Conference misery::feline_v1

    Do you have your heart set on a kitten or would you consider an
    older cat?  (see note 1111 - I think she is about 1 year old, if
    that, and I'd be willing to travel halfway to bring her to you.)
    
    Let me know.   
    
    Pam
    

    We were told by our vet that you should wait a year before bringing
    another cat into the household if your previous cat had feline
    leukemia. I guess that the virus stays active for that long. We
    were very bummed when we heard this because we had wanted to get
    another kitty right away.
    
    						Geoff

    re .2     Do you have to wait that long even if your cat has been
              vaccinated for FeLV? 
    
    Pam
    

    My vet said two weeks was the waiting time.  I waited one month
    just to be sure.  What's the state of your other cat with respect
    to FeLV?  If it's positive, you should discuss with your vet whether
    or not kittens can be properly protected by the vaccination.
    (Can kittens be vaccinated against FeLV at any early age?  I have the
    vague recollection that it doesn't take?  Maybe you would want to get
    an older cat who could be vaccinated?)
    

    As far as it not taking with kittens, my four and a half month 
    old was tested negative last month, and received her first shot
    for FeLV last night.  I don't think my vet would've given it to
    her if it wasn't going to take.  He came pretty well recommended.
    
    Mary-Michael and Niniane (the needled wonder-kitty)

    W. tested negative for FeLV and has since had his series of 3 shots.
    The vet never said anything about waiting a year to get another
    cat, though at the time I had Space put to sleep, it was the last
    thing on my mind.
    
    The reason for getting a kitten instead of an older cat :  we also
    have a golden retriever who is approximately 9 months old, and I
    am hoping that the new addition will get along with WW as well as
    the puppy.  Also, WW is two years old and I feel he will probably
    adapt easier to a younger cat than one already set in its own ways.
    
    Or has anyone had any luck with an older cat in a situation such
    as this one ?
    
    Waiting to hear,
    
    Joy

    Have you tested your other cat for Felv since his
    buddy passed away?  It might be that he too is
    Felv positive, but healthy.
    
    If anyone's interested,  I know of a healthy, but
    Felv positive cat named Jake that's been in a shelter
    for over a year because he can't find a home.  He of
    course needs to be an only cat, or go into a house-
    hold where the other cat(s) are Felv positive also.
    
    Donna

    Re: .6
    
    I adopted Holly (or the other way around) when she was 8 or so months
    old.  Sweetie was at least a couple of years old at the time, and
    had been monarch of the house for at least a year, as I recall.
    

    There are many success stories of people adopting
    older, i.e. not kittens, cats into households with
    other cats.  I've found that most of the shelter
    people I speak with can tell you these sorts of
    things about the older cats they have up for 
    adoption since these cats usually come with some
    sort of history.  They can often tell you that
    a particular cat is good with other cats, dogs,
    or children.  
    
    I know that kittens are the most adorable creatures that walk
    the earth but I really wish more people would consider
    adopting older cats.  You become just as attached to
    them and love them just as much, and the feeling that you
    'saved' the cat from a life in a cage or death is good
    for the soul.
    
    Donna

    Two things:
    
    1. We used to believe that a six month wait was required too (old
    vet tale).  Now we understand that it is a live virus, and you can
    get another almost immediately without risk.
    
    2. Pansy, who left us 10 days ago, was 16.  She was diagnosed as
    a carrier over 13 years ago.  We have had three others with her
    since.  Two contracted it after several years in residence, the
    other had diabetes. Had we known of the vaccine, we would certainly
    have used it, but even so, transmission seems random at best.
    
    Gary

    I agree with .11 (Donna).  If my two (heaven forbid!) go, I will
    adopt (save) and older cat from the animal rescue before I pick
    a kitten.  I know I will become attached to an older cat just as
    much as a kitten and the thought of saving a furface will feel great.
     I would adopt now, but I had so much trouble with my oldest when
    we acquired Spunky, that I couldn't do that to her again.
    
    Just my opinion ;^)
    
    anna
    

    Of my six, I adopted 4 as adults. Of course I miss not having memories
    of them as kittens, but the satisfaction that I got from them makes
    up for not having their "baby pictures" to look back on (Argus must
    have been adorable in a little blue bonnet). With mine, I got the
    idea that they were very grateful to have regular meals and were
    very anxious to please me (even if it meant endless hours in front
    of a camera).  Probably the most satisfying part of adopting an adult
    was watching Pip's transformation from catatonic to a love bunny.
    
    Deb
    

    RE: .11,.13
    
    I agree , I"found" Pookie whne she was 9 years old..!!!! my vet
    introduced me to alison.. her breeder.. Pookie was retired from
    Alison's cattery..and she was not adapting well to beng retired..
    (she was "borrowing new kitties from the other kitty mothers in
    the
    kennel..... :*).. so she cam to live with me..allison  shared her
    many memories of Pookies younger days with me.. and that satisified
    me.. she is my little girl.. and in all honesty.. I still call her
    "mummy's little baby kitty.. and she does act like a baby sometimes..
    the only time the reality  sets in about her age is when she is
    ill.. then I panic.. 
    more later
    kate

    AW, go ahead......
    
    Take the `Black Beauty' in Note #1111.  She sounds precious.  If
    Lightning will accept an adult cat, which she did,  yours will too.
    
    Sandi (Lightning's & DejaVu's mom)