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Feline leukemia
NexusSix
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Some of you know that I reply to a lot of pet/cat advice threads in H/A. It's my turn to put one up. 
We found out last night that one of our cats has feline leukemia. The bottom line is that I know there's not much that can be done. We saw our general vet and we have to take the cat to a specialist in order to get an "official" diagnosis and see what our options are. Our vet couldn't give a final diagnosis, but he basically told us, yes, the cat has leukemia.
Right now the only two options are chemotherapy or... I can't remember the name of the drug, it might be prednisone, but it doesn't help with the leukemia, it only makes them feel a little better and gives them a bit more time before the cat has to be put down. Chemotherapy does not seem like a very good option: our vet said 80% of the time the cat will go into remission, but the leukemia returns in a year or less, and chemotherapy has a very small remission rate the second time around. To me, that sound like we'd just be making our cat miserable for a while, then he'd feel better for a short period of time, then he'd be back to where he was. I don't like the thought of putting him through a painful experience just to buy him a few months and prolong the inevitable.
I know there's nothing we can really do, but I'm just looking for general advice from folks who may have gone through this. I'm looking for info on how to keep our cat, Spooky, as comfortable as possible until "the time" comes.
We haven't seen the specialist yet--we're going to try to get in this Saturday or early next week. But any general info on how to make Spooky feel a little better and keep him stable for a bit longer would be a great help. I know he probably won't be with me and my wife much longer, but while he is still here, we'd like for him to feel as good as possible.
Thanks.
We found out last night that one of our cats has feline leukemia. The bottom line is that I know there's not much that can be done. We saw our general vet and we have to take the cat to a specialist in order to get an "official" diagnosis and see what our options are. Our vet couldn't give a final diagnosis, but he basically told us, yes, the cat has leukemia.
Right now the only two options are chemotherapy or... I can't remember the name of the drug, it might be prednisone, but it doesn't help with the leukemia, it only makes them feel a little better and gives them a bit more time before the cat has to be put down. Chemotherapy does not seem like a very good option: our vet said 80% of the time the cat will go into remission, but the leukemia returns in a year or less, and chemotherapy has a very small remission rate the second time around. To me, that sound like we'd just be making our cat miserable for a while, then he'd feel better for a short period of time, then he'd be back to where he was. I don't like the thought of putting him through a painful experience just to buy him a few months and prolong the inevitable.
I know there's nothing we can really do, but I'm just looking for general advice from folks who may have gone through this. I'm looking for info on how to keep our cat, Spooky, as comfortable as possible until "the time" comes.
We haven't seen the specialist yet--we're going to try to get in this Saturday or early next week. But any general info on how to make Spooky feel a little better and keep him stable for a bit longer would be a great help. I know he probably won't be with me and my wife much longer, but while he is still here, we'd like for him to feel as good as possible.
Thanks.
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NexusSix on
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Here's another page of Treatment Options.
I'm really sorry to hear about your cat. Have you looked into getting your other cats vaccinated? I know it can spread from cat to cat via saliva and urine.
I had a female cat who was on Prednisone for years for IBS. She tolerated it well, didn't seem unhappy, etc. We had to put her to sleep at 16 so I think she had a good long life for a cat, especially considering all of her health problems. That part was easier than I thought it would be but when it's time, it's time and you'll know it.
Sorry to be such a downer and good luck with your kitties.
PSN: Broichan
I don't know if this is common or what, as this has been my only experience, but if it is at all common, I would recommend the prednisone.
The info on the pred you both put up... that's the best info I've heard all day. That all sounds like a blessing compared to the thoughts I've had running through my head today.
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We had an outdoor (abandoned?) cat adopt us that had FeLV. He actually did very well on steroids except he got a major gash on his leg that wouldn't heal. He lived for another year and a half after going into second stage very comfortably and when he decided to stop eating, we knew it was time.
My only piece of advice is that before you think of gettign another cat after this, you clean everything extremely well. Although the FeLV virus doesn't live very long outside the cat's body, your cat's immune system is comprimised and it can pick up a host of very hardy parasites that it can shed and your next kitty could be very susceptible to.
Good wishes to you and the kitteh.