Feline Leukemia Kitten - Need advice?
Posted on October 31, 2008
Filed Under Cats |
Long story short: We have a 3 month old kitten who tested positive for feline leukemia (both tests). The vet didn’t come out and say it, but it was clear to me that she suggested I euthanize him. If he were showing any signs of distress I wouldn’t hesitate. However, Duke is robust, growing, eating, using the cat box, sharing and playing with two other (not positive but vaccinated) cats, and my daughter and husband adore him. He is a very good-natured cat!
I know the day will come that he will get sick. From what I understand, he could go quickly when he does. I’ve researched a lot and found that some cats live for months, while others live for years, some even to five or nine years. My plan is to give him a good life until he goes.
I’ve had cats my entire life. But never one who was born FeLV. I need advice on how to care for him, if there is anything I should do differently with him from the others.
And please, no mean “kill him” comments. Thats lame.
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4 Responses to “Feline Leukemia Kitten - Need advice?”
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Get him some stuffed animals to play with.
i would do as you are doing- as long as he is healthy and your other two cats are vaccinated then they should be fine. i did find a website about a treatment that is supposed to cure it. i am sure it is expensive- it didnt give a price of course.- because i had one die from that(first one in all the cats i’ve had since i was 2) is the reason i started researching it. i just couldnt believe there wasnt a treatment. mine got really skinny and layed around all the time and then the bowel movements would just come sliding out.- it did all happen very quickly. she was about a year old. you may just research it online- most say keeping the immune system healthy seems to be the key.
I have been in just this position, having an FeLV positive kitten and some cats who had been vaccinated for the disease.
I kept the kitten until his leukemia made it necessary to have him put to sleep. He was about a year and a half old at the time, which is about the usual lifespan for a cat who was born with the virus in his system. He was well and happy and without symptoms until about the last six weeks. The first symptoms were a cold and runny nose…after that he progressively lost weight and energy.
My other cats lived on for many years and never developed the feline leukemia. It is usually spread by saliva and blood, as in serious fighting, not tussling or grooming each other.
In short, I agree with your plan to let the kitten live a normal life as long as he can, and when his illness demands it, give him a peaceful exit via euthanasia. If he was an adult cat who was roaming around outdoors spreading the disease, as the situation often is, it would be another story.
im with you on that one..i have always been so afraid of having a cat/kitten that tested positive and although i never have i would do the same as you…you tend to fall in love with them and its going to be hard once he gets to be sick but at least he will have lived a good life with people who seriously loved him…keep your other cats up to date on their shots and good luck i would do the exact same …you are a good person