I am going to adopt him either way, but I would like to know what I am going to have to do for him. He is going in for another test soon (he's 7 weeks old) to make sure.
What can I do to make his life easier? How is he different from other kittens? I'm borderline anemic, will he effect my health, or I his?
Any help or advice would be much appreciated!
2007-09-27 10:11:55 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
My first cat had feline leukemia. We had to feed him pills a couple times a day and take him in for regular visits and shots. He was so sickly... it was really sad but he made it through and lived 12 years. He was a kitten when he was diagnosed.
Good luck!
WHOAH! I just read some of the other responses... before you believe anything they said read this:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/felv.html
There are two stages and I think they are making alot of assumptions about your pet. Leukemia is treatable and our cat lived another 12 years after the end of all treatment.
I'm not saying treatment will be succesfull with your pet, but don't throw in the towel yet! Sheesh!
2007-09-27 10:21:43 · answer #1 · answered by Matt O 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
My kitten was sick all the time so he had a leukemia test but it came out negitive, but he did come back positive with FIV (kitty aids) i think it is simalar to leukemia. Anyway with my cat i have to make sure he is inside all the time (he does sneak out once in a while) and make sure your house is well dusted and vaccumed that way he will have less to filter though his lungs when he breathes, he also isn't suppose to be around other cats becasue if they have something little than it could it up being fetal to him. Basicly you will just have to be very careful with his enviroment and make sure he is getting his medican (mine has to take medican whenever it gets sick) He shouldn't effect your health in anyway. I think its great you are giveing this little guy a chance in life, we need more people in this world like you! Anyway hope i was some help and good luck.
2007-09-27 12:18:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well leukemia is a bad thing.. The only thing i can say is that you can love him and all but make sure he/she is an indoors cat so he/she could not spread the disease. The kitten may live for a while but it may not live more than a week. that is why i hate this disease. Good luck and at least he/she has a person that loves him enough to take him home even if he/she has a disease
2007-09-27 10:22:33 · answer #3 · answered by Cat Lover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, you can't get feline leukemia (FeLV) from a cat. However, your cat will forever be much more susceptible to any types of illnesses that cats can get and of those illnesses that are transmissible to people, you are more likley to be exposed.
There is no treatment for FeLV, only supportive care.
The most important thing you need to remember is that he must be an indoor only cat now for the rest of his life. If you let him outside, he is a constant source of infection for other cats.
Another sad, but important thing for you to know about, is that his lifespan may be shorter than a cat who is healthy, due to the fact he's more susceptible to other diseases as well as cancer.
Keep him inside and away from other cats 100% of the time for the other cats sake as well as his sake (those other cats could give him something too).
I'm not a human doctor so am unable to answer your question about your own anemia.
Good luck
2007-09-27 10:20:29 · answer #4 · answered by kikitiki 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i think you are a wonderful person to take on a cat with an illness like this there isnt anything you can do to stop it if you realy want the cat,all you can do is be there for him and give him as much love as possible,at least he will have a happy life but only a short one,but he wont be able to go out which dosnt matter he will have a low imune system and catch any disease,but you will be heart brocken when he does go i have just lost my cat it is like you have lost a part of yourself,i have great respect for you
hope you make the right decision
2007-09-27 10:33:25 · answer #5 · answered by meg 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're not going to catch anything from it; be assured of that.
I have an 8. y.o. kitty who.. 2 years ago had a terrible fever. Labs revealed he had FLV. But he has never been sick again, and has not had one more symptom, and my other 4 have not gotten it.
Kittens have weaker immune systems so they might have more trouble with it, but it is possible that it goes dormant in the bone marrow, and they can live many years with no problems. You'll just have to wait and see how it goes. Best wishes though!
2007-09-27 10:34:46 · answer #6 · answered by Flatpaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure about your health but I did have a cat who had feline lukemia. There was nothing we could do for him except put him down when he got really ill. It was a painful process as he stopped eating and was so lethargic and depressed. I am not sure how long my cat had it before he got real sick- I just know that it was about a week after he started showing all those horribly signs that we put him down.
2007-09-27 10:21:46 · answer #7 · answered by missgabbieh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry for some of the horrible answers you have gotten. A cat can live a full normal life with this and just be a carrier. All it means is if you get other cats they should have the same condition. He cannoit transfer any illness to you and visa versa. Best to you
2007-09-27 10:45:30 · answer #8 · answered by Ken 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
dont listen to the people telling u to put him down. cats can live with feline leukemia. i know several cats who have it. u just have to be a lot more careful. keep him an indoor cat no outdoors. and keep up to date on his shots. this alone will help him. and if he ever shows signs of being sick take him to the vet. dont think twice either. and a note to everyone who say to put it down, dont u think that if there is no hope whatsoever for the cat that the shelter would have put it down already
2007-09-27 10:24:40 · answer #9 · answered by Stephanie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Is it feline leukemia (where they get a lot of congestion)? I thought I heard that this was contagious among cats.
Here is an article on it (scroll down to see "how to manage a cat with feline leukemia"): http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/felv.html
2007-09-27 10:20:11 · answer #10 · answered by ♫ Sweet Honesty ♫ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