rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) (04/25/84)
<This is actually unnecessary>
I recently posted a long article on cat breeders. I forgot to mention one
thing - feline leukemia. This is a highly contagious disease (communicable
only among cats, not to humans) for which there is neither preventive
immunization nor cure, and which is almost always fatal.
If you are contemplating buying a cat from a breeder, the breeder should
test all cats in the cattery regularly. Most responsible breeders will
actually tell you, or advertise, that they do this testing. In written
advertising, it generally appears as "FeLV negative". If a breeder doesn't
mention it, ask. If you don't get a satisfactory answer, look elsewhere.
For this reason, you should also expect breeders to keep cats indoors or
away from other cats roaming the neighborhood. A responsible breeder just
can't afford the risk of contaminating the entire cattery population.
--
...Cerebus for dictator! Dick Dunn
{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd (303) 444-5710 x3086kasey@trsvax (08/14/85)
I took my 2 3-year-old cats to the vet this morning for their annual shots. While I was there, we got into a discussion about Feline Leukemia (FelV) and I thought I would clear up some miscopnceptions of the disease that were pertepuated in this newsgroup about 6 months ago. Feline Leukemia IS cancer. But it sounds more like AIDS in cats. It decreases their immunity to other diseases, viruses, and infections to the point that the cat usually dies of something else before the leukemia kills it. Because it is a blood-borne disease, fleas can transport the disease. The reason that I said it sounds more like AIDS in cats is because it attacks their immune system, it is most frequently transmitted through body fluids, and it is always fatal. It is the leading cause of pet cat deaths. Statistics state that 1 in every 10 cats die from the disease or the associated immune deficiency. My vet charges $25 per cat for the blood test to determine if they already have it and $15 for each shot in the series of 3 shots the first year ($45 per cat for shots + $25 for the test). After that, they need a shot once a year. I got lucky! Because I took both of my cats on the same day he only charged me $30 to test both cats. He said that it takes the same amount of effort to run 1 test as it does 2. So he only charged me for the additional serum. Kittens that are less than 13 weeks old don't need to be tested. You can start right in with the shots. The vaccine is so expensive right now because it is only available from one company (Norden Laboratories) and has only been available since January. He anticipates that the vaccine price will drop by this time next year. Kathy Ladewig (aka kasey @ trsvax)
scott@hou2g.UUCP (Racer X) (08/21/85)
>I said it sounds more like AIDS in cats is because it attacks their immune >system, it is most frequently transmitted through body fluids, and it is always >fatal. All the literature I have indicates it is NOT always fatal. Many cats contract the disease (syndrome, actually), but are not affected and serve as carriers only. Scott Berry
ayers@convexs.UUCP (08/21/85)
/* Written 4:03 pm Aug 13, 1985 by kasey@trsvax in convexs:net.pets */ /* ---------- "Feline Leukemia" ---------- */ I took my 2 3-year-old cats to the vet this morning for their annual shots. ...I thought I would clear up some miscopnceptions of the disease that were pertepuated in this newsgroup about 6 months ago. ...and it is always fatal. /* End of text from convexs:net.pets */ One of the reasons there are so many "miscopnceptions" about things of this nature is that so many people claim to have the "right and only" TRUE answer. According to my vet (and a handout from the manufacturers of the vaccine), about two-thirds of the cats that get FL die -- the rest become carriers. So who's right? I don't know, but the odds are against you either way. May your karma diminish and you free from the wheel... blues, II
peter@graffiti.UUCP (Peter da Silva) (08/30/85)
> >I said it sounds more like AIDS in cats is because it attacks their immune > >system, it is most frequently transmitted through body fluids, and it is always > >fatal. > > All the literature I have indicates it is NOT always fatal. Many cats > contract the disease (syndrome, actually), but are not affected and > serve as carriers only. Many humans act as carriers of AIDS in a like manner. In both cases once it is expressed it is invariably fatal.