Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    Hi Cousin!!!  :^)
    
                    I've been busy and haven't been able to write lately
    to you but here you are!!!!  Caught ya!!
    
                    But now to get to the serious stuff.  I just went
    through the same thing.  First if you don't get the info (and I
    don't know) call directory assistance for Maynard and ask for a
    number for the animal control officer.  The officer probably won't
    be able to help you but will be able to give you a number for a
    local shelter or whatever they have there.  At least you'll be able
    to find out if anyone has called looking for the little thing. 
    The only other thing I can think of off-hand is to put a found ad
    in the Maynard local paper.  
    
                     I hope that you will get an offer for a temporary
    or foster home too but in case you don't if you want to board the
    little one somewhere until a more suitable place is found I'll split
    the cost with you.  Sorry to hear about your husband's allergy(ah
    if their related they don't have that in common thank-god).  I'm
    sure we'll all figure something out.......
    
                                                  Your cousin,
                                                             kim
    
    p.s.  I'll try to send you mail later but you could always beat
    me to it :^)

    Did you see note 1630 for a lost cat?  I know the description
    isn't exactly the same but it sure would be wonderful if this
    was the cat that you found.
    

    Re. .2  It would be wonderful if this is the cat in 1630, but
    the colors aren't right, and this one's a female. I wish it
    could have been their cat, though...
    
    Re. .1  Thank you so much for you VERY generous offer, "Cousin",
    but, as I'll explain below, kitty has almost certainly found
    herself a new home.
    
    Situation Resolved!
    
    I got an offer from a generous fellow FELINE-er (thanks, Pam!!!)
    to take the kittie in at least temporarily, and permanently
    it she gets along with the other cats in the house, as long as
    she had a clean bill of health.
    
    So I took the cat to the vet (they'll never forgive me--she was
    quite a h*ll-raiser!). She tested negative for FELV, and also
    didn't have worms (kittie graciously left a stool sample in my car
    on the ride to the vet).
    
    She got a rabies vaccine, a feline 4-way vaccine (whatever that
    is), had her nails clipped, and got a flea dip, during which
    she sweetly bit through the hand of one of the techs!
    
    And now she's at her new home. She found the food bowl in
    the first 60 seconds!
    
    Thanks so much for everyone's concern, advice, and generous
    offerings of shelter for the stray! You people really are wonderful.
    
    --Debbie
                                                                        

    If the whole world treated people like FELINE noters treat cats...Oh
    well.
    
    Gary

re: a feline 4-way vaccine (whatever that is)

This is the normal vaccination that every cat should have every year.

Ray

    Just for information's sake, it probably contains feline distemper,
    rhinitis, ?, and ?.
    
    Can anyone fill in the '?'s for me/us?
    
    Thanks...Gary

re:  What's really in it?

>    Just for information's sake, it probably contains feline distemper,
>    rhinitis, ?, and ?.

1.	Panleukopenia

	This viral disease is also known as Feline Distemper, or Infectious
	Enteritis.  It kills over 90% of all kittens exposed to it.  This 
	is the major reason breeders are careful about restricting contact 
	with kittens before they've had their first innoculations (usually 
	at age 8 or 9 weeks).

2.	Rhinotracheitis

	This virus is a member of the Herpes family.  Rhinotracheitis is an 
	infectious respiratory disease.

3.	Caliciviral Disease

	This is another infectious respiratory disease.

4.	Chlamydia Psittaci

	This also goes under the name of Feline Pneumonitis, which can be 
	misleading since the symptoms are usually confined to the head.  
	This is yet another infectious respiratory disease.


These are the big four that you're protecting your cats from with those 
annual innoculations.

Ray

I am the person fostering the cat (now called Natasha) in the base note.
She is an incredibly sweet, loving, cat who has had a very hard life.  My
problem is that although she gets along wonderfully with me, she goes nuts
at the sight of my cats so I think we will need to find her a better
permanent home.

She's been secluded in my basement for the almost 2 weeks I've had her
because Debbie's vet felt a 10-day quarantine for rabies was in order.
She has tested negative for FELV and FTLV and the results of the FIP
test are due this week.  When those results come back (presumably
negative), I will try her with my cats.  However, whenever she has
seen mine from a distance, she screams and yells and hisses and gets
pretty distraught.  My cats do not do anything threatening - they are
actually quite curious and friendly.

Natasha is a female long-haired cat, somewhere between the ages of 4 and
8, presumably not spayed, colored black/brown and gold.  She has many
physical problems, some of which may not be correctable.  Her pupils seem
permanently dilated, and my vet thinks she can only see shadows and may
be blind in one eye.  She is emaciated (although she gained a pound in the
week between the 2 times I took her to the vet) and has quite a healthy
appetite.  She has inflamed gums (which have been helped a bit by
antibiotics) and some loose teeth, so will need oral surgery when she
is healthier.  I think she's been the victim of many broken bones that
didn't heal properly since her legs aren't straight and she walks oddly.
I've never seen her run or jump, and doubt that she's capable of it.

