My terminally ill cat?

Question

Hi, my cat is 4 years, 9 months and I've had her just 4 years now. For over 3 years she's been treated for an unknown condition with the immune suppressant Medrol/Medrone. It's kept her alive and well until earlier this year when she stopped responding to it. We have no idea what she has, every test shows a negative result. We haven't done a bone marrow test since there's nothing cureable there. Something is killing her red blood cells and we don't know what the cause is. The vet told me her latest blood test showed her marrow had stopped regenerating and there's no hope for her now. That was in January, she's off all her meds now and still here, though very thin and severely anaemic. How long can a cat live without new blood cells and something killing the current ones? Does anyone have any ideas or thoughts on what she might have? Any tests that might have been overlooked? I'm prepared to let her go now, but not without a fight. I'm desparate to save her life. Thanks.

Have been to three different vets in the US, one was really great and was a cats only specialist, wish I could see her now.
Seen 5 or 6 vets here in the UK and none really seem too interested, she's hard work to handle (though probably not too much now) and I think they just can't be bothered. They all run the same tests and they all say the same result. She was on Prednisone right at the beginning of her illness but didn't respond to it, though that vet didn't care either and didn't try different meds. No vet in the UK has offered to try a different drug on her. If I try yet another vet, I'm afraid that the stress of the visit and the blood loss for yet more of the same tests will finish her off. She already had a blood transfusion at the beginning but me and husband decided that we'd not transfuse her again unless there was a real chance of her staying well. The vets is torture for bopth of us and I want to minimise visits and treatment as much as possible.

She had an ultrasound too but nothing showed up. Thanks to everyone's input but especially to LynnMarie, I appreciate your thoughts. She's not as lethagic as one might expect for such an ill girl, she rests alot but is very happy, goes to the litter tray, still jumps up onto sinks and high stuff though it's obviously hard for her. Her last Packed Cell Volume count (red blood cell ratio) was just 8%, well below the level most cats could tolerate. She has a strong spirit and loves life. We already set up a fund with the vet for her final expenses and that's waiting for when the time comes, it's just not yet.

Answer 1

Just enjoy your cat and make every minute count. I just lost my cat of 15 yrs. Sometimes all them tests are so hard on the pet that we must think of them and what they go through with that and not ourselves and let them go. How much pain going through them tests has your cat been through already? If you cat is happy right now, just keep enjoying it and cherish your cat. But think about the quality of life your cat will have if it has to be on a feeding tube or meds or other for the rest of its life if that was the case. It is a matter of time she will leave and cats take a downturn so quickly, so be prepared and let her go when she is ready or in pain to have her put down. It wont be easy. Your cat will let you know as mine did when it is time. Prayers are with you and your kitty.

Answer 2

I am so sorry about your situation. I had a dog Joey, I still miss him and he died eight years ago. He also had an unknown condition. His liver numbers were up. They did all kinds of blood work, an ultrasound. I was so very desparate to save his life. After three long months of testing they diagnosed him with Cushings Syndrome. He was put on the drug Anapril. We got almost a year of him responding to treatment but at the age of 12 the meds he was on caused an ulcer and his kidneys to fail so we had to put him down. Crap I am crying right now just remembering it. After three vets we went to a specialist from Cornel University and that is what gave us the extra year. His last Christmas was a good one. Even when you know in your heart you have to let go it is still the most difficult thing in the world to do. My husband and I pet and cuddled Joey before they put him to sleep. It was so hard being there but I knew it was time. The damn insensitive vet kept coming in the room trying to rush the goodby so we didn't get in the way. I yelled at her and I found a better vet. Four years later my 10 Beagle Blue got cancer. He only responded to treatment for two months and I could tell he was suffering so we again put him to sleep. He will be gone four years this August. All I can suggest is going to a specialist. When they stop eating and just lay there, as much as it hurts, you know it is time. I am so sorry you are going through this. I know exactly how you feel. I am glad I am not the only person in the world to thinks a pet is worth saving. My cat Cloey is going on seven and we are spiritually connected so I have no idea how I will react when it is her time but I can't think about that. I have to enjoy her now and I thank God everyday she is healthy. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Answer 3

