Conference misery::feline_v1

    Sorry to hear about your troubles with your cat.
    
    I would call your vet back and tell them he has not improved, and
    is still exhibiting the same problems as before.  After a complete
    blood work up was done and showed nothing, didn't they have any
    suggestions?
    
    If the answer your looking for is not forth coming I think I would
    talk with one of the BIG clinics. Tufts, or Angel Memorial. You
    could even get a copy of the blood work your vet did and send it
    to them.
    
    Keep us posted.
    
    Barbara

    Do you think he could have had a bad experience outside with a large
    animal or unfriendly person?  Is he sniffing the air to see who
    or what is lurking about?  Is the household in any way unsettled,
    i.e. something/someone new/gone, furniture rearranged...animals
    seem to hate change.  If he's not eating, what about getting a second
    opinion from another vet?
    
    Maureen

    Does a complete blood workup guarantee no felinne leukemia, or fip?
    If not, I would have those tests made.  I would also seek vet help
    again in any case.  Is he getting lots of emotional support in case
    that's the problem?

Definitely see the vet or another vet SOON - and if all else fails, try a
kitty tranquilizer for a week - with vet's approval, of course.  He may
have run into something out there that scared him and, even though he
probably doesn't remember the source of the fear, the fear response has
become habit.  Sometimes the "wonderful" outdoors is too much for our
"slower" kitty friends and they need to be indoor-only cats....I have one
that would never make it outside, but he lives a nice life as an 
indoor-only cat.

    The October issue of Cat Fancy magazine had a story that is similar
    to yours about a cat that wouldn't come out from under the bed.
    He was scared of a new picture on the wall in the living room. 
    Has anything changed in your cats environment?  Maybe you could
    get him out from under the bed and carry him around in the house
    with you to find out what is upsetting him.  He will probably tense
    up when you come to it.  How does he act at the vet's?  Does he
    try to hide there? Or does he act more normal.
    
    Jo

    Are his eyes all right?  If he's hiding in the dark, is the light
    hurting them?  He can see properly, can't he?  No lumps or bumps,
    or abscesses, if he's been in a fight?
    
    I would definitely suspect something physical, if he's not eating.
    Yes, something could have scared him, but I don't believe to the
    extent that he would totally lose his appetite over a period of
    time.  Even when Oliver had his "nervous breakdown" (the first time
    we moved) he kept on eating!
    
    I would definitely take him back to the vet, either the same one,
    or for a second opinion (I'm into second opinions in a big way,
    following my horse's recent illness, which I won't go into here
    ...  enough to say that I spent a week in a total panic, expecting
    him to drop dead, until I got my second opinion!).
    
    Let us know what happens.
    
    Helen.

    i took mozart back to the vet last night.  they ran the test twice,
    and the vet just informed me that he tested positive both times
    for lukemia.  she also feels he has some 'related viruses' which
    are making all his muscles tender, which is why he wants no physical
    contact.  she said this is only the second cat she has ever seen
    that has gone through the lukemia vaccanation program correctly,
    and still contracted the disease.
    
    she says it may be possible to relieve some of the pain and discomfort
    with medication, but she is not sure... i intend to give it my best
    effort.  another worry that i have is the heavy contact mozart has
    with his sister (bogart).  i am having her retested tonight (praying
    for negative), and then getting a 'booster' vaccine.  
    
    my question now is a very diffucult one, so i need some advice.
   how much pain and discomfort is too much???  if he only responds
    'somewhat' to the medication, what is the best thing i can do for
    him??  
    
    if anyone else has had to go through this (both my other cats died
    of old age at 14 and 16 yrs) i would appreciate any insight you
    may have.
    
    thank-you,
    sj

    I feel so bad for you and poor mozart.  This will certainly be 
    a difficult decision for you.  I guess you will have to take things
    one day at a time and try your best to determine how much pain he
    is in.  From your base note it seems mozart truely is having great
    pain at this point.  
    
    Personnaly I feel there are much worse things in life than death.
    If mozart is in such pain that he cannot be touched maybe it's time
    for his passage to a better life.  Death, although painfull for
    the ones left behind can be a blessing for the one who is terminaly
    ill and suffering.
    
    As you can see, I believe in kitty heaven which would heavily influence
    my decision if it were mine to make.  I hope the medication works
    for mozart and maybe you won't be faced with the decision at all.
    