All of these maladies sound pretty terrible, but I'm sure they bother me
more than Natasha since she seems quite cheerful and doesn't seem to notice
her limitations.  I would keep her if I thought she would get along with
my cats.  But since her eyesight is so poor, I suspect that she is very
threatened by my cats since she's not sure what they're up to.  And since
it's clear that she's been a stray for so long, I'm not sure she'll ever
adjust to being around other cats.

The perfect home for her would be with a very special, loving human who
wants a kitty to dote on, and vice versa, and who has no other animals.
I'd be willing to pick up the medical bills she will incur when she's
healthy enough for surgery (spaying, oral surgery, leukemia vaccinations,
etc) if that would be a problem.  I just want the right home for her.
Natasha can be seen in Waltham, Mass.

Pam

    Poor Natasha.  I wish I had room for her, although I suspect she
    wouldn't be any happier around S&H than she is around your cats.
    I am wondering if a few things might help her:  awhile after I adopted
    my first cat, who was feral, and rent vets limb from limb, a vet
    gave him a shot (one time) of some female hormone, and it calmed
    him down a lot on a permanent basis.  Also, possibly short term
    use of a tranquilizer while she gets used to your cats might help.
    Possibly after she is spayed she might become calmer.  I guess what
    I'm trying to say is you seem to have a classic case of
    feral-cat-needs-a-huge-amount-of-love-and-patience, and it's made
    worse by the vision problems.  She is so lucky to have your care
    and love already, and since I know feral cats can be reached with
    time, perhaps things will turn out okay in the end.  Please let
    us know what's happening.
     

I already asked the vet about Ovaban or another tranquilizer.  She feels
that Natasha isn't healthy enough yet for such medication.  Considering
how emaciated she is, I think it will take about 6 months of TLC before
anyone would consider her healthy.

I could keep her in the basement until about October, depending on how
the weather is, since the basement is unheated.  However my cats get
really aggrieved when they see me take food to Natasha and they're
getting annoyed about being exiled from the basement.  The contrast
between my fat, dumb, happy, and pampered cats and Natasha is really
amazing to me sometimes.

Pam

Poor Natasha tested positive for FIP.  However, she has no symptoms of
it whatsoever.  I'm going to bring her back in a few weeks to see if
it's getting better or worse.

Although she was always very unfriendly (hissing and howling) when she
saw my cats, it's still possible that they might have gotten it from her since
she did drink out of their water dish the first night and because I
didn't always wash my hands well after patting her.  At least Natasha
has been mostly isolated since I've had her.  I might have misunderstood the
vet, but it's possible that if Natasha is in a state of remission then
she's not infectious.  I'll also be bringing my cats in for a test in a
few weeks.

Now when I spend time with Natasha, I'll have to act like I'm going in
to a quarantine zone.  The vet suggested I get a smock or apron and
wear that when I'm around her, and I have to use a surgical scrub 
on my hands and arms after petting her.  Since my cat carriers are
kept in the basement, I have to wash them down with Clorox and keep
them in another room for a week before I can use them with my cats.
If I take Natasha to the vet in my car, I can't let my cats into my
car for a week.  Deb Skaltsis came by to put some good weather-
stripping on the basement door, and I've put a towel behind the door
just in case.

Poor Natasha.

    Poor Natasha.  hero you.  Is FIP curable?  I did the quarantine
    number when Holly had a respiratory infection when I first got her,
    and it worked, Sweetie didn't get it.  
    

    What is FIP?

    Pam,
    
    How high is the FIP Titer????  Also, stress or exposure to other
    illness can cause a rise in the FIP Titer.  
    
    Almost no cat will test absolutely negative for FIP.  What the FIP
    test does is test for exposure/immunity.
    
    Because she is in such poor condition, this may have cause a rise
    in the titer.  
    
    There is no cure for FIP, but just having a titer doesn't necessarily
    indicate that the cat has active FIP.  It may be just an immunity.
    Once actual FIP signs are visible, they usually don't make it very
    long.
    
    Pam, give me a call if you want to talk about interpreting the results.
    
    Best of Luck
    cin
    

Cin,

The vet said the value of the test (titer?) was something about 538 where
400 is acceptable.  The vet was convinced that she has it and will
come down with symptoms eventually.

Can you send me mail with your outside work number?  I'd like to
talk to you but am at home today.

Thanks,
Pam

   I can't believe the mess I've started. If there's anything I can
  do, or if you would like help on the vet bills, please let me know.

