Feline Leukemia Virus

[heidiscaringmom]

I have a cat, Heidi, that was previously diganoised with FeLV I am new at this dealing with this disease and don`t realy know how to handle this. Heidi has lost so much weight and I am having to force feed her with a pet nurser bottle which at times I lose for I can`t get her to eat. She lays around and sleeps and it is tearing my heart out. My pets are my babies and I know my time with Heidi is short. Does anyone know how I can make my last days with Heidi be special?

[fkagarise]

I am so sorry to hear about Heidi. I lost Moochie in Nov. I know how it is to have a kitty with FeLv and not be able to talk to someone who has gone through it. At this point Heidi sounds very sick. If she is not eating, that is not a good sign.
The only thing you can do now is make Heidi as comfortable as possible. I would not try to force feed her and I would not let her linger too long.
I know how hard this is for you. I am still mourning the lost of Moochie. I have adopted two kitties from the Humane Society since then. The best way to honor Heidi's life is to give another kitty a chance at it.

[heidiscaringmom]

I have read about Moochie and I am sorry that you had gone through what I am going through. I have several other cats (outside) and bringing in another kitten would not be a good idea right now. I need to make sure that my other cats are safe before I can get anymore cats. I dont want to put anyone at risk of getting FeLV.That would not be fair to my other cats or a kitten. Losing one cat is hard enough.I rescused Heidi from a neglectful and abuseful owner who threw her out like trash. Heidi called out to me and when I saw how skinny she was I didnt care if she had an owner. I was able to make friends with her quickly by offering her a can of cat food. I could tell she was starving,she was skin over bones. A few days later I took her to my vet. Heidi was heavily infeasted with worms and showed some signs of being abused. I couldnt leave her out in the dead of winter like she was, and now I am going to lose her. My vet thinks that Heidi was born with FeLV. I have heard about FeLV but have never dealt with it personaly until now. This is the hardest thing that I have had to deal with.

[fkagarise]

Dealing with FeLv is very difficult, even more so because there are no universal symptoms. It's hard to know what to expect and I could not find anyone who knew much about it.
It's quite possible that Heidi was born with it. How old is she now? Have you only had her since the start of winter?
You need to console yourself with the knowledge that you have given Heidi a good life. She would be suffering alone if you had not rescued her.

[heidiscaringmom]

Heidi was born with the FeLV. My other cats are ages three to five years old and none of them are showing any of the signs of being sick. Unfortunately Heidi died last night while I was holding her. Her suffering is now over as to where mine has begun. I miss her so much. I miss her little headbutts and her flickering her tail as if she was mad, and her kneading me when I held her and I miss the way she like to hide her face in my arm as if to say I don`t see you I`m hiding. Heidi was two years and nine months old and I had her since she was nine months. This may sound crazy but so be it but I found some forget-me-not starter kits today at my local Family Dollar. I got one of those kits so that when the time is right to start growing and the seeds not freeze I can plant them around Heidi`s grave. Thanks for your kind words. You are right. I need to console myself with the knowledge that I gave Heidi back two healthy years that she would not have had if I didnt rescue her, but it still hurts like heck.

[fkagarise]

I am so sorry to hear about Heidi. As hard as it was for you, I'm sure it was comforting to Heidi that you were holding her. I understand how much you miss her. Each kitty is unique, just like each person is. All those special little things Heidi did will one day replace your grief with happy memories.
I still miss Moocie. I have had kitties for the last 25 years and have buried many in our "kitty garden" but Moocie was one of the most difficult to loose. I think part of the reason is because he was so young and it just didn't make any sense.
It's great that you will be able to plant flowers for Heidi. I'm sure she will enjoy them. Try to pamper yourself as much as possible and know that your grief is normal and Heidi will always have a special place in your heart.

