Did you know there’s such a thing as Feline Leukemia Month? It even has its own special day: July 15th.
I stumbled across this while browsing the Owners group. To my delight, I learned that the Community Cats Podcast hosts an online conference dedicated to Feline Leukemia. The cost for attending was reasonable, and I couldn’t wait to participate.
Visit the 2024 Online Feline Leukemia Day Conference
A Chance to Connect
I was particularly excited about the opportunity to connect with Dr. Julie Levy, a renowned expert in the field whose research has been incredibly impactful. My goal was to attend several sessions, learn more about the illness, connect with others, and ask questions during the presentations.
Unfortunately, the realities of the conference dashed my hopes. The structure didn’t allow for questions during the sessions, which made sense to avoid distractions but was still disappointing. Connections with others were relegated to Facebook groups, which didn’t prove helpful for me. However, I did connect with another Owner member who was also attending.
Disappointments and Realizations
Dr. Levy’s presentation, which I had eagerly anticipated, turned out to be a recording. Her session covered the latest findings and explored the connection between FeLV and FIP. While the information was valuable, I was disheartened by the lack of interaction.
I also realized how out of touch I was with current methodologies for managing FeLV-positive cats. While it was reassuring that cats aren’t euthanized solely because of a positive test, the approach felt passive: love them, reduce their stress, and prepare to help them pass when secondary infections set in. Fighting the virus wasn’t seen as an option. This contrasted sharply with my own efforts using raltegravir.
An Emotional Aftermath
Leaving the conference, I was heartbroken and in tears. I felt like an outlier, a “freak” for pursuing a path that others might dismiss. The magnitude of this realization hit me hard. Yet, amidst the despair, a quiet determination began to grow. At the time, I decided I wouldn’t return to another conference like this unless I was a presenter, sharing my findings.
"Although I post this in July, I wrote it much later with a bit of compassionate hindsight."
A New Beginning
At the time, I sought connections and a space to discuss raltegravir and its findings. By the end of that month, I would help create that very space. Though the conference left me disillusioned, it also propelled me toward action, sparking a journey that would change everything.
Stay tuned for more on how this journey unfolded.
