FIV Cat - Why doesn't this surprise me?

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I think I would be iffy with an FeLV one especially if it was a feral.  FIV I have no problems with but FeLV is easier to transmit and they can have an awful death if they are not monitored.  Luckily, I've not had to make that decision yet, and I'm hoping I never do but it's only recently that I've come across the FIV ones in my area.  I think I would probably have a read up on all the available info before making a decision for FeLV one's.

[Hippykitty]

Birmingham CP pts FIV and FLV cats automatically, that's why I decided not to accept rehoming help from them. I know most peeps consider FLV to be much more serious, but in the 80's, before the vaccine was available, I  had two FLV+ cats for many years. I didn't keep them indoors, because the reading I'd done (vetinerary books) suggested that it wasn't very infectious and required an exchange of body fluids or long term mutual grooming. It certainly isn't a case of: two cats sit on a wall together and one catches the virus from the other, as would be the case with flu.

Bella and Minnie lived for two and a half and six years respectively. They were pts when they developed tumours as a result of the virus. As far as I'm aware, there wasn't a neighbourhood outbreak of FLV!

[caledonia]

Poor wee cat - it seems ridiculous that they all have different policies!!! A healthy cat PTS - utter maddness!!!

[Schmew]

So sorry to hear about this Dawn.

I was in the North East this weekend seeing one of my rescue friends and she told me a similar story, the vet took the decision to pts a cat as soon as it tested positive because they couldn't immediately get hold of the rescue, it was a new volunteer who had taken him in and not the usual vet practice either.

It's so annoying to hear that it still happens when many rescues/vets are more up to date with info and FIV cats are finding homes and living happy lives.

[Millys Mum]

RIP poor kitty 

Isnt CPs catch line to do with only putting a cat to sleep if its suffering?

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

Canterbury CP policy on FIV is not to put to sleep, nor do Bredhurst or Folkestone branch.. However local RSPCAs  do....
It is very much up to part of the county you are covering (much harder to rehome FIV to rural areas of UK or where its even harder to rehome normal cats) and also the Co ordinators or Welfare people involved in the branch.. The are not set guidlelines for CP its a decision you make on a individual basis depending on your branch...

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I think all the branches have guidelines and it's up to the managers whether or not they decide on a euthanasia policy for FIV positive cats.

[le chat noir]

Can I ask the question - Should all branches of rescues be following the same codes of practice? as it appears that they all work differently.

[Desley (booktigger)]

My local RSPCA has this policy (CP have rehomed them, or if they have other issues, allowed them to live their life out), I did question her, and her reasoning was along the lines of it was best for the cat, as while they may appear ill, they may not be and it is to help prevent them suffering and she is the manager, so her rules go. The rescue's local RSPCA dont, so I have to say I would support them over my own. The other aspect to it is that it sounds like the snap test (and I know that is all my local RSPCA use), and there is a 7% chance of it being wrong, so potentially 7 out of every 100 will lose their life unnecessarily, they can't be following it up if it is done on the day they are taken in.

[clarenmax]

Its stories like this that break my heart 

As you all know my boy is FIV+, and I adopted him from CP, luckily they didnt have an automatic pts policy, but he was nearing 'death row' as they called it, as he was using a valuable pen and they were struggling to home him (as he had already been homed and came back).

I can't believe that even with the knowledge now that a healthy FIV cat can live a long and happy life, some rescues still automatically euthanise.  It is truly awful, and shouldn't be allowed to still happen 

[maryas]

 

I would definitely go to the papers - make sure you have all the facts and show the  up.

Mary

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

i have to say i find the reaction of the rescue quiet wrong However, we have a policy in our branch that at everybody who is involved on the phones and in direct contact with people regarding strays. Are informed of blood tests FELV and FIV. We have successfully rehomed many FIV cats, it isnt easy but it can be done. Unfortunately, FELV is another matter and we have to go by vets advice.... So people are now fully aware that should a cat prove to be positive for either of these diseases there are situations where we have to be guided by vets... We volunteer and work our socks off in our branch because we love cats, we dont take having any cat PTS for no apparent reason. A healthy FIV cat can live for ages. We have a fostered FIV cat who is 13 at least and has thyroid problems she is gone fine..
My suggestion is to talk to the person in charge of the branch and see if they can discuss new ways of dealing with FIV cases. With new research avialable to rescues and with a better undrstanding on the dieases they may change their policies.

But really sorry to hear this..

[Mark]

I would expose them. Tell them you are planning to go to the local paper and tell them what happens to the FIV cats they get and what other rescues would do. The cat could have had a long, happy life ahead. 

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

This is what upset Therese so much, when he was put on the waiting list, no one was told that he would be pts if he tested positive.  I'm sure if they had known, they would have tried to get him in somewhere else.   I find it upsetting when I think of the 3 months of happiness that Lucas had, and also the life of riley that Biscuit is living now, poor Willow may have ended up being pts if he'd have gone somewhere else but at least now, he's in with a chance of getting a loving home and living a long and happy life.

[Bazsmum]

 

Poor, Poor cat.....

So sad that the animal kingdom has to be ran by the book....If the cat was ill with it then yes they would have just cause....but to do this to a cat who has no symptoms is a disgrace! 

[ccmacey]

Yep as what would of been done to the strays I had.

With Blackie I was told nothing about this and after all the happiness I had felt because I had caught him, I felt like a murderer when I was told on the day of the op if he was pos he would be pts, I felt like I had caught him to be killed and this is not what I wanted for him.

If Seb would of been pos "the rescue" authorised his murder, the only way I got out of that would to be to pay for his tests.

I dont agree with it at all, times have changed and things can be done for FIV cats (I dont need to tell you that)

I wish these rescues would stop being so "stuck in the times" and misinformed and get to know what they are dealing with a lot more.

After all it's not a job, it's a passion.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I've just been talking to Therese who had Jasmine, Cody and Benjy off me a while ago.  There was a stray that had been in her area for a while, lots of people feeding him and he was in really good condition.  Someone contacted a rescue and he was put on their waiting list, as they really didn't want him spending another winter outside.  Therese said he was gorgeous, looked very healthy and everyone loved him.  Anyway, finally the neighbour finally got a phone call to say the rescue had room, they took him in, blood tested him and then informed her he had been pts because he was FIV          Why the hell do rescues do this?  I really can't understand why this still goes on, FIV isn't necessarily a death sentance and cats can be rehomed with this condition and what the neighbours did in thinking they were doing the right thing, basically signed this poor cats death warrant      This is the one thing in rescue that really gets my back up, how can it be rescue when they play god like this and pts a perfectly healthy cat