My cat has feline leukimia ( I hope I spelled that right). What should we expect?

Question

My cat has been diagnosed with feline leukemia. I have spoken with the vet about it, but I want to hear it from some one who has gone through it.

Answer 1

It depends on the cat and if you keep it inside or not. If it is inside it has a better chance of living longer. The signs of it getting sick or loss of weight, loss of appetite, cold like symptoms, panting, eyes gooping up, inability to breathe, total breakdown of the system. It all happens fast when it happens.

Answer 2

Have you ever seen a child that has leukemia? If so then go by that, cats pretty much go through the same a child with the disease would. If you have never seen a child with it look up some stuff on line it will tell you all you need to know. My advice, as hard as it would be even for me, would be to have the cat put down. If you can't bring yourself to that then make it as comfortable as you can. Do what ever the vet. tells you to and pray. Good luck

Answer 3

I have had two cats that have gone through it and seen much, much, much more (my mother is a vet). Honestly, there is nothing you can do for these cats. THe one's born with it either see it disappear or they retain it. THose that contract it throughout their lives are no so lucky as the kittens.

Unfortunately, the only thing you can do for this cat is to love it like you would a human going through the same thing. FIV is not a reason to dump a cat. Just remember, you would want your family there for you when you were sick. You are this cat's only family and the best thing you can give it until it's day comes is unconditional love.

Answer 4

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a usually fatal disease affecting the cat's immune system. This increases susceptibility to other disease in addition to causing leukemia. Signs of feline leukemia virus include weight loss, recurring or chronic illness, lethargy, fever, diarrhea, unusual breathing patterns, and a yellow color around the mouth and the whites of the eyes. A blood test is necessary to prove that the feline leukemia virus is present.

Until recently, there was no vaccine available to fight this usually fatal disease. A newly developed inactivated virus vaccine can protect cats.

To the best of my knowledge there is not a scientifically proven method of clearing the feline leukemia virus from infected cats using immunotherapy. We have a number of cats who live reasonably long and healthy lives despite infection with feline leukemia virus. I count the treatment of them as successful, despite the fact that in the end they may die from complications of the disease. There have been conflicting studies on a couple of therapies for feline leukemia virus using Staph protein A (one claimed benefit, one didn't), Immunoregulin (at this point, I think that the studies overwhelmingly support no success in treatment) and interferon. There have been good anecdotal reports of the helpfulness of interferon in treatment of cats ill with this disease but no reports of it actually clearing the virus under controlled conditions, at least to the best of my knowledge. We generally try to use good supportive care -- good quality diet, reduction of as much stress as possible, early aggressive treatment of any illness and keeping the cats indoors (both for their benefit and the benefit of cats they might expose to the virus). Many cats live reasonably normal lives for quite some time despite infection with this virus under these conditions. The vaccines are about 85% effective in preventing infection with feline leukemia virus.

Good luck with the kitty

Answer 5

I had a cat back in 1995 that was diagnosed with it and I was devastated. I had to have him put to sleep bc after they diagnosed him and i bought him he stopped eating and stayed under the bed. Just liek cancer patients they lose their appetite. I took him back to the vet and they had him on iv to feed him but i had to have him put to sleep bc he was in pain I am still hurt about it. I wish iwould have caught it earlier I probably would have tried chemo to keep him alive..

Answer 6

i had 2 cats with this ,one lasted 4 years longer than the first did,there is no cure but as long as there are no other cats it can infect and it is healthy and happy as mine was leave it for awhile and see how it goes