Now our other cat has FEL,V.?

Question

Great. now i am going to have to suffer the loss of BOTH of my cats. One is very sick right now,and deteriorating quickly, and the other one was just diagnosed with it today.We went to the vet to get her the shots to prevent getting the disease, but they walked out of the room and told us that we were too late.I cannot believe this.Now i am going to loose BOTH of my cats to Feline Leukemia.What could be worse? I dont want to loose my kitties already, their only a year old. Help Please:^(

I dont know what to do, I love them both so very much, and loosing both of them will be losing a part of the family.

Answer 1

I am so sorry. Sometimes kittens are born with FELV, and many of them do die within the first 2 years.

But, if your one cat is still not showing symptoms, you may be able to maintain your cat in relative good health for awhile more.

Cats can live with FELV, as long as they do not show major symptoms, and are not stressed. This means indoors only, great food, great medical care.

A very, very small percent of positive cats also throw off the virus, so retesting every few years (if you have years) is a good idea.

I speak from not only years in vet medicine, but from personal experinece. When I was in school I had a kitten that had FELV, befor the vaccine came out. When she was 1 year old she got very very ill. The felv virus destroyed her body and her blood, but because testing at that time was not quick and easy, we went ahead and treated her waiting for test results. We transfused her.

6 weeks and 6 thousand dollars later, I brought her home (yah, vet students can be nuts!) and we nursed her for months. We had multiple positve felv tests.

She was retested at 6 years old...and came back negative.

She died at 22 years old.

She lived with other cats, all of whom were vaccinated when the first felv vaccine came out- none of them got it, ever.

I do not know if your cat will have a chance or not, but if your baby is healthy today, he/she may be healthy tommorrow, and for a long march of tommorrows.

I hope this gives you some peace and ease, and I am very sorry for your pain and impending loss.

Dr. Max DVM

Answer 2

....There are numerous leukemia virus strains, and each manufacturer's vaccine protects against on a few strains...Vaccines may protect some cats some of the time. Most veterinary schools do not use the vaccine...I prefer to concentrate on keeping pets healthy through good nutrition and building a healthy immune system....In my practice I recommend Immuplex, a combination supplement of vitamins, minerals, and glandular tissue formulated to increase the immune system response. The product is made by Standard Process(800-848-5061; sold through veterinarians." Jean Hovfe, DVM.

"...a large majority of cats exposed to the virus are able to muster enough immunity so that they do not become symptomatic. Such cats may be positive for the virus in lab tests but don't become sick and often live out their lives normally. Stress or immune-suppressing medication could open the door to the active disease process at some point." pp. 185-86.

I don't know if this would help the kitty who has tested positive and is not yet sick. You must feed both cats the best food you can get for them now also.

If you want to contact me I can make some suggestions as I would want to know what they have been eating.

Answer 3

geesh, I'm really sorry to hear that. In my teens, I lost two cats to the disease. We didn't at that time know what it was or how to prevent it....any animal that comes into this world, be it cat or dog, should be tested at least once a year for these nasty killer diseases. That's one of the reasons that I loudly proclaim that ALL animals ( when applicable) should be spayed and neutered and either kept inside or put up a fence. Some people may say, my landlord wont let me put a fence up.....for one? it raises the value of a property and 2, it doesn't have to be a permanent fence. I have a 3 foot high fence up around the front of my house to keep my small dogs from straying and to keep wild critters from entering....it only cost me $80. and I saved for weeks to get the money for it, I can't tell you how WORTH IT, it has been.
wait a little while and get yourself another kitty, go straight to the Vet with it and have it tested....Feline Leukemia can be spread through biting, the saliva.........well you know the rest.

Answer 4

The tom cat leukemia virus can not stay for an excellent determination minutes outdoors the cat. And with a cat in simple terms strolling around, it will be secure using time precautions. If sneezing, and so on., then it is going to become prudent precautions in treating or removing products affected. you want to isolate him out of your healthy cat. different than having your healthy cat examined, I wasn't able to looking any information as to whilst. Your vet must be the excellent source for an excellent answer.

Answer 5

I don't know if anyone can help you dear. I'm so terribly sorry about your kitties. I had a cat I loved dearly contract Feline Luk. when I was 12 and I still hurt from her loss. I suppose we could all give you a shoulder to cry on but the outlook looks bleak. I'm so sorry honey.

Answer 6

Talk to your vet, or if you aren`t satisfied, get another opinion. Some cats with FELv can live for many years. It all depends on their diagnosis.
Try this web sitefor more info:

Answer 7

I'm so sorry! I know how it feels. I'm sooooooooooooooooooo sorry! It will take a while to get over. Maybe ask them if you could say good bye just 1 last time. Or ask if there's anything that they can do. Again soooooooooooooooooo sorry!

Answer 8

this is very sad and i cant imagine what you are going through..i feel bad for you and your family the best thing that you can do at this point is to keep them as comfortable as you possibly can and make their days special for them and do whatever is possible to help them not to suffer....good luck i will pray for you