Hi there,
I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty. I understand very good how you feel, because my cat seems to have the same disease than yours! He is only 2 years old and the sweetest guy in the world. He was for 1 year on Prednisolone but it's not helping anymore. He stopped eating and I can tell he is very uncomfortable - only lying around and not responding to his name. So not his style! So we prepare for the worst. We haven't done the bone marrow test either. We did so many tests and all were negative like yours. We did them 3 times and more. We don't want to put him through more stress and pain. We were told that our cat has EOS (Hyper Eosinophilic Syndrom) which is extremely rare or Eosinophilic Leukemia. Do you know the count of your cats eosinophils? BlackJack has about 80,000 right now, which makes it unbelievable that he is still here. But today it's really looking bad - especially this morning. We are giving him fluids (IV) at home, but for how long do you continue? My husband is with him at home right now and I can't concentrate at work. It's such a hard thing to say bye bye after so much love from him. I wish you the best of luck with your little fellow. I let you know if I learn more. There is very little to find about EOS. All the best for you - Saskia

Answer 4

When my dog was dying of a liver shunt, it was only in her final days the vet thought to mention there was an op available for this condition when it was far too late for her by that point. So my advice to first seek a second opinion from another vet to ensure everything has been done for your cat and she's not being left to languish due to vet laziness. I'd also consider emailing or inquiring at veterinary universities for advice or even for an appointment as if any research is being done, that is where it will be happening.

You should maybe take a look on the Net for what drugs are used to stimulate the bone marrow in humans as often the same drugs can be used in animals at different doses. I'd also wonder about giving her iron/haemoglobin (yes, it is available out there for cats but it could be costly) to maintain her until she was at a stage to regenerate her bone marrow. That's just a guess though but, working with human cancer patients, they too take drugs to suppress their bone marrow but are given things to maintain them and usually the bone marrow does recover when their chemo is discontinued.

Answer 5

Have you tried Prednisone ((is a synthetic corticosteroid drug which is usually taken orally and can be used for a large number of different conditions. It has a mainly glucocorticoid effect. Prednisone is a prodrug that is converted by the liver into prednisolone, which is the active drug and a steroid)) ?

Good Luck and I do hope that you find a cure. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

Answer 6

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/babcockrescue.html

http://www.yorkcats.org.uk/links.htm

http://www.tailsofjoy.net/links/links.html

http://www.friendsofcats.org/contact_us.htm


CONTACTS & LINKS

Friends Of Cats is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm daily except Mondays when we are closed. We are also closed on most major holidays, call the shelter to check which holidays we are open. We can be reached at the following numbers and e-mail addresses.

Main shelter number - 619-561-0361 ext 0

Shelter Manager - 619-561-0361 ext 10

[e-mail]

Volunteer Coordinator - 619-561-0361 ext 31

[e-mail]

Lifetime Care Coordinator - 619-561-0361 ext 30

[e-mail]

Answer 7

There is a point that you have to consider quality vs quantity... you could go through "what ifs" & "try this" for years and get no where and your kitty will be feeling miserable the whole time. Pets are supose to bring love and peace to our lives not stress and worry! Only you can make that decision though ... if you do decide to let her go... don't forget what she brought to your life and what you brough to hers!

Answer 8

have you tried the medicine [vitamin k] it is a great medicine for helping get red blood cell count normal and this will help your cat feel better and it will help breathing. another thing to do would be try to find a different vet or animal hospital and compare results.

Answer 9

What about blood transfusion.Specialists will do this from a donor cat and then if a second one is needed they will match and cross type her blood but try and seek some type of veterinary internist.

Answer 10

Check for feline hepatitis. It's rare, but could possibly be it.
I am so sorry for what you are going thru.