November 20, 2023: Mixed Household: Talyn's Illness and Recovery, Chiana Remained Healthy

We have a mixed household: one FeLV+ cat and one FeLV- cat (vaccinated yearly). In the first week of November 2023, we noticed that Talyn (our FeLV-negative, FeLV-vaccinated cat) was coughing but not throwing up. He also seemed to be breathing heavily every once in a while. The coughing had been going on for a few days, and I honestly (and incorrectly) thought he was just trying to cough up hairballs, since he's a medium-haired cat.

By November 15th, we decided to take him to the vet, who also treats our FeLV+ cat, Chiana. While at the vet, Talyn seemed fine, but later on, he started coughing in front of the vet tech. The vet gave him a shot of Convenia®. While we were there, just to be thorough, we had him tested for FeLV, and the result came back negative. Talyn got better over the weekend and is now back to his usual self (no more coughing).

...but here's the interesting part: Chiana (the FeLV+ cat, who’s being treated with raltegravir) never got sick! :)

As we understand it, it’s the secondary issues and infections that cause problems for FeLV cats. We're actively fighting the virus early (before symptoms appear), and so far, we’re seeing positive results. So far, so good! :)

Test Results: January 2, 2024: Progressive: Increase

Update

Just after the New Year 2024, we had Chiana tested again for FeLV. In addition to checking her viral load, our vet drew blood to assess whether raltegravir was affecting her liver or kidneys. The results were mixed.

The good news: the 25 mg dose of raltegravir, given once daily, is not affecting her organs, which is a big relief. However, her FeLV viral load has increased for the first time since starting the drug.

Test Results

Date	Status	Viral Load
9/28/23	REGRESSIVE	0.59 x 10⁶ = 590,000
1/2/24	Progressive	6.32 x 10⁶ = 6,320,000

Analysis

Her viral load increased from regressive at 0.59 x 10⁶ (590,000) to progressive at 6.32 x 10⁶ (6,320,000). The cutoff between regressive and progressive is 1 million (1,000,000).

While we’re not thrilled about the increase, it’s somewhat reassuring that it wasn’t drastic, especially considering she started at 90.98 x 10⁶ (90,980,000).

This result challenges the original theory that her viral load would consistently decrease. Why the sudden increase? We’re not certain, but her significant weight gain might be a factor. When Chiana started on this drug in March 2023, she weighed just 6 lbs (as of 2/18/23). As of 1/2/24, she’s a robust Maine Coon weighing nearly 14 lbs!

Next Steps

• Increase her raltegravir dosage from 25 mg once daily to 50 mg (25 mgs twice a day.) This adjustment started on 1/4/24.
• Schedule her next test at the beginning of April 2024 to monitor her viral load.

Resources / Studies / Papers

Finding reliable resources on FeLV can be difficult, but we’ve found one Facebook group that's been incredibly helpful: Owners of FeLV+/FIV+ Cats. This is a community of caring and compassionate people who are fighting for the lives of these cats. If you’re dealing with FeLV or FIV, it’s definitely worth joining.

Raltegravir: Resources We Found Early On

After we learned about raltegravir, my husband, M----, began researching its use for treating FeLV. Here are three key resources that we found, which offer valuable insights into the treatment. You can easily find them by searching online, and I've included pictures of the first pages of each document for reference.

1. Evaluation of the Effect of Short-Term Treatment with the Integrase Inhibitor Raltegravir (IsentressTM) on the Course of Progressive Feline Leukemia Virus Infection
   This was the first scientific paper we came across that provided real evidence of raltegravir's effectiveness against FeLV.
2. Undetectable Proviral DNA and Viral RNA Levels After Raltegravir Administration in Two Cats with Natural Feline Leukemia Virus Infection
   M---- refers to this as the “Brazilian paper.” While it’s not a formal research paper, it’s a report detailing the experience with a few cats, and it was very helpful.
3. Efficacy of Antiviral Chemotherapy for Retrovirus-Infected Cats: What Does the Current Literature Tell Us?
   This paper offers an interesting comparison of various treatment options available for FeLV, which helped guide our understanding of the available choices.

