My cat was just diagnosed with Stage 3 Feline immunodeficiency virus. Should I try to

[sinkingfeeling]

keep him alive by antibiotics and hand feeding or should I put him down? Gabby came as a stray to my house almost 2 years ago. He was thin and hungry and would just 'wolf' down his food. He made best friends with another of my outside cats (all are either strays or feral). He soon gained weight and adored for me to pick him up and carry him. During this winter, his long black hair became increasingly matted to the point that I took him to the vet's on 4/3 and had him shaved. They put him 'under' for that and also gave him his first 5-way combo vaccination and a rabies shot.

Since then, he became stand-offish. Slept more and appeared to be cold. Then about 3 days ago he stopped eating. I noticed last night that he wasn't walking in a straight line and he doesn't appear to 'know' me. No more returning of affection and very 'out-of-it'. I took him to an emergency clinic this morning. They think he has a kidney infection and some neurological problem as a result of his Stage 3 FIV.

What would you all do? I would love to give him as much time as possible.

[southernyankeebelle]

1. I know how you feel. I just lost my cat last week and haven't even told the grandkids. They know

he takes off and shows up again. One day he came back and he seemed ok. Then I noticed he started drinking alot but not eating much. But it has been really hot and when the weather turns hot he cuts down on eating. That was all I noticed. Then on thursday or friday (I can't remember) we came home and found him laying on his side outside and he was dead. If it were me and I could afford to let him go I would. Don't let him hang around for you. He may be in pain. You did your best and thats all you can do. We had our cat for 2 yrs. I also have 3 little dogs and they seem to miss the cat. I am now looking for another male cat. I live in the rural area and it is good to have a cat. Of course he can't replace my Mr Kitty. Good luck with your decision.

[roody]

2. I would let him go and not prolong the agony. n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

3. I don't think any of us can tell you what to do. What we *can* do is tell what we would do.

If Gabby were mine, I'd love him . . . . and put him down.

This is a hard decision that has no right or wrong answers.

I wish you the best. Its hard.

[mopinko]

4. i know if it were me that was sick like that,

i wouldn't want to stick around. in fact my kids have strict instructions to NOT give antibiotics once i am in a hopeless state.
that said, if he isn't in a lot of pain or discomfort, it wouldn't be wrong to treat the immediate problems, see if he comes around to a decent quality of life, and decide then. we know where it is going, but usually you just have to take it a day at a time.
hard spot to be in. be at peace that most people i know wish they had the same option.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. You are seeing more of the effects on your cat than we can

know, even from your descriptions. Look at the cat. Your answer is there.

Personally, I have put several cats down when it was time....and I knew, even if there were some times I did not follow my gut. I regretted it when I went too long, and I only prolonged it for my own feelings----I didn't want to lose my cat, I didn't want to make a final trip to the vet, I hoped maybe things would get better instead of worse.

There is nothing wrong with euthanasia. I would do it now if my cat was at this point. And I would not feel guilty about it. Best wishes to you, whatever you decide.

[TorchTheWitch]

6. I can only tell you what I would do

If there is no hope of recovery I would have him euthanized. Quality of life matters, and if the animal is in pain I would want to end that pain even if the only way to end it is euthanization. Animals do not have the fear of death and exaltation of life that us humans have had taught to us. When it is time for them to go they want to go and may stop eating, drinking and moving in order to hasten their own death.

Ask yourself if your desire to prolong your cat's life is because you can't bear to lose them or some other reason that is only beneficial to yourself, and be honest with yourself with your answer. I think pretty much all of us here have had to face ourselves with these hard questions when it comes to a beloved pet, and the answers are not so easy nor so entirely honest. And that's because we love our pets so much. But love also means doing the thing that is best for the pet but maybe not best for ourselves. One of my brother's told me after having one of my dog's euthanized that it was the last and most supreme act of love I could ever have given him. And he was right. I did the hard thing that was not at all what was best for me but was best for him. And THAT is true love... sacrificing your own needs and desires for those of the one you love.

[BTennyson]

7. It's a tough decision.

I took in a stray tabby and his first vet visit he was diagnised with FIV. I had him inside the house for 6 years. He, for the first time in his life was warm, safe and well fed and loved. He started to lose his balance, lost his appetite and started to hide a lot. I took him to the vet and the FIV became full-blown and affected his organs. He showed no outward signs of pain but the vet told me that cats are very good at hiding their sickness and the distress that it brings to their body. I brought him home for 2 more days then took him back to go to the Rainbow Bridge. A very difficult and gut-wrenching decision at the time. But now I know it was the right one.
I saw the sadness and distress in his sad eyes and so will you.

