun, 09 May 2010 08:18:43 +0000

There is no treatment for FeLV.

They can not get better from it.

They could live anything from a few years to a few years but sadly i doubt it will be that long.
Have you had an “inhouse” test done or was it sent away ?
Do NOT trust inhouse tests, You quiet often get a false positive reading

By: Elaine M

Elaine M — Sun, 09 May 2010 07:29:16 +0000

There are some VERY good FeLV feline leukemia lists on yahoogroups, you can join for free and talk this over with other owners who have feluke positive cats. They’ll give you good information.

By: Tabonie

Tabonie — Sun, 09 May 2010 06:51:15 +0000

I know several people who have cats with positive feline leukemia and as long as they are kept indoors and away from other cats they are fine. One friend has a 29+ lb siamese named Oscar and he is 8 years old. Huge and beautiful. Friendliest cat there ever was!

By: frnimay

frnimay — Sun, 09 May 2010 06:11:56 +0000

go here and read the whole thing..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_leukemia_virus

good luck

By: Miss Lynae

Miss Lynae — Sun, 09 May 2010 05:19:20 +0000

Probably not. There really isn’t anything you can do for a kitten because they have such little immunity to anything. It’s almost certain that they are going to die from it. Talk to the people you are fostering through about it and see if they want to put the kittens to sleep or if they will hospitalize them. But there is really nothing you can do for them at this point. I’m so sorry.

By: bird lady 2

bird lady 2 — Sun, 09 May 2010 05:16:40 +0000

if they do get treated for it the chances are pretty good ,just DON”T bring any other animals in the house and it’s very costly so you have to decide because nothing is definite!