What is it like for a cat with feline leukemia to die? Is it super painful?

Question

Do they cry a lot, or do they go fairly peacefully? If you want to know more about my story, check my last 2 questions.

Sorry, I didnt realize that my profile was private. I changed it. and as for the rude answer.. no I dont know whether it is painful or not, how would I know if I havent experienced this before? And it is nothing like human leukemia from what ive read!

Answer 1

Yes, they die VERY painfully, just like a human with leukemia. Of course it's painful. I will look at your last two questions, but I cannot believe you wouldn't know this. If your feline is in this condition and is in pain, you should do the right thing for the poor animal, and take him/her to your vet and have your pet put down. It's the kindest thing you could ever do. When I was a child I had a male Siamese who had a kidney infection and my parents wouldn't spend the money to put him to sleep, and he died very painfully.

Answer 2

my cat only lived about two weeks from the time symptoms surfaced and yes her death was painful. she couldnt eat or drink so i knew then it was time to let her go. my cat stopped eating, then stopped drinking, then got lethargic, depressed, and had a hard time regulating her body temperature... she'd go from shivering to panting in a snap. the day we took her to the vet her temp was 104 which yes, is very painful for the animal. this is an ugly disease that causes a slow, suffering death. some types of the diesease can be treated and the cat can have a prolonged pain free life, but the serious acute form (that my cat had) is untreatable and fatal within days to weeks. treatment is EXPENSIVE and just draws out the painful end. it's much more humane and graceful for the animal to have it euthanized before symptoms even start. also, feline leukemia is HIGHLY.. note HIGHLY!!! contagious to other cats that havent been vaccinated against it. it is transferred through saliva (bites), and sexual contact (breeding). it is also passed from mother to kittens (infected cat gets pregnant and has infected kittens). kittens born with the disease usually die within a year (my cat was 11 months old)

Answer 3

i think that the cat may be able to live for a while with the disease pain free, but after a certain point, like if they start losing weight, or become depressed ect. then it would be time to put them down. i definately wouldnt let a cat get so sick that it dies as a result of having the disease. at a vet clinic i worked at, a lady had to put down her cat only a week after being diagnosed so i guess it depends on the animal when the time to go is right

Answer 4

The cat can live with the virus for 2 weeks to ten years. As far as the pain of them dying, they don't actually die from the virus. The virus weakens the immune system, so the cause would be from something else. That cause is what's going to determine the pain factor.

I tried checking your questions but they are private.

Answer 5

My cat died in my arms from this disease. I don't think she was in pain, but I should have put her to sleep long before it reached that point. My cat used about five of his nine lives to combat the effects of feline leukemia. Each time he rebounded, the disease took a part of him that made that cat so special to me.

Don't allow your cat to suffer while allowing the cat to die naturally. In your heart you'll know when it's time to say goodbye.

Answer 6

I answered your last question.I don't know if it's painful,but it was distressing to my Mojo.He couldn't understand why he couldn't get up and walk,he was so weak.I had him in a box next to my bed,and I knew he was dying,so I was going to have him put down the next day.It was the middle of the night,and I stayed awake with him,Everytime I would leave the room,he would cry,so I would hurry back and hold him.Then I got up to go in the kitchen to get something to drink.I heard him cry,but I got my drink,thinking he just wanted me to come back.I went back into the room and he was dead.I felt SO bad that he died alone,and that the cry I heard was his final plea for me to help him.I'll never forget that,and I'm crying now,thinking about it.So,I don't really think he was in pain,but I think that he was afraid,because he didn't know what was happening to him.

And Coryn,you're an insensitive,stupid louse!

Answer 7

The one cat I actually saw that was dying from this disease didn't appear to be suffering and the vet said he wasn't in pain. He got thin and stopped grooming himself even though he still ate well. We decided to have him put down. He did have an incurable disease and the vet said he wouldn't live much longer anyway.

Answer 8

from what I'm told a cat can live alright for a while with leukemia but when it is time I would humanely but it down so that it doesn't have to suffer from kidney failer, starvation and other complications.
Christy

Answer 9

Sorry but coryn learn proper grammer And I wouldnt think they cry a ton but they would be in a lot of pain

Answer 10

Well Daria, I hate to drop such a bomb on you like this, but I believe for the best answer to this question of what feline leukemia feels like you may want to ask a feline.