[CountAllVotes]

8. Years ago I had a cat with FIV

And yes, I had to have him put down. It was a far better option than keeping him alive and paying a bunch of huge vet bills only to eventually have to face the inevitable.

So, I agree with others on this thread that say they would have him put down. Being he isn't eating, that there is a sign that he probably does not have long to live anyway.

The cat is suffering, this much we do know. I wouldn't prolong it (take this from someone that had to have two cats put down very recently! )

I hope you can make a decision soon. Best wishes to you and your cat that was lucky enough to find you and you were able to give him a good life for a few years.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. How is your kitty? Update?

We are all suffering with you and your cat. We have all been there.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. I decided to take him home and try the week's worth of antibiotics. I

got him to eat, starting on Sunday evening. He's alert, but very weak from lack of food and water. I'm helping him with the drinking by using a syringe to get fluids down him. If he doesn't improve over the next 5 days, I will probably put him down.

Right now I see nothing 'wrong' except he's very weak.

[meti57b]

11. My cat survived a disease that the vets said no cat can survive.

In 2004, my cat was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma of the digestive tract. It was diagnosed and confirmed with two separate biopsies. He had a tumor so large that it felt like part of the regular stomach muscle. His cats-only vet and the veterinary oncologist each said I could get him surgery and get him chemotherapy but this disease is uniformly fatal in two years. They estimated that my cat already had this cancer for part of a year, so they gave him 1-1/2 years even with treatment.

So, I got him the surgery and treatment. They removed most of the tumor but they could not remove a piece that was 5cm x 1cm and had major blood vessels running through it. After that I still could hardly get him to eat. I was following him around the house with a can of catfood getting him to eat 1/2 teaspoon-full at a time and logging it to keep track of how much he had eaten. He was bone-thin and so weak that he could hardly walk. Most of the time when I was not after him with food, he would just lay there motionless.

We started chemotherapy amid ongoing warnings from veterinary oncologists that he would not survive. He didn't like the needle pokes, but the chemotherapy was a type that did not make him sick at all, It started at two sessions per week, then one per week, then every other week, and so on, at increasingly long intervals.etc. After a couple of months, he had another sonogram and the remains of the tumor were still there, along with the usual warning from the oncologists that he was not going to survive, no matter what treatment they .gave him.

So on for another six months, (total of a year of treatment). On what turned out to be the last appointment when they did another sonogram, the tech brought my cat back from the treatment room and asked me to wait, the oncologist wanted to talk to me. I could see my cat was doing well and not close to dying or something, so I assumed I was going to get chewed out because I had let him get a little overweight.

The oncologist came running out, saying "it's gone"! I knew she didn't mean the cat, I had the cat in my cat carrier. It was the tumor that was gone! My cat had apparently survived a cancer that "no cat can survive". It is eight years now since that day. My cat is still completely healthy.

About the only thing I can figure is that up till then when the vets would say that a cat can not survive this disease even with treatment, maybe not many people tried getting their cat treatment.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Great story. I always want to 'try' any treatment and see how they do. It's

only giving them a fair 'shot' at getting well.

[meti57b]

14. I will be thinking of you and your little cat, and wishing you good luck and the best of everything!

[Curmudgeoness]

13. That is a good decision.

It can't hurt to see how things go with meds. I am very glad to hear that he is eating and you are getting fluids in him. I guess now it is up to him. Good luck.

[sinkingfeeling]

15. I am happy to report that Gabby has made a great come-back. He is

eating well and is showing no signs of any lasting neurological problems. He is playful. I'm glad I didn't put him down and that the antibiotics worked.

[Curmudgeoness]

16. Good call to give it a chance.....

I am so grateful that you tried treatment first. And I know you are too. I know how worried you were.

for you, and for Gabby!

[hamsterjill]

17. That is great news!

There are a lot of vets re-thinking FIV. Whereas before many vets routinely suggested putting down cats with FIV, they are now realizing that many cats with FIV can live long, happy lives.

Our rescue has one FIV cat, and the vet always advises us to treat anything that develops very aggressively at the onset since FIV weakens the immune system. So far, this has been successful.

It is, of course, always about quality of life...not quantity.

Thanks for taking such good care of Gabby!

[meti57b]

18. I'm very glad to hear that he is doing well!!

Wishing the best of everything for you and your little Gabby!!