Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Mazonas]

My cat is sick.  Really sick.  Blood tests so far have shown an abnormally low white blood cell count, and the 2 most likely candidates for this are feline leukemia/bone marrow tumour, or feline HIV.

The last time she got sick from swallowing an entire spool of cotton thread she had to have 1/3 of her bowel and intestine removed and it cost me so much I'm still in debt now.  If she's got either of these illnesses I have no idea how I'll be able to get her the treatment she needs.  I'm already midway through getting a DRO as it is.

Anyone here had a cat with either of these illnesses?  Anyone got any advice they could offer would be appreciated.

[filiusenox]

Ermm...I don't know how to say this but, I think it's time to let go. Your too poor to pay the med bils and surviving cancer is tough even for a human.
I'm really sorry.

[eerr]

I think, you might just have to let your cat go.

[Mazonas]

If it is feline leukemia there won't be anything we can do anyway, aside from keep her comfortable while she goes.  If is it feline HIV she could, with treatment, live as long and healthy a life as a normal cat... it'd be kinda hard to "let her go" under that circumstance, you know?  But I do see what you mean.

I just wondered if anyone here has had a cat with either of these illnesses could give me any idea what to expect from here on in.

[Nadaka]

Let it die mercifully. A cat that has lived a full life (one long enough to get and recover from cancer), should not be made to suffer due to your attachment.

Never had a cat with those issues, but I have had one that began suffering from dementia at the age of 15, a few years after loosing a leg from an auto accident. Had another one that was very sick after what I assume is cancer due to the tumerous growth on his chest. Also had a couple of young warlock dobermans with congenital heart deformities.  All of them were put down to prevent further suffering.

[Mazonas]

A cat that has lived a full life (one long enough to get and recover from cancer)

Dude.  She's 5.  As the vet said himself "just a baby"

[Nadaka]

A cat that has lived a full life (one long enough to get and recover from cancer)

Dude.  She's 5.  As the vet said himself "just a baby"

And my dobermans were 3. There is only so much that you can do. You can not afford treatment, that means that treatment isn't available. Since treatment isn't available, the only humane option is euthanasia.

[ChairmanPoo]

Never had a cat with those issues, but I have had one that began suffering from dementia

... I'm curious, how do you determine that a cat has dementia?

[Nadaka]

Never had a cat with those issues, but I have had one that began suffering from dementia

... I'm curious, how do you determine that a cat has dementia?

IIRC: personality change, seems to not recognize family members with growing frequency, random aggression, no longer cleans itself, apparent disorientation and lack of balance, no longer interested in eating. I think that covers most of the symptoms.

[Cthulhu]

My cat had brain cancer and had some of those symptoms too, as well as incontinence.  He'd also spend hours just walking in circles.

I also had a cat with feline leukemia, and he had to be put to sleep, and two of my dogs were too (One had incurable stomach cancer and was obviously suffering, the other was ancient, approaching the record for his breed, and was also obviously in a lot of pain, serious joint problems and possibly also cancer).

If she's clearly suffering and you can't or can't afford to treat her, the only humane thing to do is to put her to sleep.

[ryak2002]

If you actually do end up having to put your cat to sleep, think of it this way.  Every day, there are cats who are put to sleep because the shelters can't afford to feed/take care of all the cats they have even if they are perfectly healthy. 

Its terrible that your cat is sick, but if you can't save it at least you can save another on in its memory.

[G-Flex]

Never had a cat with those issues, but I have had one that began suffering from dementia

... I'm curious, how do you determine that a cat has dementia?

Like Nadama said, probably similar to the ways you do in a person. You can tell.

I had a cat who probably didn't get dementia when she was old, but her personality certainly changed. She got a lot more friendly, quiet, and didn't venture too far outside anymore. Of course, this was probably also set off by the fact that she got a terrible, painful eye infection and had to get it amputated.

[Tylui]

Leukemia would be a very difficult cancer to cure... But look up the power of apricot kernels(AKA Vitamin B17, amygdalin, laetrile). I know it sounds like a bunch of conspiracy theorist hooplah, but I worked for the company that sells the most kernels and has the longest and best reputation in the industry and some of the testimony from the customers was ridiculously convincing.

This site is run by the same man, whose father was a Doctor, and one of the laetrile pioneers, and has lots of people in situations dealing with cancers, etc. and there should be plenty of topics etc. about pet dosages. If not, you can always start a thread; the people there are very friendly.

[ChairmanPoo]

Pics Double-blind trial or it didn't happen

[G-Flex]

Reading their description of a "zapper", they don't know science from marketing.