Marylyn and Susan:
Thanks for the kind words and support from both of you. I feel like such a novice in this area. I think I pretty much lived in denial for four years thinking that Monkee was such a healthy, tough kitty that he would shake off his FeLV. In fact, I was going to have him re-tested this summer, but then I found the tumor in the Spring.
I have printed your posts because it is a lot of information for me to wade through and with the help of my mother, we have to talk and think it through together.
As far as writing down memories go, I have always done that! I am a storyteller who is obsessed with my cat who is personality plus so I have always sent emails to my friends and family telling them "Monkee stories." So, I have an email record, which is good to have. And I fully encourage other people to try this too. If you write well enough, you may find that even non-cat lovers will laugh at your emailed stories!
I guess Monkee and I just have some care-giving growing pains to get through now. But at least since I have joined this group, I don't feel so isolated and clueless, so thank you for your help and advice.
From: "Susan Dubose" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: just beginning
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:00:37 -0500
Wow, Marylyn, that's an impressive diet!What a lucky girl she is....... :)Right now I have to depend on high quality foods that I can get @ the store, like the ones I mentioned.I have 4 felv+ cats, many other rescue cats (I do Siamese rescue) that have come to me w/ chronic health problems (3 of which are on Zithromax permanently for chronic URI, thanks godoess it's only every 3 day), and I also maintain several feral colonies.Several of my rescues have behavioral problems also, meaning, I spend a lot of time washing the litterbox areas in the cattery & the kitty room.Plus I have my own business.Someday I would love to be able to spend more time preparing all of their meals.Do you mind if I crosspost your diet to a few friends of mine that also have felv+ cats?That is a wonderful idea about writting your memories down.Susan J. DuBose >^..^<
www.PetGirlsPetsitting.com
www.Tx.SiameseRescue.org
www.shadowcats.net
"As Cleopatra lay in state,
Faithful Bast at her side did wait,
Purring welcomes of soft applause,
Ever guarding with sharpened claws."
Trajan Tennent----- Original Message -----From: MarylynSent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 9:48 PMSubject: Re: just beginningRepeating myself re Dixie's diet which seems to be working great for her: She gets Transfer Factor, Just Born, a supplement Dr. Boswell fixed for FeLV+, lots of high vitamin c veggies (carrots, spinach, broccoli, green beans and peas) ground up and mixed with Primal Raw, Fast Track and various probiotics, Lysine, Interferon (oral every other day), Barley Cat and now Sheep's yogurt. Obviously she doesn't get every thing every day. A lot depends on what is going on with her and what just feels right at the time. She eats 2-3 times a day and really has surprised me with the veggies and yogurt. This girl eats better than I do. I use Brush Away on her teeth (almost daily). She is wonderfully happy and healthy and I look forward to many years with her. She has been with me over 2 years and is probably around 5 years old. She is a throw-away so no one is sure of anything............just that she is marvelous and amazingly grateful for anything you give her.An idea if you can handle it: Start writing Monkee stories and emailing them to yourself and/or your friends so you will always have all the wonderful memories. The purrs, how Monkee got the name, how he came into your life, litter training.............. all those things that tend to disappear from the mind when it is totally stressed as yours is. This may help you clear your own mind and get very close to Monkee. It will definitely help to read and re-read them when, hopefully a very long time from now, Monkee leaves this world.If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures
from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who
will deal likewise with their fellow man.
St. Francis----- Original Message -----From: Susan DuboseSent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 9:12 PMSubject: Re: just beginningI have to agree w/ your comments about chemo.I think that it is a decision left within the family, and there should be no judgement as to what is decided.No one knows your cat better than yourself, and if you listen to what they are saying to you, you will know the right thing to do in your heart.Every morning I put Lysine in my 4 felv+ cats moist food, and I sprinkle Brewer's Yeast on top of their dry food.As far as dry food they only get Wellness "Core" mixed half & half w/ Innova "Evo", and for now, this combination seems to be working for them.Susan J. DuBose >^..^<
www.PetGirlsPetsitting.com
www.Tx.SiameseRescue.org
www.shadowcats.net
"As Cleopatra lay in state,
Faithful Bast at her side did wait,
Purring welcomes of soft applause,
Ever guarding with sharpened claws."