[bingball]

Truly sorry about Heidi, but agreed that she is not suffering alone and her last days will be with a person who loves her very much. I am currently preparing to lose my little boy, Emmett. He had lived outside and sort of with another person for a few years, but came by frequently by our house. It was November and I noticed he was looking very run down and I convinced my wife that we could not let him stay outside any longer. I had another cat, my sweet Magellan, so I decided to take him to the vet before bringing him in. He had everything. Worms, fleas, FIV and FLV, yikes. They wanted me to put him down, but I had promised him he would have a home, so we took him in and gave him his own room to protect Magellan. Even though he lived outside he quickly adapted. He had two windows which face different parts of the yard that he was familiar with. He had poles, scratching items, water, food and tons of toys. He never once tried to get out the window and we kept it open whenever he wanted fresh air, no matter how cold. My Magellan got squamous cell carcinoma in her head, which came on so quickly and took her from us even quicker. The day she passed we opened the door to Emmett's room and he sort of gave us a look like, "you had all of this". He stayed in that room for about 10 months and has had the run of the house ever since. He has been in his home now almost 3 years and 4 months. He gets sick on and off the last year, but always bounces back like his old self. However, this time I believe might be different. The vet who comes to us detected some large tumors. Emmett has been hardly eating and he has went from 10lbs to 8.5 since October. When I first took him in he was about 12lbs. He is sleeping so much and hasn't event show much interest in sitting on his window perches. I had the vet give him and anti-inflammatory shot and a shot to take down his mild fever. He also has been getting Metcam for pain, but that can only be used sparingly. I am afraid his time is growing short and as with you it is hard to say goodbye, but I hope we are strong enough to let him pass when it is time, no matter how soon it comes. We will miss his gentle soul, he is truly our Angel-Kitty. He has been so special to us and quite the wonderful character. I spoke to the people from Best Friends over the years regarding Emmett and they told me that we will know when it is time to put him to sleep. You will also know with Heidi. Do what you have done, give her love, keep her safe and do what is best for her when the time comes. Take care.

[heidiscaringmom]

I know about cats and worms. When Heidi found me she was nothing but skin over bones. I was able to get her into my car with a can of catfood. A few days later I took her to my vet to be spayed and Heidi was highly infested with worms. After her surgery she gained nine pounds maybe a little more. When Heidi got sick she lost it all weighing only two or three pounds. Unfortunately, I lost Heidi over a week ago. I thought I would have awhile but all I had was a matter of six days after she tested postive for FeLV. Luckily for the both of us, I didnt let Heidi die alone. She passed away in my arms and it tore my heart out. I hope that you will have a longer time with Emmett than what I had with Heidi. I know we are close to our pets but we dont realize how deep the bond is intil we are faced with what you and I are going through. Unfortunately, FeLV is contagious to other cats and Heidi had other feline companions and I am afraid that I may have another one with the FeLV. I have been through this once already and my pain is still raw and I am not ready to lose another one of my babies. Heidi had alot of character. She loved to headbutt me, knead me, and play hide and seek when I held her. She also loved to smack me when she was not ready for me to stop petting her and she held her tail straight up and close to her body like a meerkat. I miss her so much. Take care.

[bingball]

So sorry to hear that Heidi passed, but so glad she had you in the end as she did when she found you. She knows how much you loved her and how much you cared. My hope is that I will be with Emmett. I pray he will bounce back again, but right now my gut feels that might not happen. It has been a wonderful 3 plus years that I will always be grateful for. Our vet is leaving on Friday for one week and I will be gone 2 days the following week with work. Never a good time, but I don't want to leave his side, nor do I want a stranger coming in if worsens. I just got done finding some new food that he ate from my hand while he hid in a chair in the basement. Sure hope he can enjoy just one more spring, but I am trying to prepare for his passing. I know how hard it is to lose such a close family member/friend and I hope that you are somehow relieved to know she will greet you again someday. As much as I believe that I know how much it still hurst and how we will always miss those special angels who graced our lives. Take good care.

[fkagarise]

I am so sorry to hear about Emmett. As I told Heidi's mom, it is so hard to deal with this disease. Since most vets recommend ending the kitty's life right away, there are not too many folks out there who can help answer your questions.
I lost Moochie last Nov and I still miss him very much. He was a very special cat. It is nice that you have had over three years with Emmett. He is so lucky to have you or he would never have made it this far. He has had a family to love and take care of him. And he has done the same in return.
You will know when it is time. His suffering will end and yours will continue but eventually you will be able to replace the painful memories with all of the happy ones you shared with Emmett.