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#1
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Should FIV+ feral (or strayed) cats be put to sleep ?
I know somebody who rescued a feral cat but then decided that she couldn't adopt him because he's FIV+ and doesn't get along well with other cats. If the cat has already been neutered but is not adoptable would it make any sense to put him to sleep rather than to release him back to where he came from ? I tend to think that a lot of feral cats are already FIV+ so that she shouldn't worry about this cat transmitting the virus to other feral cats. Thanks in advance for your opinions. |
#2
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I know somebody who rescued a feral cat but then decided
that she couldn't adopt him because he's FIV+ and doesn't get along well with other cats. Is your friend the one who had him neutered? I sort of think that once a person becomes involved in an animal's life in that way that the responsibility for doing the right thing becomes theirs. I think she should try harder to place the cat if she definitely can't keep him. But maybe she should try harder to keep him. He might come around and get along very well with her other cats. Did she give him a fair chance with a proper introduction? FIV pos cats can only infect others via bite wounds. If she keeps the cat and he doesn't fight with her other cats, then there is no problem. But if he's released back outside and fending for himself with other feral cats then it's very likely he will bite one of them or get bitten by another and pass the virus on (I've had 4 feral cats tested at different times and all were negative; it never starts in some colonies, it just depends but they definitely do not all have FIV.). It would be best for this kitty to have an indoor home with or without other FIV pos cats. The second best option would be to find a shelter or rescue that has FIV pos cats only. I know they exist in some places. How long did she try to incorporate this cat into her own home? Ferals generally come around and are very sweet cats...I have one myself but it took some time. I think it would be wrong to release him back outside and very wrong to have him euthanized at this point. She needs to work harder to either keep him or place him. Candace (take the litter out before replying by e-mail) See my cats: http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace |
#3
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I know somebody who rescued a feral cat but then decided
that she couldn't adopt him because he's FIV+ and doesn't get along well with other cats. Is your friend the one who had him neutered? I sort of think that once a person becomes involved in an animal's life in that way that the responsibility for doing the right thing becomes theirs. I think she should try harder to place the cat if she definitely can't keep him. But maybe she should try harder to keep him. He might come around and get along very well with her other cats. Did she give him a fair chance with a proper introduction? FIV pos cats can only infect others via bite wounds. If she keeps the cat and he doesn't fight with her other cats, then there is no problem. But if he's released back outside and fending for himself with other feral cats then it's very likely he will bite one of them or get bitten by another and pass the virus on (I've had 4 feral cats tested at different times and all were negative; it never starts in some colonies, it just depends but they definitely do not all have FIV.). It would be best for this kitty to have an indoor home with or without other FIV pos cats. The second best option would be to find a shelter or rescue that has FIV pos cats only. I know they exist in some places. How long did she try to incorporate this cat into her own home? Ferals generally come around and are very sweet cats...I have one myself but it took some time. I think it would be wrong to release him back outside and very wrong to have him euthanized at this point. She needs to work harder to either keep him or place him. Candace (take the litter out before replying by e-mail) See my cats: http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace |
#4
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I know somebody who rescued a feral cat but then decided
that she couldn't adopt him because he's FIV+ and doesn't get along well with other cats. Is your friend the one who had him neutered? I sort of think that once a person becomes involved in an animal's life in that way that the responsibility for doing the right thing becomes theirs. I think she should try harder to place the cat if she definitely can't keep him. But maybe she should try harder to keep him. He might come around and get along very well with her other cats. Did she give him a fair chance with a proper introduction? FIV pos cats can only infect others via bite wounds. If she keeps the cat and he doesn't fight with her other cats, then there is no problem. But if he's released back outside and fending for himself with other feral cats then it's very likely he will bite one of them or get bitten by another and pass the virus on (I've had 4 feral cats tested at different times and all were negative; it never starts in some colonies, it just depends but they definitely do not all have FIV.). It would be best for this kitty to have an indoor home with or without other FIV pos cats. The second best option would be to find a shelter or rescue that has FIV pos cats only. I know they exist in some places. How long did she try to incorporate this cat into her own home? Ferals generally come around and are very sweet cats...I have one myself but it took some time. I think it would be wrong to release him back outside and very wrong to have him euthanized at this point. She needs to work harder to either keep him or place him. Candace (take the litter out before replying by e-mail) See my cats: http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace |
