Today's the day!, and I'm so nervous...

I take Smokey to get neutered, tested for FIV/FeLV, and possibly vaccinated (haven't decided on this yet). I had to take away his food and water since he couldn't have anything to eat after midnight...and I feel so bad. He was looking for his food and pawing where it was at.

I'm a very nervous kitty mom. Keep us in your thoughts today. Please pray that he'll be outside when it's time to put him in the carrier. Please pray that he'll get in the carrier with no problem. Please pray that he won't get freaked out on the bus. And definitely pray that the FIV/FeLV test comes back negative. I drop him off in about 2 hours and 15 minutes (9:30 am my time) and I pick him up at 4:00 pm.

Thanks.

Good luck!! Many kitty hugs to Smokey!!

Sending lots of good vibes!

Thanks Liz and Kailie. Unfortunately, Smokey tested positive for both FIV/FeLV. If it was just the FIV he tested positive for, I could've still brought him inside. But since he's positive for both, I don't think I can.

I'm so heartbroken.

Awww...I'm so sorry! Big hugs to the both of you!!

I'm so sorry. Feline AIDS is much more contagious than Feline Leukemia and so hard on the body. We had a rescue group bring in an 8 month old kitty to be tested/neutered, he was FIV positive and already showing signs of it destroying his body. He was so sickly looking and his teeth were falling out. They put him down since he was heading that way anyway.

I'm sorry Renee.

So sorry Renee

I'm so sorry. Feline AIDS is much more contagious than Feline Leukemia and so hard on the body. We had a rescue group bring in an 8 month old kitty to be tested/neutered, he was FIV positive and already showing signs of it destroying his body. He was so sickly looking and his teeth were falling out. They put him down since he was heading that way anyway.

Smokey's gums are red, so he's showing symptoms of FIV. I was planning on taking him with me when I move out of my ex-husband's home, but I don't know when that will be. He's still being neutered and I guess he can recover in my son's room, but I don't know what to do after he's healed up. It seems so cruel to let him back outside after letting him stay in a warm house.

I also need to have my other three cats tested as well. They've all interacted with Smokey on varying degrees, with Lucky having the most interaction with him.

How the hell do these little furry creatures manage to worm their way into my heart so that I fall in love with them so deeply?

Could you make him up a cosy shelter outside? Have a look through Crystal's thread about Tigger - he's a much-loved outdoor cat too.

Fingers crossed your other babies will be ok!

Yes, definitely, he can be a happy outdoor cat. Tigger is so content in his room that he wouldn't even want to come in (I've offered it to him a few times when I had the other cats closed out of the office.

Tigger's got FIV as well, but he's not showing any signs. It's 50/50 our vet said.

If you're not able to make an outdoor home for him, why not start looking for a home for him?

I'm so sorry Renee

We've been home for about four and a half hours. Smokey is doing quite well in his special room. He's resting comfortably. He has his food, water, cat tree, litter box and bed. Poor guy was so out of it when we picked him up. He went into the carrier and promptly plopped down. By the time we got home, he was ready to eat. He explored my son's room and found it quite to his liking.

I'm going to keep Smokey. My ex-husband isn't thrilled and really doesn't want Smokey in the house, but I'm not putting him back outside. I contacted Cats In Need (the local rescue group) and they will foster Smokey until I am in my own place. Unfortunately, there won't be anyone available until mid-January, but my ex is grudgingly letting me keep Smokey here until someone can take him for me.

And I love this vet. For some reason or another, my bank was not authorizing my ATM card. The receptionist tried it 2 times and it was declined. I asked her if she could try inputting a lower amount and I'd come back next week with the balance (and this was after she took $2 off of the antibiotics that the vet prescribed for Smokey). She said okay! I was a new client with a new patient and she let me pay a portion of the bill. How awesome is that?!

That's pretty cool. Good to hear that he'll have a home.

Make sure to have your other cats tested asap so you can begin treatments if necessary.

Our vet lets us pay some at a time too. It's was really helpful with the Milo situation.
I am glad you are keeping him. All kitties need a home inside if we can.

Midnight, Star, and Lucky were all tested for FeLV back when they were spayed and neutered. Since they tested negative, they were vaccinated for FeLV. They weren't tested for FIV, so they weren't vaccinated. My new vet told me that the vaccine for FIV is very expensive, so not many vets carry it. Either way, Lucky will be going in within the next two weeks to be tested as he's the most adventuresome of the three and he's the first one to greet the stray cats that come up to the screen door.

Our vet is very understanding like that too.

When Crystal was checking feces samples for all the cats, I was able just to take them in and drop them off.

We were able to square up with them once they processed all 10 samples.

We've got an amazing vet. When we move, we'll still make the drive.

Thank you for giving Smokey a home even though he tested positive.

If I may throw in my 2 cents? Yes, vaccinate your others for FeLV. I would NOT vaccinate them for FIV. That would make them always test positive for FIV.

Adult cats have a more mature immune system than kittens, so chances are your cats' immune systems have fought off the viruses if they did come into contact, as long as there were no bite wounds, etc.

I'd also be happy to talk to you about ways to keep Smokey healthy, so the viruses don't "take over". Let me know.

Lisa, I will be taking you up on that offer.

I also posted about Smokey on another cat related forum and someone posted this:

What do you guys think? Could it be possible that Smokey may have already been vaccinated against FIV and that's why he tested positive? Either way, Smokey is mine but I'm going to call the vet on Monday and ask them about it.

That's a good question, I'm going to have to ask my vet about it. Tigger is positive for FIV, but he started showing up around my house when he was (I think) about a year old, maybe a bit under.

However, if he's showing positive for FeLV, I believe that's correct - Lisa may know more.

Renee, I'm so sorry Smokey tested positive...but very hapy you're keeping him. He's a lucky boy to have found you.

I don't know as far as the vaccination thing and that possibly making him test postive and how long the vaccination would make it show up positve. That sure would be a relief if that was the case. Let us know what the vet says.

Cats that have been vaccinated against FIV will test positive for their lifetime. In Smokey's case he tested positive for both FIV and FeLV, so even if he tested false positive for one, he might still have the other. Plus since most vets do not carry the FIV vaccine (no vet I've taken my cats to nor have worked for have ever carried it) his chances of being previously vaccinated for it are lessened. There are 5 strains of FIV, the vaccine was only developed by 2 of the strains, so, though developed from the most common forms of FIV, it does not protect against all strains.

In a perfect world, Smokey would've been a false positive for both. Unfortunately, this world isn't perfect, so I'll take whatever I can get with this baby. He's an angel and deserves to live as long as he can do so and still have a good quality of life.