    Keep us posted and good luck!
    
    Jeanne, Cali and Sam
    

    I am so sorry to hear about mozart.  I lost my siamese, buda, to
    feline leukemia about 4 years ago.  I won't bore you with all the
    details, but the one bit of advice I would give to you is don't
    do anything until you're comfortable with your decision.  You know
    your cat so well (I'm sure) that your instinct will give you the
    answer.  
    
    Anne

Only you and your cat will know what should be done...however, having had
the sad duty of relieving some pets' pain in the past, I will offer my
criteria for deciding "when" it is time....

If I cannot relieve the pain enough to provide for "comfortable" periods
of time.....If the affliction is such that my pet cannot enjoy the
activities that provide for the "quality" of life we all talk about -
things like cuddling, playing, interacting with others of human or
animal kind....then I believe that life for ME would be worse than death,
and I feel my pet deserves the same consideration from me.
That's when I have the vet provide a painless exit from life.  

It is such a hard decision - and a personal one.  My heart goes out to
you.

				D

Re: .0, .7

Sarah,

I am very sorry to hear about Mozart. It is devastating to lose a 
friend this way, especially one so young. I can empathize because I 
recently lost Fuzzy Wuzzy, not quite 3 years old, to feline leukemia. 
His symptoms were similar to Mozart's.

It seems that lately we are hearing a lot of feline leukemia stories.
Each person who has to deal with it handles it differently; you have
to do what's right for you. I offer my story below. 

One night in June I noticed that Fuzzy Wuzzy was breathing "funny", 
like he had just been running around. But I knew he hadn't. The next 
morning I brought him to the vet's. They kept him there to take X-rays 
and do blood work, including a feline leukemia test. Thursday night 
the vet called; the leukemia test was positive. The reason Fuzzy was 
breathing strangely was because he had a tumor in his chest which
was producing fluid and filling his thoracic cavity. They had removed 
some of the fluid so that he could breathe more easily, but the vet 
said it would continue to collect. He recommended euthanasia, since 
Fuzzy wouldn't get any better. I felt the vet was right but I was 
too upset to talk. I told the vet I would think about it and call back 
the next day with my decision.

At that time I thought I would tell him to go ahead and do it
(euthanasia). But after considering everything, it just didn't feel like 
the right decision. Fuzzy had been lethargic for a week or so (I thought 
it was due to the heat wave; all four cats were lethargic, and so was I). 
However, he was still acting more or less normally: eating, drinking 
water, using the litter box and scratching post, occasionally talking 
with his little chirp, making some attempts to play with a toy. It 
appeared to me that he was uncomfortable but not in pain or otherwise 
suffering. It also seemed to me the vet's recommendation was standard, 
automatic for that diagnosis. 

Remembering the look of fear in Fuzzy's eyes the previous day when I 
started to leave the animal hospital without him and how he struggled 
in the vet's arms made up my mind. Even if it meant only a few more 
days, I was determined to bring him home. I didn't want him to die 
alone among strangers.

The next morning when I called the vet I was a little surprised to find
that he supported my decision. He said he had no idea how much time 
Fuzzy had left. He gave me two kinds of pills to help make Fuzzy more 
comfortable: a diuretic to keep the fluid from collecting in his chest, 
and chemotherapy. I was to keep close watch on Fuzzy and to bring him in 
if he got worse. We also made an appointment for four days later for him 
to be checked again. This gave me a little hope as it showed they thought 
Fuzzy would last that long.

He did last that long, and longer; six weeks in all. After having the 
fluid drained from his chest a couple of times the first week, it 
stopped collecting and the vet thought the cancer might be in remission.

For a while Fuzzy acted almost normally, but like he was a little tired. 
I spent the next few weeks running him up to the vet's 20 miles away 
for checkups at least once a week. If his breathing appeared worse, it 
was off to the vet's. His appetite slacked off at one point for a few 
days, so the vet gave him a shot of Valium. It turned Fuzzy into a new 
cat! He ate like a pig and really appeared to be his old self again. 
That lasted for two weeks. When his appetite slacked off again I took
him in for another shot of Valium. This time it didn't work. Fuzzy picked 
at his cat food, so I hand-fed him Nutrical to supplement his diet. I 
bought shrimp and roast beef -- he ate one shrimp. I could tell he wanted 
to eat, but the tumor seemed to be growing and made it hard for him to 
swallow solid food. It finally reached the point where I knew it was time.

