COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

FIV blood donors A new vaccine to prevent FIV has had some deadly effects: no matter what test is used, cats that have been given the new vaccine always test “false-positive” for FIV because current tests cannot distinguish “vaccinated cats” from “truly infected cats.” Consequently, vaccinated cats that wind up in shelters test “positive” – and are killed because shelters can’t adopt “sick” cats into loving homes.

             Researchers at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine have been developing a new test that will distinguish between vaccinated cats and truly infected cats. Rather than infect healthy laboratory cats with FIV, the researchers contacted us in January 2005 and asked if we could contribute blood samples from 10 our FIV positive cats.

             Duh... a no-brainer! Of course we did!! No healthy laboratory cats needed to be infected, and, if the researchers are successful and develop a new FIV test, fewer shelter cats will test false-positive for FIV. These cats can then be adopted into loving homes – instead of being killed.

Are “distemper” shots really needed? Again, the Vet School at the University of Florida contacted us in June 2005 and asked if we had any cats that had not yet been given their “distemper” shots (a routine vaccination). Yes we did – some of our new, feral cat, arrivals.

             Researchers are trying to determine if the vaccination works in recently trapped ferals. Many believe that the stress of being trapped prevents the vaccine from working. If the shot doesn’t work, then there is no need to give it to feral cats that are returned to their habitat after being neutered or spayed. This would save money for groups that practice Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

             The research is also trying to find out that if the first shot does work, is a booster shot (usually given several weeks later) really necessary?

             Twenty-eight of our newly arrived feral cats gave blood samples to help the researchers.

We solved a “Catch 22" problem At the beginning of 2006 the Vet School at the University of Florida began a research study to prove that TNR is an effective method for reducing the number of stray cats. The researchers are taking one Gainesville, Florida ZIP Code and trapping as many of the stray cats as possible, neutering and spaying them, and returning them to their original habitat. The researchers will then monitor the growth/reduction of cat colonies in the ZIP Code over the next several years.

             Because the school does not want (1) to euthanize trapped cats that are FIV, Leukemia or double-positive, or (2) relocate – or euthanize – ferals that can’t be returned to an unsafe habitat, we offered to take them to our sanctuary where they can live out the rest of their lives. As of December, 2007 we have taken about two dozen of these cats.

Flank Spays The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine needed female cats to demonstrate how a "flank spay" is done. Unlike a "mid-line" (belly) spay, the flank spay procedure cuts into the side of the cat.

             The primary reason to do a flank spay is to avoid causing trouble when a nursing mom is returned to her kittens. The kittens could accidently hook any exposed "mid-line" sutures and open up the mid-line incision.

             Twenty-five of our female cats participated in this flank spay demonstration.