Kayte,
My first FeLV+ cat was also the first cat that I ever owned on my own. I'd grown up with all sorts of critters, but it took a few years after graduating college to finally get in a situation where I could own my first "all mine" pet. I'd been wanting this cat forever.
I found Sushi at a shelter, she was 2 years old and demanded that I take her home that very instant. I L-O-V-E-D that cat. The shelter had tested for leukemia and FIV before I adopted her and she'd tested negative. One month after having her home, she was very lethargic. I ran with her in a carrier to a vet that I'd seen near my apartment, but I'd never met. This was New York City (Queens), so not having a car, and not wanting to subject a cat to a subway ride, I was pretty limited in my vet choices. The vet was an ass. He had no bedside manner. He made me feel like the whole situation was my fault. He'd HAVE to rehydrate, he'd HAVE to do bloodwork, he'd HAVE to keep her during the day - like I wasn't going to be paying him for his efforts. I was in tears, which didn't make him respect me any more. Quite frankly, he scared the hell out of me, and as it's all of our deepest fears that it really IS our fault, I was a mess. He retested her for FeLV+ (she'd been rescued from a house full of cats, so may have been exposed close to rescue and the first testing). I took her home as she'd perked back up, the fluids really helped, and she rebounded fully. Despite this, when he called to tell me that she was positive and anemic and had "maybe" a month to live, told me to expect to see rapid deterioration, blah, blah, blah, I was again distraught. The next week, against the back drop of her romping around and talking to herself, chasing bits of dust, knocking things over (her favorite was to knock my glass of water onto me at night), trying to escape, I called everyone that I knew hysterically telling them that my cat was dying. The vet said so.
Eventually, emotionally spent. I hung up the phone, slumped down against the wall and lethargically, tearfully gazed over at her across the room. Making eye contact, she marched over and placed a World Cup worthy head butt against my pathetic forehead. I giggled.
And I realized that I was being a dumass. Maybe she had this disease. Maybe she was dying, but who of us isn't? She wasn't dead, and I was wasting time being a melodramatic human. So instead of focusing on how she was going to die, I focused on how she was going to live. I didn't have any support, but I found a raw feeding list and, though I didn't switch to raw for a while, I started researching the feline diet. And I put her on a better food. And I moved into the city and found a good vet. I took her in for check-ups and loved the heck out of that cat until she passed two years after I'd adopted her of a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Yes, my life infarcted at that point, and I still miss my sweet marshmallow-y friend, who would lay on my arm at night and purr, and gaze into my eyes like she was proud of me. But she'd led me to another positive cat to adopt, Hepburn. And Hepburn led me to Satchmo that I have today (also positive). And Sushi, after all, after all that that jerk vet said, never did deterioriate. Never did succomb to the leukemia.
I owned Hep for 2 1/2 years, she did die of FIP, which was probably leukemia related, but I'd gotten her as an older kitten, so even there, she was on the high end of her life expectency and she, too, was an amazing, happy, healthy cat until the end.
Satch I've had for two years now, I adopted him at 5 years old, so we don't know when he was exposed to the virus, but he's the biggest, stompiest guy you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting, and other than being susceptible to URI's (which as long as I don't bring home sick kittens that already have URI's) hasn't been any problem. I have high hopes for him going a very long time. And I'm thinking of adopting him a friend - either a positive kitten or a negative adult cat - once he stops coughing.
I know that this has been long, and work is piling up, but I just wanted to tell you my story. Let you know that I understand what you're feeling, but take your cues from Crackers. Is he laying around in dirty pajamas, watching Ricki Lake, stumbling amongst empty Chinese take out cartons, wondering "why me?" This is a terrible illness, but not one that is powerful enough to take the good times away while they are here.
Get a new vet. Pinpoint when Crackers was exposed. What happened to Pokemon? Was she positive? Put Crackers on a good diet - there are lots to choose from ranging from Max Cat to raw feeding - expensive doesn't always mean good, nor does the fact of it being sold out of a vet's office. Do some reading about which ingredients should be there and which shouldn't. A lot of people supplement, again anywhere from Vitamin C to ImmunoReglin. There is no one path to follow, just make sure that you and Crackers are happy on the one that you choose.
Good luck to you both,
Leslie
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 16:41:09 EDT
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: crackers IFA was positive need help a.s.a.p.
To: [email protected]
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >
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after i called the vet over 20 times he finally answered and said yes
crackers IFA is positive....i asked him can he throw the virus...the vet said no
the IFA confirms he is full blown luekemia...i said what should i do,...he said
there is nothing to do...my baby crackers is 5yrs old and has never been sick
ever with anything and I WONT GIVE UP!!!...i cant believe this vet..MAKE
THAT MY EX VET...i am looking for another vet and will not go back to him...ok
you wonderful people are my guardians..i will do anything suggested..money is
not a factor when it comes to my baby...i will do anything please respond
please is this IFA final or should i retest?
kayte
