Is there anyone in this group with experience with FERAL cats with
feline leukemia? Specifically - their eating habits during hot
weather.
We have a feral cat that was shot with a bb gun back in March. We
trapped him and had him treated by an animal eye specialist. He lost
his eye. Only after the eye surgery, etc. did we learn he was
leukemia positive. He was one-half of a bonded couple.
We have an outdoor enclosure for our regular indoor cats - for them
to spend some time each day outdoors. SO - after we learned of the
feral's situation, we built a SEPARATE enclosure in our back yard for
this bonded pair. His girlfriend is leukemia negative and has now
been through the series of vaccinations. Keeping them separate was
not an option as she was stressing big time (i.e., losing hair with
no physical explanation, etc.). And yes, we have had vet care for
both of them.
The feral recovered from the eye situation and had been doing very
well until last weekend when he just all of a sudden stopped eating
very much. His girlfriend has also cut way, way back on her food
intake. I live in south Texas and it is very hot here during this
time of the year.
Both cats still look to be in pretty good shape. If it were ONLY the
leukemic cat that wasn't eating, I would know it was his disease;
however with BOTH of them cutting back, I am wondering if it is an
instinctual response to the weather. Obviously, however, I am more
concerned with him not eating as he has less reserves than she does.
I've tried EVERYTHING I can think of to entice him to eat (i.e., baby
food, sardines, tuna, different canned foods, different dry foods,
chicken broth, boiled chicken - YOU NAME IT). I see him nibbling
occasionally but I can tell from the amount of food leftover that he
is not eating much at all.
We have fans on them and we've set up a "mister" system on the side
of the cage - placed so that the water does not hit the cats, but
cools the area somewhat.
Does anyone have any input on a situation where a feral cat just
stops eating when it gets very hot? And if so, how long do they do
this? Getting vet care for him is almost impossible because he has
to be trapped, sedated, etc. I don't want to stress him any more
than necessary and again, so far, he does not look to be in bad
shape.
Help!!!!
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