My name is ABIGAIL, Aka Abby!

ABIGAIL...aka Abby

Abby found "me" September 27th when I went to feed my feral cats. She came running out of a wooded area meowing ferociously...came right up to me when I called her. I scooped her up and plopped her down in front of a bowl full of food. She scarfed up that can of wet food in no time.

Wrapped in a towel she sat in my lap during our car ride home...I set her up in her own kennel and she settled in for the rest of the night. We were able to get her to the vet on Monday for testing, deworming, and flea treating.

This is the heartbreaker...Abby tested positive for Feline Leukemia.

Abby is approximately 1 year old, 5.8 pounds, sweet, gentle, playful, and totally awesome! She shows no signs of aggression towards the other cats we have; she is being kept separate from the others so they do not share litter boxes or food/water bowls. She had to belong to someone at sometime...she is super friendly and is used to humans and being in a home environment. She uses her litter like a champ and loves to sunbathe in her window ham-mick. Someone must have turned her loose knowing that there was someone taking care of feral cats in the area. No sweet cat that is used to having a home should be abandoned to fend for themselves in an area they are not familiar with.

She is currently being treated for worms and coccidia (so she should be kept away from other cats until her treatment is complete). We also did a complete blood count (CBC) and all her bloodwork came back normal. For the most part, she is in good overall health. With proper introduction techniques she should do fine with a cat friendly dog or other FeLV+ felines.

When the doctor first looked at her we thought she might have been declawed because all her claws were ground down to nothing...after much discussion, we think she must have ground them down trying to "get out" of something or somewhere. She has some scabbing on all of her foot pads and there is a small injury on her tail. All are fine...she was given a convenia shot to help aid in the healing process.

She will be spayed and given her shots on October 12th. We not only tested her in the office but we sent off a sample to test her bone marrow...it too came back positive. "Once positive, the IFA test usually means that the cat has a permanent infection. A cat that tests IFA positive is only rarely able to successfully eliminate the virus. The cat that is IFA positive is called "persistently positive" or "persistently viremic" (http://www.brightwoodanimalhospital.com/felv)"

"Thus the majority of cats testing positive by the IFA test remain positive for life. These cats are shedding FeLV in the saliva and are infectious to other cats." (http://maxshouse.com/feline_leukemia_virus.htm)

It is only because Abby tested positive on the IFA test that we would like to try and find her a more appropriate home, one that does not have other felines (dogs are fine, they cannot be infected) or one with other FeLV+ kitties. So you know...our home has 5 kitties, one FIV+ and four non-positives. We are not taking re-homing Abby lightly...we only want what is best for her. Should we not be successful, Abby will live here. Because the virus has spread to her bone marrow, her lifespan is uncertain; she could live 6 months, three years or longer. Because we do not know her genetics and how she obtained the virus, we are left with many uncertainties.

All we want for Abby is to know she is loved and wanted...that she was not dumped to fend for herself or to die alone. We want her to have the best quality of life for the time she has here on earth. She came to me for help and I am trying to do right by her.

IF you are interested in learning more or meeting her...please email me at suzglo@icloud.com or call/text 256-529-2641.

According to Webmd: http://pets.webmd.com/cats/facts-about-feline-leukemia-virus

(1) Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is second only to trauma as the leading cause of death in cats, killing 85% of persistently infected felines within three years of diagnosis. The virus commonly causes anemia or lymphoma, but because it suppresses the immune system, it can also predispose cats to deadly infections.

(2) Feline leukemia is a disease that only affects cats -- it cannot be transmitted to people, dogs, or other animals. FeLV is passed from one cat to another through saliva, blood, and to some extent, urine and feces.

(3) Eighty-five percent of cats persistently infected with feline leukemia virus die within three years of diagnosis. However, regular veterinary check-ups and good preventive health care can help keep these cats feeling well for some time and help protect them from secondary infection. Twice-yearly physical examinations, laboratory testing, and parasite control can prevent complications and identify problems quickly. All FeLV infected cats should be kept indoors and be neutered.

(4) There is presently no cure for FeLV infection. Secondary infections can be treated as they appear, and cats with cancer can receive chemotherapy. However, the prognosis is grave for cats with bone marrow compromise or widespread lymphoma.

Information on Feline Leukemia:
(1) http://www.wesavepets.com/info/file?file=s982m2231.pdf
(2) http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2011/09/13/understanding-felv-loving-and-living-with-felv-cats-2/