We took him to the vet yesterday and he was tested for various things. He came back negative on all the tests except leukemia :(. He's only a baby, 5 months old. I looked it up on the internet and it said a cat with leukemia can live several weeks to several months. :(

He's such a great kitten, it makes me upset that he is infected. In fact he purred the whole time at the vet and even through his shots. Does any one here have a cat with leukemia? If so, what food did you feed it and how long did it survive with the leukemia? My husband says if he gets really bad to where it will take extensive treatments and antibiotics to make him comfortable, he will have him put down because we won't be able to afford the expenses.. :wail:

:sad:

We took him to the vet yesterday and he was tested for various things. He came back negative on all the tests except leukemia :(


Oooh Svdsweetp! :grouphug: I am so sad to hear your cat has FeLeuk!! :( I had a cat, Pepsi, years and years ago who had that! I don't recall how long he was sick before we had him put to sleep, but that was our final decision. It was so very sad. I cried for days! The doctor said he was going down hill very fast. It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make! :sad: :wail: I wish there was something I could say to you that would make you feel better, but I don't think I have such sage advice! :(

After Pepsi, I've always taken new cats to the vet and had them check for FeLeuk and the vaccinated against it.

:grouphug: :grouphug: Give your sweet kitten hugs and kisses from Auntie Tbear! Keep kitty as comfortable as you can!

((((((svdsweetp))))))

awww, sweetie I'm so sorry for you and your little kitten. It's very sad.

We had a mother cat and took her to be spayed. I believe to this day she was infected there and returned home to infect the kittens. Actually, our cats lived a year or more before I found out they were ALL infected.

One went through a terrible ordeal before it died and I promised all the others I wouldn't allow them to suffer like the first. When each really started going downhill I would have it put to sleep. It was a very sad time in our house.

I'm sending comforting thoughts your way and give that kitten a scratch behind the ears for me.

Awwww that just sucks sweetp. I do not know that much about kitty health problems but I believe I have heard some much more optimistic estimates than that. Here hoping the best for you and the little one ... I am so very sorry ...gabi

:-( :sad:
All I have to say is
((((((HUGS))))))
I'm too saddened to say anything else. Please keep us posted. We are here for you.:grouphug:

The first person I thought about when I read your post was Saji. I knew she would be here if there was a sick kitty. :-( (waving up there to Saji :waving: )

My heart goes out to you and your sweet little kitty. Hugs to you both. :heartbeat

I am so sorry to hear about your kitten.


Here are a couple sites to visit:

http://www.corax.com/feline/leukemia.html
This person is not a veterinarian, but had a cat with FeLv.

http://www.felineleukemia.org/
About FeLv and about some treatments that can help.

Both of the above sites have links for more information.

Poor little baby, and poor you too.

Do you have other kitties? I think it's one of those really transmittable diseases, isn't it? I seem to remember having heard cases of people who will have a cat die from it and then they get another cat and that cat gets it...

I'm so sorry to hear about your baby, svdsweetp!

I lost a cat to the disease many, many years ago. Cricket was probably only four or five years old when she died (and went down hill very quickly, I might add). On the positive side, though, my family also had one of her littermates who lived to be 17-18 years old. You just never know

The most important thing that you need to remember with FeLeuk is that this kitty is the only one you can have. He will infect other cats through the litterbox and food. Also, if you handle him and then, say, go to visit another place that has cats, it's important that you thoroughly wash your hands before handling any other cats. Don't take any chances. Even though my late sister was a vet technician and carefully and painstakingly explained these things over and over again to my father, he never could grasp the fact. He'd keep adopting cats who in turn kept infecting other cats and spreading the disease. I guess what I'm saying is that this isn't necessarily a death sentence for your kitty. He could very well lead a productive life.

I'm going to try to tread as lightly as I possibly can with this next because I don't know what you and your husband's financial situation is or what his definition of "extensive" is. Please take it in the spirit intended because I really do mean it in the nicest possibly way. Here goes: It's my firm belief that when a person adopts a pet that he/she makes a commitement to that animal--and I mean for life of that animal! I'll use my cat Lenny as an example. He's an eight-year-old diabetic and receives insulin shots twice a day. You cannot believe the people who, when they learn this, exclaim to me in horror, "What?! That's way too expensive and too much of a bother! Why don't you just put him to sleep?" My response to inconsiderate a$$hats like that is generally a cool, "Oh, so if your son or daughter was diagnosed with a controllable disease, you'd have him or her executed?" If and when Lenny's quality of life beoames an issue, I won't hesitate to put him down; but right now he enjoys a very full, happy life and is the absolute joy of mine. He IS my son, for all intents and purposes.

I apologize for going off on a rant. I honestly don't mean to browbeat you in a time like this. I truly hope that your kitty is able to live a happy, comfortable life with you.

My thoughts are with you!