My cat has been diagnosed with lymphoma I want to start her on chemo but I have two other cats my vet said she would need to be isolated because they cannot share the litter box Does anyone have any suggestions about what I can do to help my cat thank you
Welcome to the SDMB, @Popsugar.
Questions seeking advice belong in our IMHO forum. It’s no biggie. I’ll move this for you.
Moved from GQ to IMHO.
Also, typo in title fixed.
What is your living environment? In other words, do you live in a house, an apartment, or something else? What I’m basically getting at is how easy or difficult will it be to separate your cat from the others? Does your cat have separation anxiety or other issues that will make isolating more difficult?
From what I have read, cats tolerate chemo better than humans do. They usually don’t lose their hair and usually don’t get all that sick from the treatments, though some do have diarrhea and vomiting.
One of my two cats just started chemo for malignant melanoma (the mass was removed and it does not appear to have metastasized). The veterinary oncologist said that my cats did not have to be separated and they can continue to share litter boxes. The only special thing I had to do was wear gloves when scooping litter for the first 4 days because some portion of the chemo drugs was excreted in her urine.
Your vet may have different instructions, of course, and I suppose that may also depend on what specific drug your cat receives, the health of your other cats, etc.
As to nausea, my cat received an anti-nausea medication with the chemo and I had to give her pills for the next 4 days. She did fine, never lost her appetite or had diarrhea.
Best of luck to you and your kitties.
I had a cat with cancer in several of his organs, beginning with the pancreas. The oncologist said she could keep him alive with chemo for a month, maybe two tops. And I would have to give him three pills a day. So she gave him one injection. A month later I brought him in for another. And a month later. And a month later. Each time she was utterly amazed and bewildered that he was still alive. He was still the same active and affectionate cat he always was, and his appetite returned. He had no idea he was sick. His stools were very slightly loose.
He lasted ten miraculous months on chemo, before finally succumbing to the cancer. Every day of those ten months was a blessing.
I was not told to separate him from my other cat. Did your vet specify the reason?
Please let us know how the situation turns out.
Not sure if the first reply went through when I got the drug it said that the cat had to be separated from the other cats regarding litter boxes in the vet he verified that it would be impossible because I have three altogether I’m glad replied I did not mean to reply twice I just want to make sure it went through I just didn’t know what type of litter you were using I have to use qua because of my allergies I don’t use scoopable I had someone else told me on another site that their cat was on the same drug and they worked at a vets office and they did not have to separate I wish I would’ve known that she could’ve been on the drug about a month or two ago I really appreciate all your help you can share anything else it would be most appreciate it thank you
I’m not sure if your response was to my comment but I use an unscented clumping litter.
My cats are both young (2-1/2 and 3-1/2 years old), up to date on their shots and healthy (except for the melanoma), so maybe that’s why they can stay together. I’m very glad of that because they’re closely bonded to each other.
It was i am just getting use how to post this I appreciate u reaching out to me the medication Had that info in the box when I called the pharmacy and that’s what they said and so did my veterinarian nut I’m reading different opinions I’m gonna check this out my cat is 13 I just found out he has intestinal lymphoma he’s been sick for about four months I didn’t want to have him go have a scope because he wasn’t feeling well but nothing was working so I had him scoped and He does have intestinal lymphoma I’m gonna try to put him on a chemo pill and see how it works and get it worked out with the litter boxes I appreciate you responding I’m like I said I’m just learning how to work this so if you see anything I post it will be to anyone I appreciate you taking the time to help me
Unlike the cancers described by the other posters, lymphoma may be caused by a virus, so perhaps your vet wants the cat separated to prevent your other cats from being exposed.