   You've been so wonderful to change your home-life to take care
  of that poor little cat.

  --Debbie

It turns out that my vet was so upset about all of this that she spent
a large part of the weekend discussing FIP with colleagues from work
and friends from vet school and called a woman at Tufts this morning
who is supposed to be an authority on the subject (I forget her name).

Anyway, it turns out that FIP is NOT air-borne.  They believe it can only
be passed from animal to animal (not from animal to human to animal)
through feces or grooming (my cats were not exposed to Natasha in this 
way).  It also turns out that the virus can only live outside the host
for a few hours at most, so all I really have to do is wash my hands
thoroughly.

The other thing I found out is that the FIP test cannot predict whether
the cat has FIP or is infectious - it can only show exposure to it.
This doctor from Tufts said that taking multiple FIP tests to see if
the titers go up or down doesn't really show anything, especially
in terms of whether the cat is infectious or not.  

Somewhere earlier in the notes file is a topic on FIP and someone 
said the FIP test only shows exposure to the corona family of 
viruses, not necessarily just FIP.  The authority from Tufts said
this is true but if FIP isn't present, the range would be from
200-400;  it would not be above 400.

My vet and the doctor from Tufts agreed that Natasha should still
always be isolated from my cats, but they don't feel that I need
to get my cats tested or that Natasha needs to be re-tested.
They believe that only 1-2% of cats exposed to FIP ever come
down with it.

At any rate, I fell MUCH better.  But I would still like to find
a home for Natasha.  I tried calling the NE Animal Shelter since
they have a list of people wanting to adopt leukemic cats, but
they don't even know what FIP is.  I also tried the Sterling
Animal Shelter and they've never heard of FIP but lectured me
on the ethics of adopting out an animal that could become sick
or infect others.  I know I must have seen 10 adoption notices
just today in the file.  Doesn't anyone know of someone who
would like an adult slightly weather-beaten cat who is quite
affectionate, but should be an only cat?

Pam

    Pam,
    
    I'm glad to hear that things aren't as bad as we thought they were
    this weekend.
    
    In case there is some potential pet human out there with a CATMAX
    of exactly one, I can vouch for the fact that Natasha is a nice cat
    and will make a very affectionate pet for someone. She was a real bag
    of bones when Pam first got her, but now that she is being fed
    regularly, she is putting on a little weight and has a beautiful
    brindled coat and a beautiful tail. I too would be willing to help
    defray vet costs for whomever would be willing to adopt her.
    
    Deb 

    Pam,
    
    I'm also glad to hear that your vet was able to give you better
    information.  I know it must make you feel much better.  
    
    Thanks for sharing the information with us, there is so much
    contradicting information out there about FIP.
    
    I'll keep my ears open for a home for Natasha.
    
    Purrs
    cin
    

   Hi, it's me, the base-noter again.

   Has anyone had any luck (are you still looking?) in
  finding a more permanent home for Natasha? She's such a
  sweetie, she'd make a wonderful pet for someone. But Pam
  really cannot keep Natasha permanently. With her positive
  FIP test, she must be isolated from Pam's cats, so Pam
  is really re-arranging her life to try to keep all kitties
  involved happy.

  Is there anyone out there who doesn't already have a cat
  who can take in poor Natasha? Or does anyone know anyone
  who doesn't already have a cat, but is interested? 

  I've tried our local no-kill shelter, but they have no 
  room, and wouldn't even put her on a waiting list.

  Please help us place her! Ask anyone you know who you think
  would make a good home for Natasha.

  Thanks!
   Debbie    

I brought Natasha to the vet yesterday because she hasn't been eating
much recently, I thought she was losing weight, and she's been sleeping
like a log (which is quite unusual for a cat).  After a very thorough
physical exam, we discovered that Natasha is completely deaf!  I guess
that explains why she sleeps so well.  Other than being too thin, the vet
thinks that that Natasha is in perfect condition.  We think the reason
she's not eating much is that she's depressed.

I realized that Natasha's lack of appetite coincided with my not being
able to spend alot of time with her since I am cat sitting for a friend
and have 4 cats upstairs and Natasha in the basement.  The cats I'm
sitting for are the formerly catatonic cats I wrote about in a note
sometime back in January, and they need attention.  I realized Natasha
wanted me to spend more time with her when I heard her randomly howling,
which started a few weeks ago, but I never guessed it would have this
kind of affect on her and it makes me feel terrible.

The vet and I think that Natasha would be a perfect match for older folk
since she's not the least bit rambunctious (like a kitten would be), she's
fairly quiet, she's very loyal, and she lives for cuddles - preferring
them to food most of the time.  The vet thinks that Natasha is at least
8 years old (and thinks her deafness came from age and a hard life), but
feels she could live quite a long time given proper care and doesn't think
that she will ever come down with FIP (although there's no way of knowing
if she's a carrier).

