Friday, April 10, 2009

...living on borrowed time & by God's grace



everybody's glad that Matt's back home...

not so much with Creamer...



but she doesn't care...

the news was ominous in many ways...

both are positive for the corona virus that can cause FIP....
[Feline Infectious Peritonitis]
but only in 5-10% of cats infected...

since it's very contagious...
the chances are good that they all, are positive...
in healthy cats, they get infected & "shed" the virus...
over time, becoming corona free...
but... will always test positive after that...

unfortunately, they also re-infect themselves...
and any others they live with...
and in 5-10% of cats who are corona virus positive...
[usually, the very old, very young or immune compromised...]
they can develop FIP and die...

they can also develop other debilitating conditions...
secondary to being corona positive...

here's my conundrum...

Creamer & Matt are really healthy now...
the digestive issues have gone away...
but they are "positive" & can infect the others...
if they haven't already...

however, the test is $80 per cat...
not an option in my current financial state...
and all my cats are either, now at least 10 yrs old...
or will be this year, falling into the "at risk" group...
except Sneaky Pie, who's nearly 5...

and what if a couple of cats test negative ?
to remain that way, they'd have to be vaccinated...
which is not a sure thing re FIP protection...
and then, isolated from the rest...

forever...

breaking up my family...
for what ?
the chance,[1 in 20], that they might get sick... & die...

hello...they're all at least 10...the oldest 17...
that's going to happen, sooner or later...
no matter what I do...

so after discussing all the options with my vet...
I decided to do nothing unless someone gets sick...
and leave the rest to God...

it's all so nebulous anyway...

nobody's sick at this point...
they may have been corona positive for years...
after all, the test only shows that they were exposed...
sometime in the past...

and the symptoms for FIP...
are also indicative of other conditions...
it's only when they get really sick, that you know...
and then, it's over anyway...
because FIP is always fatal in cats...

at one point, I would have "thrown" a lot of $ at this...
testing them all & vaccinating where I could...
and the results wouldn't be predictably much better...
so, since I'm trusting God with everything else...

I've given Him my kitties' health concerns...

so around here, we're "living on borrowed time"...
and by God's grace...

a pretty good place to be at any time...
borrowed... or not...

2 comments:

Mousie and Christy's Mommy said...

Catsinger...today is all we ever have...and today you have them all...old, young, positive, negative, healthy or whatever. Enjoy and love and cherish each kitty each day that is "today." You will all be in my prayers as I ask our gracious Lord to give you many "todays!"

God bless...and Happy Resurrection Day!

catsinger said...

...well said... and a blessed Easter to you both...
"Alleluia, Christ is risen !"