Beckie:
My two cents: my Fel Leuk cat Monkee died on July 16. I had him for 4 years-- no health problems at all besides the initial worms, ear funk that came with him being outside for at least 6 months before I rescued him. I found a lump on his leg at the end of April and he was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. We did chemo, surgically removed the lump, and then he developed anemia and we just couldn't break it. He had one blood transfusion, then died in my arms 2 and half weeks after that. But leading up to his illness, he was so healthy that I was going to have him retested for Fe Leuk for the 3rd time this summer because I just couldn't believe he had it.
However, throughout his healthy life, he always had trouble with heat. I live in Kentucky so it gets very hot and humid in the summer. I would take him out on a leash and if the temp was above 80 degrees, we wouldn't be out there long before he would start to pant. I have always been told by vets that panting- in a cat- is a very bad thing. So, Monkee lived his life in the lap of air conditioned luxury and a lot of time I ran the a/c just for him. I felt he deserved it after his stint as an outdoor cat fending for himself in the freezing cold and heat of the summer.
I think all cats are different. Some are just more prone to panting the minute they get hot, others love to bask in the heat and full and sun and sleep. I suggest you watch for panting- it can be very subtle, not obvious like a dog- just a slightly open mouth sometimes. If any one of them is panting, they are hot and uncomfortable. The most important thing for a FeLeuk cat is keeping them comfortable, stress-free and happy.
-Caroline
From: "Melissa Lind" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: OT: To Beckie, Air Conditioner
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 09:06:30 -0500
Hi Beckie,
I forgot to mention about the airours was broken for 3 weeks during some of the hottest weather before we could finally get a guy to come fix it! Luckily we had a basement, so the kitties could go down there if they felt too hot. Mostly they would just lie around the house. They played a lot less than usualthey seemed pretty exhausted from the heat. I know we filled their water dishes much more than before.
So, I guess I would say, it was pretty uncomfortable for them. Most of them are healthy, so it was easier for them, but for a sick cat, I think the heat would be much worse. If you have ceiling fans or other fans going for some circulation, I think it would be better for the catsor a basement too. We moved their food dishes down there to encourage them to spend more time in the cool basement.
Once our air was fixed, I noticed that our kitties were much happier and more playful. I would say you dont have to have a freezing cold house, but maybe running the air once in a while to remove the humidity would be good and keeping the air circulating is smart too.
We dont love the heat, but we dont mind it a little warm either, so I know what you are feeling. We like to use the air as little as possible, not because were cheap, but because we like the sounds of the outdoors, the birds, the breeze, etc. I always feel cooped up when we have to shut the windows. Someday wed like to finish the basement which would be a nice summer retreat with naturally cooled air. I think you said you live in IowaIm from Nebraska, and if our climates are similar, its the humidity that becomes unbearable more than the heat! J
Melissa Lind
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