I know that the readership of this notesfile is not likely to consist of
a person ready to take in an older cat who must be an only cat.  Does
anyone know of any elderly persons wanting a sweet pet?  Or, does anyone
have any ideas about agencies that might exist that place pets with the
elderly?

Pam

    re:21
    Pam, I would take the yellow pages and call ALL of the nursing homes
    and senior citizen housing groups in your area.  
    
    E.T.

   Hi, 

    I know this conference is full of desperate pleas for homes
  for homeless cats, but I've at least got to try. Because this
  little cat is in a tougher situation than most.

  The problem is that Natasha has tested positive for either
  having or being exposed to the FIP virus. We don't know if she
  will ever develop any symptoms, but her test is positive, and,
  therefore, she is contagious. So we have to find Natasha a home
  where she can be an only cat.

  This has proven to be very difficult. Most people who love
  cats already have at least one, so they can't provide a home
  for Natasha. People who don't already have a cat generally don't
  want to start out with a middle-aged FIP-positive one. Finally,
  NO animal shelter will take her in. They simply don't have the
  facilities to keep a cat in isolation, and even if they did,
  they don't want to waste their resources on a cat who may
  eventually succumb to FIP.

  Natasha can not remain in her foster home. She is very affectionate,
  but because she must be isolated from the other cats in the house,
  she can't get all the affection and attention she wants. So she howls for
  attention, making a difficult situation worse. Keeping one cat
  apart from the others in the house is difficult enough, but with
  such an attention/affection-requiring cat, the situation in the
  foster home is unbearable. So Natasha must get a new home.

  Again, I can't take her in, due to my husband's allergies, and
  my dogs. She is definitely a loving cat, who is loved in return,
  but now I wonder if it might be best to let her go, to stop
  hoping when there really are no alternatives, and simply to
  ask our veterinarian to put her down. I'm very upset about
  this possibility, but you people are my last hope. I've asked
  everyone I know (and even people I don't know), but no one
  can help. Does anyone out there know of a home for Natasha?
  Please don't flame me for this--we've tried the suggestions
  in this note so far, but with no luck. I'm very upset,
  and the situation is very desperate.

  Thanks for any help you can provide.

  PS.
  She's in Waltham, Mass, but I'll transport her anywhere in 
  Mass, RI, or New Hampshire.

    Re -1
    
    How's it going?
    
    K

Re: < Note 1641.24 by SUBURB::TUDORK "SCEADUGENGA" >

>    How's it going?
    
 
   Well, in some ways things are fine, and in other ways things
 aren't great.

   On the positive side: Natasha is in a new temporary home.
 She seems to have charmed her new foster-mother, and no wonder--
 she's a realy sweetie, and if you like cats who love to lie on
 your lap and purr and purr and be cuddled, she's the cat for you!

   On the negative side: this home is only a temporary home. Because
 of her exposure to FIP, she must be kept isolated from her foster-mom's
 own cat. Natasha really doesn't like being kept apart from her people,
 which is necessary whenever the other cat is in the house. So poor
 Natasha must be locked away in a bedroom. She can only have visits
 from her foster-mom when she has time to go into the bedroom and
 keep Natasha company for an hour or so. It's an extremely tough
 situation for the foster-mom because to spend time with Natasha,
 she can't spend time with her other pets. Also, her male cat has
 realized that there's another cat in that bedroom, and he's been
 causing some trouble at the door to that bedroom.

  So, this is only a temporary situation, and we're still looking
 for a home for Natasha where she can be an only cat. Again, if anyone
 knows of anyone who might be able to take Natasha in, please let 
 me know! (I don't know how long her foster mom can keep her).

--Debbie
  

    Hello,
    
    This is Natasha's foster mom, Joy.  I want to tell you that we almost
    had her placed this weekend.  The reason why she was not placed was,
    of course, FIP.  I am working with a shelter in Boylston, MA to see
    if we can get her placed to a handicap person who does not have any
    cats!  Please keep you fingers crossed for her.  We almost had one
    though!  There is also a shelter in Fitchburg, MA that is helping as
    well.
    
    If those donations for Vet bills are still available, pls. hang in.
    I will be calling my Vet today to discuss Natasha's health and set
    up an appt. to see what we can do further for her, maybe vitamins,
    her gum surgery, xrays to see if see's been fixed, etc.
    
    Thanks,
    Joy
    

    Hi again,
    
    I just want to let you all know that Natasha left us this past
    weekend, Saturday evening.  I'm sure that it was the FIP that
    took her because of the awful way she looked, etc.  I just
    wanted to let you know.
    
    Thanks for everyone's support!
    Joy