 

All About Talyn (FeLV Negative) Cat

Dearest "Tuxedo" Talyn. With all the attention Chiana gets, it’s easy to forget about him—unless he's underfoot because he's hungry or hiding in plain sight (because, well, he can and does).

He's the rescue cat who adopted my cat-hating husband. The mouser who got an early taste of hunting and now has the perseverance of a true stalker. Talyn was born on 11/14/2021, and we adopted him on 3/6/22. Known at the rescue as "Bad Bunny," we took him in before Chiana and, because I was fostering other kittens at the time, vaccinated him against FeLV.

One of the toughest decisions we made early on was how to handle the situation once Chiana tested FeLV positive. How could we keep both of them safe? Should we rehome one? Although not bonded, they get along quite well and we love their almost daily "zoomie" antics.

In the end, we acknowledged the risks (which are very low) and decided to keep them together in what's known as a mixed household. We're treating Chiana, and Talyn is vaccinated yearly. We take good care of both of them and are doing the best we can.

Here are more specifics about their lives: They play and groom each other, and we have three litter boxes for them to use. They eat in separate rooms, and we try to keep their food separate—another reason for this is that Talyn tends to overeat and had to lose some weight (he started at 12 lbs and is now down to 8+ lbs).

I try to keep their treats separate but acknowledge that it doesn't always work. They drink from the same water bowls. Overall, we don't regret keeping them together. After doing all of this and learning more about FeLV and mixed households, I came across a webinar that discusses this issue and others in greater detail.

You can view it here: Mixed FeLV Households – Can You? Should You? Will You?

It was presented on September 28, 2023 and is 1 1/2 hrs long. https://youtu.be/yi1jAptf9xg?si=YsXBHr5dasGj3nEC

Talyn

Talyn & Chiana

Wellness Test Results January 2024: Understanding Chiana's FeLV Management: A Look at Her Recent Lab Results

Summary

Chiana is thriving despite her Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) diagnosis. Her recent bloodwork reveals stable health, including normal liver and kidney function, balanced blood sugar and electrolytes, and strong immune system markers. While her platelet count is slightly low, it’s not a major concern at this stage. This report highlights her resilience and the effectiveness of her current management plan on raltegravir.

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1. Overall Health Indicators

• Total Protein: 7.2 g/dL (Normal: 5.2-8.8)
  Proteins in the blood are essential for immune function and overall health. Chiana’s level is perfectly normal.
• Albumin & Globulin: Both levels are in the healthy range, indicating no protein imbalances or liver issues.
• Albumin/Globulin Ratio: 1.0 (Normal: 0.35-1.5)
  This balance shows that her immune and liver functions are in good shape.

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2. Liver & Kidney Function

• Liver Enzymes (ALT and Alkaline Phosphatase): Well within normal ranges, suggesting no liver damage.
• BUN & Creatinine: These measure kidney function, and both are healthy. Creatinine’s value (1.1 mg/dL) is comfortably within the range, and her SDMA (14.9 µg/dL) is right on the edge of perfect kidney health.

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3. Blood Sugar & Electrolytes

• Glucose: 97 mg/dL
  Normal levels indicate no signs of diabetes.
• Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride): All are balanced, showing she’s well-hydrated and her cellular functions are optimal.

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4. Immune System & Blood Health

• White Blood Cells (WBC): 11.3 (Normal: 3.5-16.0)
  Her immune system appears strong, with no signs of infection.
• Red Blood Cells (RBC), Hemoglobin, Hematocrit: All in normal ranges, showing she’s not anemic.
• Platelet Count: 151 x 10³/uL (Slightly low; Normal: 200-500)
  While the count is low, it could be due to clumping in the sample, a common lab issue. The report confirms her platelets are adequate.

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What It All Means

FeLV can impact the immune system and blood health, but Chiana’s results suggest that her condition is stable. Her liver and kidneys are functioning well, and she has no signs of anemia or infection.

The slightly low platelet count isn’t a major concern, but we’ll keep monitoring it to ensure it’s not a developing issue.

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Final Thoughts

Managing FeLV in cats like Chiana requires vigilance, regular check-ups, and a lot of love. This bloodwork gives me hope that she’s thriving despite her diagnosis.

Stay tuned for more updates on Chiana’s journey!