#5
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That's not necessarily true about feral cats and FIV. First, the cat
should be re-tested, as false postives are not unusual in testing. Second, if the cat is indeed positive, I think your friend should contact a feral cat group in her area and see if anyone would be willing to foster this cat. I don't think it's fair to release this back into the outdoors. One, since you say this cat doesn't get along with other cats, by fighting it can spread the disease to healthy animals. Two, when this cat gets truly sick it's going to suffer and that's not fair to the cat. Plus, any other cats he/she infects will probably end up with the same fate. If the cat is still in the early stages of FIV, it can have many good years left and could be tamed by someone who is willing to take in an FIV positive cat, and there are people like that out there. The one thing your friend will need to keep in mind, is that it is still kitten season and many rescue groups have been up to their whiskers in kittens, so she may need to extend the net of inquiry a bit farther. I do empathize, it's a tough situation. K wrote: I know somebody who rescued a feral cat but then decided that she couldn't adopt him because he's FIV+ and doesn't get along well with other cats. If the cat has already been neutered but is not adoptable would it make any sense to put him to sleep rather than to release him back to where he came from ? I tend to think that a lot of feral cats are already FIV+ so that she shouldn't worry about this cat transmitting the virus to other feral cats. Thanks in advance for your opinions. |
#6
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That's not necessarily true about feral cats and FIV. First, the cat
should be re-tested, as false postives are not unusual in testing. Second, if the cat is indeed positive, I think your friend should contact a feral cat group in her area and see if anyone would be willing to foster this cat. I don't think it's fair to release this back into the outdoors. One, since you say this cat doesn't get along with other cats, by fighting it can spread the disease to healthy animals. Two, when this cat gets truly sick it's going to suffer and that's not fair to the cat. Plus, any other cats he/she infects will probably end up with the same fate. If the cat is still in the early stages of FIV, it can have many good years left and could be tamed by someone who is willing to take in an FIV positive cat, and there are people like that out there. The one thing your friend will need to keep in mind, is that it is still kitten season and many rescue groups have been up to their whiskers in kittens, so she may need to extend the net of inquiry a bit farther. I do empathize, it's a tough situation. K wrote: I know somebody who rescued a feral cat but then decided that she couldn't adopt him because he's FIV+ and doesn't get along well with other cats. If the cat has already been neutered but is not adoptable would it make any sense to put him to sleep rather than to release him back to where he came from ? I tend to think that a lot of feral cats are already FIV+ so that she shouldn't worry about this cat transmitting the virus to other feral cats. Thanks in advance for your opinions. |
#7
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That's not necessarily true about feral cats and FIV. First, the cat
should be re-tested, as false postives are not unusual in testing. Second, if the cat is indeed positive, I think your friend should contact a feral cat group in her area and see if anyone would be willing to foster this cat. I don't think it's fair to release this back into the outdoors. One, since you say this cat doesn't get along with other cats, by fighting it can spread the disease to healthy animals. Two, when this cat gets truly sick it's going to suffer and that's not fair to the cat. Plus, any other cats he/she infects will probably end up with the same fate. If the cat is still in the early stages of FIV, it can have many good years left and could be tamed by someone who is willing to take in an FIV positive cat, and there are people like that out there. The one thing your friend will need to keep in mind, is that it is still kitten season and many rescue groups have been up to their whiskers in kittens, so she may need to extend the net of inquiry a bit farther. I do empathize, it's a tough situation. K wrote: I know somebody who rescued a feral cat but then decided that she couldn't adopt him because he's FIV+ and doesn't get along well with other cats. If the cat has already been neutered but is not adoptable would it make any sense to put him to sleep rather than to release him back to where he came from ? I tend to think that a lot of feral cats are already FIV+ so that she shouldn't worry about this cat transmitting the virus to other feral cats. Thanks in advance for your opinions. |
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