We just found out that one of our cats tested positive for Feline Leukemia, the AIDS of the catworld.
Now, here is the question. We talk to the vet tomorrow about an ‘experimental treatment’ for Spot. He’s not suffering right now, meaning he’s in no pain. He IS skinny and lethargic. Should I go ahead and give him the treatment, as long as he won’t suffer from it? Or, should I just have him put down.
The bad part about it all, other than the sheer fact that there is no cure for it, is that he’s an indoor cat. All of our cats are indoor cats. They never go outside. So, this disease is highly contagious and has been dormant for many years in Spot. All of our other 4 cats are now most likely infected, too.
I’m just going back and forth with myself about morality issues. I don’t want Spot to suffer at all. I also don’t want him to die. I don’t want to just keep him around if his quality of life won’t be good. I’m really torn about what to do.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) is the AIDS of the cat world AFAIK. From what I just found, Feline Leukemia is not an STD immune disease, correct? Hopefully crazycatlady, or one of the other veterinary types will see this and be able to answer you better. Just wanted to clarify that bit, and maybe make things a bit less bleak for you. Here is a webpage that has several site links that discuss treatment of FeLV, scroll down. I’ll send my prayers and good vibes your kitty’s way, and send some for you too. Good luck making your decision, I hope you can find a solution that gives your cat a good quality of life.
Thank you!
After reading this, I began to think, “what about other cats?” Since you keep the cats inside, all of the time, the danger to other cats is minimal. But, some of the information that I have read here , says that most of the time keeping the infected cats totally isolated from other cats is not possible.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially news that you must already know, but the only safe solution to the problem is to euthanize all of the animals. I know this is difficult, especially hearing it from me, on a message board, but it is the only way to be certain.
Chemotherapy runs a huge risk of killing the animal before any positive effects can be realized. It is costly also, and if all of your cats are infected, then treatment is going to cost you a lot of money. Chemotherapy can leave the cat mentally or physically injured. If that happens you will not forgive yourself for doing it to the animal(s).
The last possibility I am going to relate is, what if one of the infected animals gets out, even for a few hours, and gives the disease to another cat, by eating another cat’s food, or even a cat fight. You risk giving a neighbor’s cat the disease, and they will have to go through what you are going through right now.
Well, I’m not going to have them all put down, until they start showing physical symptoms or begin to suffer because of it. I will not introduce any new cats into the household, either. Also, my cats do NOT go outside…EVER, so there’s no risk of my cats giving this disease to any stray cats outside. The disease can lie dormant for many years. I’ve got an 11 year old cat, 3 8 year old cats and one 4 year old cat. One of the 8 year olds is the one that is sticken with this disease. I’m sure the others ARE going to test positive for it, also. But, I guess I’ll decide tomorrow about Spot, when I see the vet again and speak to him more about it. Thanks for all the input.
Ficer67, if I read right, the disease might not be the infectious kind. If the veteranarian isn’t concerned about such things, (and believe me, they’d bring up the topic of infecting other cats if they were concerned) than I’d put more weight on that. You might ask the vet about it all the same, because it is a concern. I’d not knee jerk just yet, and put them all to sleep yet. Bring the topic of infectiousness up to the vet though.
I spoke to the vet yesterday. He told me that it is very contagious, and since all the cats have lived together all these years, there is a good chance they’re all infected, but not showing any symptoms. Yet. But, when they do start showing symptoms, they will be going back to the vet and get some help or to be put down. Like I said, I’m NOT going to have them all put down just because they test positive and are healthy otherwise. The disease can stay dormant for years and years. So, as long as I don’t bring anymore cats into the household, I’m keeping them, caring for them and loving them for as long as I can!
comfort Ouch, that’s hard news. 
Research the treatments, and see which gives the cat the best quality of life then? I hope someone who works in the veterinary field will chime in soon.
Well, I hope that your cats develop an immunity to the disease. 40% is not the worst odds. If you get another cat, you might want to get it vaccinated against the disease. I wonder how that vaccine is manufatured.
I’m finished with the ‘pet thing’. I am WAY too attatched to my pets…5 cats and 2 dogs. Hell, they’re like our children! After these are gone, I believe I’m done with having pets. That sounds rather bad, but I just love them too much to have to see them get sick and die.
What really kills me, is all the stray dogs and cats that are running around town. NOTHING ever seems to happen to them. They are starving, hurt, sick, etc. They seem to live forever. Those of us that actually take our pets to the vet on a regular basis have pets that get sick or get some stupid disease.
I’m not handling this well at all, as you can see.
Aside from the other issues that the OP asks:
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FIV is not an STD like human HIV is. Cats don’t catch it by mating; they get it through exchange of relatively large amounts of saliva or blood, usually exchanged through deep bite wounds. (The majority of FIV+ cats are unneutered males, who tend to get into territorial fights, thus having a greater chance of being bitten.) It is not transmissible by casual contact such as sharing bowls, mutual grooming, or living together. FIV+ cats can live comfortable lives for many years and can live with other non-FIV+ cats quite easily, as long as they are all non-aggressive non-biters.
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Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is MUCH more serious than FIV. FeLV can be transmitted through casual contact such as grooming or sharing bowls. There is debate as to how certain it is that other cats will DEFINITELY catch it if they are all living together, and I do know of people who have positive and negatives living together who remain healthy (the negatives, I mean). It’s somewhat of a controversial subject.
I greatly disagree with this. Not all cats will catch FeLV, and there is certainly no need to euthanize all of them now when nobody even knows what their status is. If they were outdoor cats, I would be much more concerned about keeping them indoors 100% of the time, but there’s no need to PTS just because they MIGHT be positive.
That is exactly what I would do for my own cats. I don’t think I would subject them to chemotherapy but I would keep them comfortable for as long as they can be and then when they no longer have a good quality of life, PTS.
The other cats can be tested too, which I would do immediately. If they are negative, they should be tested in 6 months.
Oh sweetie, I know it seems that way but believe me, they are not living happy and healthy lives. You just don’t see the ones who are off dying a horrible death from an infection or other disease.