Trajan Tennent----- Original Message -----From: MarylynSent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 8:13 PMSubject: Re: just beginningA comment on chemo: The Royal Princess Kitty Katt (not FeLV+) had a cancer that spread and was vicious. The specialists were very insistent on chemo. I went to my vets and we had a very long hard talk (actually several of them since they are very good at holding my hand when things turn ugly). There are several types of chemo. The one Kitty would have to have was rough to put it mildly. I think she was to be on it for 6 months. Without it she was to live about 2 months and with it maybe 6-8 months (according to the specialists). My vets and I agreed that there was no quality of life to gain and, as much as Kitty hated vets, traveling etc, a lot to lose. We opted not to even try the chemo. Kitty lived 14 months and had a high quality of life. Her lungs filled with the masses but she never seemed to be in any pain---some discomfort but not nearly what she would be in had I forced her to travel. So much of this is a judgment call. Sit with your little friend after you have gathered all the information you can and feel what the cat wants----I got in trouble for suggesting this not long ago but I truly believe you will know what is best if you calm yourself and talk to your friend the way you would talk to a baby or an elderly person who cannot communicate with words.....talk with your heart. Among the things Dr. Kohler and I talked about were:What would we do if we had the cancer? Would we endure chemo or enjoy the time we had? What other options are available (a gentler chemo etc)? What is the cat's personality? What would work for Dixie might not work for Kitty etc? Did I have the ability to take "doing nothing" as a positive step or did I need to try anything and everything? (There are times that choosing to do nothing is choosing to do something.) We also talked at length about the need to make a decision and not look back and second guess ourselves if we chose to do nothing.Maybe examining these questions with both your heart and mind will help. I am blessed to have vets that can be so open with me. In other cases we have taken other routes. It has always depended on the little one in question.Again blessings to you. You may want to check out the Bach Essences (Rainbow Blossom, Wild Oats, Whole Foods). There are some that will help you and your little friend.No matter what you chose try very hard to enjoy the time you have with Monkee. No one knows when she is going to leave this world and we spend much too much time grieving before it is time to grieve-----------and lose the precious moments together.If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures
from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who
will deal likewise with their fellow man.
St. Francis----- Original Message -----From: Susan DuboseSent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 3:56 PMSubject: Re: just beginningHi Caroline,I am sorry about Monkee.Thanks for taking him into your home, especially since he was a stray and is felv+.I am sure he has had a good life w/ you, espeically since 4 yrs. is really a long time to survive being felv+.I have taken several animals through chemo (I am a petsitter, I do this for my clients as a favor since it's hard on them or if they are out of town) and I have to say, I don't think I would take my cat through chemo.It's just very hard on them medically, espeically if they are felv+.I am by no means a vet, but I have worked for one of the best feline specialist in central Texas, and he is years ahead of most vets when it comes to felv+ cats.He has 8 pos. cats @ his sanctuary.If Monkee were my cat, I would value the time I have left w/ him and not have anymore chemo nor would I subject him to surgery.That is just my opinion.I know it hurts, very much, but you are giving him a great gift by caring for him and being there for him.I have 4 felv+ cats myself, and so far they are doing pretty well, considering.----- Original Message -----From: Caroline KaufmannSent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 1:30 PMSubject: just beginningI just joined this list. My 6 year old cat, Monkee, he was a stray that I took in 4 years ago, knowing he had FeLv- and now he's not doing good. I discovered a swollen lymph node in April and he was diagnosed with Lymphosarcoma. So we started chemotherapy. Everything is complicated by the fact that I lost my job in January and got a new one in May, but the expense of caring for him is becoming increasingly difficult. Wth paying up front for his treatment, I just can't get back on my feet financially and I don't know how much longer we can keep this up. I thought he was doing really well, but the initial chemo didn't shrink the node enough, so his Doctor wanted it surgically removed. So we did that. He did wonderful in the two weeks of recovery, but last weekend he became lethargic and I knew something was wrong. He went back the doctor and now she says his "feline leukemia is acting up" because his red blood cells are down significantly. In all the time I have had him, he never showed any signs of having FeLv, so this all new to me. He's on a new medication to try to boost his RB cell count before we maybe try a new, stronger chemo. I guess I just wanted to know if anyone has gone through a similar experience? I want to know about life expectancy and I can't seem to get straight answers from my vet. I also want to know about how long this could go on with him languishing in this sick state? He's just so much not like himself and my heart is breaking. Is there any hope for us?Thanks,Caroline in Louisville, Kentucky
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