Early Questions & Contact Tracing

In those first days after both positive SNAP tests, we immediately wondered how she got the illness. How did this happen? Chiana had SNAP tested negative before coming into our home. We contacted her previous owner and he showed us her mother's negative FeLV test.

 

He tested all cats that may have come in contact with her and all were negative. The truth is this: ALL the cats that ever entered our home SNAP tested negative before they stayed with us. Even after Chiana's positive test result, many were tested again: the results? All negative. Here are some notes from that time: 

Adopted: 12-22-22 TESTS: (A----) Snap test: 12/(27-28)/22 negative (A----) 

First positive SNAP ELSA test: 2-18-23 

Second positive SNAP Test: (O----) 2-20-23 Serum Test 2/20/23: Positive POSSIBLE 

EXPOSURES: Resident cat Talyn (FeLV vaccinated: ??) Talyn snap retest 2/24/23 negative Pre-adoption: Mom and other kittens tested negative on SNAPs K-----: tested negative on Snap --G---- (never met Chiana): tested negative on SNAP: **K----- and G---- were found together in a crate and brought to a pound and separated for adoptions--when G-----'s foster mom needed a week off, we kept him at our home with K---- for that week) -was also exposed to Talyn as well The only cat who tested negative before but we couldn't test after Chiana's positive result was a cat name K----- who was adopted after having been in contact with Chiana. K--- was adopted as a single cat by a loving family. We don't know her fate. 

Does this matter? To me, the answer is no. We will never know how Chiana got the illness but I am using this as a mission to help other cats with FeLV. Also, looking back, the ONLY thing I would change regarding fostering is to ensure that ALL my resident cats were/are fully FeLV vaccinated before having other cats/kittens enter the home. The vaccine works.

Contact Tracing