# felv **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 26, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024 "2002-12-26T20:47:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/1 "2002-12-26T20:47:59Z")
Today I got a new cat from the humane society. 12 weeks, female, domestic mediumhair. Very nice, very playful. Took it to the vet and got it tested for FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). Positive test. That sucks. They’re doing a test that takes longer for results… 50/50 chance it’s a false positive. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![bealeblues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/838e76/32.png) [@bealeblues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bealeblues)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/2 "2002-12-26T20:52:03Z")
that blows apple… hope that it’s false positive… ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/3 "2002-12-26T20:56:29Z")
I thought they normally tested for that at Humane Societies? They usually don’t want cats with FLV in with the other cats since it is so easily spread. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/4 "2002-12-26T21:00:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Indygrrl \* > \*\*I thought they normally tested for that at Humane Societies? They usually don’t want cats with FLV in with the other cats since it is so easily spread. \*\* Not enough money for it. They will only do a test for it if you are getting a new animal to replace one you got from them that was positive for it. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/5 "2002-12-26T21:06:08Z")
Oh **appletreats** , I’m so sorry. I have a friend whose teenaged cat died of FLV. So sad when pets have to go. I hope hope hope it’s a false positive. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/6 "2002-12-26T21:12:14Z")
That’s sad. Poor little bebe. Well, at least he will have someone to love him before he goes. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/7 "2002-12-26T22:37:17Z")
Feleuk isn’t necessarily a death sentence. I’ve seen a lot of positive cats live for years without getting sick. If you don’t have other cats to get infected, you could keep this little guy and have a fairly long happy life with him. Also, I’m not entirely sure, but I think as young as he is, there’s a chance that the antibodies are his mother’s, not his. It’s a pretty slim chance, but he could potentially still be negative. If you decide to keep him anyway, get him retested in 6 months or so. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/8 "2002-12-26T23:08:08Z")
I have 2 other cats. ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/9 "2002-12-27T01:13:19Z")
About the test result: > [@](#): > > Of the cats who are infected with the FeLV virus about 1/3 will develop a transient viremia - this means they are infected for less than 12 weeks and then they extinguish the disease (virus). Cats with transient infection may test ELISA+, but 8 to 12 weeks later they will test negative. We had a cat that had FeLV in our home with other cats. No direct contact…but you can keep a cat with FELV without transmitting the virus. From Cornell University’s website > [@](#): > > Prolonged, extensive cat-to-cat contact is required for efficient spread, because the virus is rapidly inactivated by warmth and drying. When I worked at the local HS our director told me that most cats are exposed to FeLV and most fight it off. > [@](#): > > A significant percentage of adult cats that are exposed to the virus develop immunity and do not become persistently viremic (i.e., will not carry the virus indefinitely in the blood and bone marrow). (I stole all the above quotes from Cornell’s website\_ ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/10 "2002-12-27T15:54:05Z")
Followup test is positive. I’d rather not risk taking it home. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/11 "2002-12-27T15:59:21Z")
Appletreats, I’m so sorry. That just sucks. **many prayers for kitty** \* (I’m glad to see you went to the HS to adopt!) ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/12 "2002-12-27T16:01:02Z")
Hopefully I can get a new kitten today. HS gives free FeLV testing for animals adopted because the previous one had FeLV, plus I get a free credit to adopt one from either HS around here. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Magic8ball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Miss\_Magic8ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Magic8ball)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/13 "2002-12-27T16:03:47Z")
My cat of 13 years died from a bad thyroid. 2 years later, it still makes me sad… I think its a good idea that you got the cat tested first… that would have saved me a lot of heartbrake with the OTHER cat I got after Sport… ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/14 "2002-12-27T16:06:06Z")
I’ve had a very traumatic pet history. I had a cat eat a balloon string and die because of that, then a cat that broke its leg, then a cat that had heartworms, then a bird that died after 2 years of owning it. And one of the cats I have now managed to eat a Creepy Crawler, which required surgery to remove. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/15 "2002-12-27T16:09:10Z")
Now this poor kitty will most likely be put to sleep. ☹ A few years ago, I used to “rescue” FeLV kitties from shelters, because once they were found to be positive they were euthanized. So we’d adopt a couple and take care of them for as long as they lived, then if/when they died we’d take in a new one. It was hard. It was sad. But they had good lives when they were with us. One is still kicking, well over 6 years later. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/16 "2002-12-27T16:12:39Z")
Rasa, That is so kind of you to rescue FeLV kitties. I did not know they could live out thier lives. That is remarkable… My hubby found a very cute and friendly little black male cat. We were going to take him home…but I told hubby to take him to a vet to have him checked out. Turned out he had FeLV…and hubby paid for him to be put to sleep. Poor kitty. I’m so glad there are people out there who care about kitties. Apparently, this little black kitty was in bad shape. **sigh** ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/17 "2002-12-27T16:14:06Z")
**oops!** Forgot to mention that we have two indoor cats at home…and we did not want our two babies to catch anything… ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felv/145024/18 "2002-12-27T17:48:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siemsi \* > \*\*Rasa, > > That is so kind of you to rescue FeLV kitties. I did not know they could live out thier lives. That is remarkable… \*\* Well, most of them had relatively short (3ish years) lives, but they were happy and healthy until they got sick. We wanted to give them the chance to have happy lives with a family rather than be put to sleep in a shelter. One of them is like Miracle Kitty and I think he’s got to be well over 6 now.