I called the House Call Veterinary Service (Hudson, NH) to come to the
house to put Fuzzy to sleep. This seemed the best solution as it would
save him (and me) the stress of a trip in the hot car to our regular 
vet's. The vet and technician, both women, were very sympathetic, 
understanding, and caring. Afterwards I buried him at my mother's in 
Mass., since I live in a condo and don't own the land. 

It's sad to lose our feline family members; the old ones have shared our 
lives for many years, with the young ones goes the promise of things to 
come. We do our best but sometimes are efforts are in vain.

Good luck to you with your decision; I know you will make the right one
for you and Mozart.

Linda

                            -< feline paranoia??? >-


    Sarah,

    I am also sorry to hear about your cat.  I lost Mr. Bojangles last
    month to feline leukemia.  He did't look well to me, but he acted
    fine and was eating fine, so I didn't think much about.  He was an
    outdoors cat too.  Anyways, he was gone for 9 days!  He finally
    came home and looked terrible.  I brought him to the Vets right
    away and after taking some blood tests, the news came back - he
    has feline leukemia.  They gave him some antibiotics and lots of
    fluid.  When I went to visit him the next day, he looked great!
    Then the Vet said, 'you really should think about putting him to
    sleep'.......aargh!  how could I do something like that when he
    looks so much better?  The vet said it was because of the fluids
    and antibiotics that he looked so good, but he was very sick.
    Sure, I could have had them continue with all that, but the bottom
    line was that he was very sick, he wouldn't get any better, and
    do I want to see him slowly getting worse and worse.  The leukemia
    had already spread to his liver and kidneys.

    Even though I knew Mr. Bojangles very well (he was 8 years old),
    I didn't know about the pain he was going through.  Especially
    where cats hide their pain (if possible) - they may take off for
    a couple of days until they feel better, etc....

    I would definitely check with your Vet for sure.

    My vet also told me that Feline Leukemia is similar to Aids in
    people.  They can have it for years without showing any signs.

    One other thought, a friend of mine has a cat who has feline
    leukemia, but he's a carrier of it.

    My thoughts are with you!

    /Karen

    Sarah,
    
    While I have never lost any of my cats, many years ago I had to have 
    one of my beautiful St. Bernard's euthanised because of heart worm 
    (no treatments worked).  At the time I was devastated and someone gave 
    me this prayer which has since provided much comfort for me.  While it 
    tends to speak more to dogs (wagging tails and licking hands) the 
    sentiment is the same no matter what pet you have.  It still puts a 
    lump in my throat when I read it.  Have faith in your decision, I'm 
    sure it will be the right one for you...no one said life or love was 
    easy.
    
    Conni
    
    
                              A PET'S PRAYER


	Treat me kindly my beloved master for no heart in all
	the world is more grateful for kindness than mine.

	Do not break my spirit with a stick, for although I should
	lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding
	will teach me more quickly the things you would have me do.

	Speak to me often for your voice is the world's sweetest music, 
	as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when I hear
	your step.

	When the weather is cold and wet please take me inside for I
	am a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements, 
	and I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at
	your feet.

    	Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should 
	not reproach you were it dry I cannot tell you when I suffer
	thirst.

	Feed me clean food so that I may stay well, to romp and play
	and do your bidding, to walk by your side, standing ready to
	protect you with my life should your life be in danger.

	And master, when I am very old, if my health and sight fails,
	do not turn me away...rather, see that my trusting life is
	taken gently and I shall leave you knowing with the last breath
	I draw, my fate was always safe in your hands.

    i want to thank you all for your comfort, kindness and suggestions.
    
    mozart is home now on medication.  he had a virus attacking his
    muscles (due to the aids-like action of FeLV), but seems very
    happy now.
    
    the vet will keep seeing him on a regular basis, especially to watch
    his liver and kidneys.  we are hoping for the best right now, as
    he is playful again, and requests all the attention he can get.
    
    this is my first experience with a friend or family member battling
    a disease so fatal.  i know accidents can happen (to people or
    animals), and life is always too short.  this haunts us in such
    a cruel way though, not knowing how he will feel each day.
    
    i know i will do the right thing for him if the need surfaces,
    but now i just enjoy the love he has to share.
    
    thank-you,
    sarah