I have a very sick kitty!

[BarbPond]

Our cat Gabby has been sick for awhile now and we thought it was a digestive problem so the vet and I tried different diets. Evidently that was not it as he kept getting worse. Anyhow I managed to get a stool sample this morning and brought Gabby to the vet.

The news is not good.

He has the Feline Immunodeficiench Fivrus or FIV for short. I think he has had it since he was rescued from Hurrican Katrina as he never has grown as much as a normal cat should and has always been skinny even when he eats well. But the pass couple of weeks he has been getting worse. Last night he had a high fever so I spent most of the night up with him and wiping him with a cool rag. Finally the fever broke and I got him to drink some water. But he would not eat.

Anyhow when I got home from the vet today he ate like it was going out of style all evening. Doc said to go ahead and feed him whatever he wanted. I happened to have some left over chicken, which he loves, and so I shredded that and he gobbled it up. He also ate some dry food then went to the water fountain and drank lots of water. He is sleeping peacefully right now with no fever.

We will have him put to sleep next Monday or Tuesday. Want to wait so that Wayne will be home to tell his little "pal" bye. I also need him here to help bury him in our cat cementary. If he gets worse in the meanwhile I will just have to let the vet put him to sleep and cremate him. Sigh...

Here is a photo of him before he got real sick and lost weight.

http://www.eatel.net/~meme/ccGabby01.jpg

[krazyaboutkatz]

Welcome to PT!:) I'm so sorry to hear that Gabby has FIV and that's he so sick.:( I thought that although cats will have a weaker immune system with FIV that they can still live long fairly normal lives. I know that several people on PT have cats with FIV. He sure is a very handsome boy.:) I'm a huge orangie fan. I hope that a miracle will happen and he'll become stronger and will be able to gain some weight back. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

[Karen]

Poor Gabby, give him a kiss from me!

[jennielynn1970]

I have fostered cats with FIV and they DO NOT have to be PTS. If he can get healthier and regain some weight, he could live a full and healthy life. Please give this poor boy a chance. FIV is not a death sentence, it's only one if you make it one.

My kitty, Honeybun, has FIV. I've had him for about 5 years, and he's about 15 years old, if not a bit older. He has had FIV for years and years. It is NOT easily transmissable, and once a cat is healthy, they can live full lives. Give your guy a chance, please. Many vets will just say to put them to sleep, but that does not have to be the alternative. Most live full, very healthy lives. It's only when they contract something else that their immune system has a hard time dealing with it. Get him healthy, to a good weight, and he'll make you a very happy FIV+ kitty owner.

[pomtzu]

Please don't give up on him yet. It just sounds like he isn't ready to leave for RB at this point. He's eating and drinking and seems comfortable, so what's the hurry? As long as he continues this way, it seems he's not in any pain or distress. See what Jenn posted. Gabby could still have a lot of good years left.

[Freedom]

Yes, my Bobby is also FIV+. Cats do NOT get sick and / or die from FIV. It weakens the immune system, so they need more help fighting off illness and disease. There is an underlying problem which it sounds like has not yet been diagnosed.

Something as simple as a URI, aka "kitty cold," can be tough for an FIV+ kitty to fight off. My vet will start antibiotics sooner w/Bobby than with another cat.

Also, an FIV+ cat should not have a regular rabies shot, which includes live rabies virus. They get the rabies shot with the killed virus.

Finally, FIV is NOT diagnosed from a stool sample! It is diagnosed from a blood test.

Please take Gabby to another vet.

[moosmom]

FIV+ cats can live long lives! Please do not give up on him. Just make him happy and comfortable for as long as possible.

Just because a cat is FIV+, is NOT a death sentence. Please re-think your decision!!

[catmandu]

Poor Gabby, you are such an Owesome Orange Cat.:love::love:
We are praying for you, that you can live as good a life as possible with your illness:love::love:
Your Family will do their best for you, and will give you every chance:love::love:
We LOVE Orange Cats here and are wishing and praying for You Gabby.:cool::cool::cool::cool:

[aTailOf2Kitties]

FIV is like the cat version of HIV that humans get. Infected cats can live for quite some time if maintained properly. I used to work at a vet and one of our regular clients had a FIV+ cat that came in once or twice a year for bloodwork. This particular cat was being treated with a medicine generally used on humans but I'm not saying they all have to be. I know they had this cat for years and years and he was fat, happy, and healthy. :love:

[kaycountrygal]

I am sorry to read about your cat Gabby. I've never had a cat with FIV but others have suggested that he can live a somewhat normal life. Maybe you would consider holding off on the PTS and see how it goes. Kay in NC

[momcat]

I'm so sorry to hear this. After reading the posts from other PTers familiar with FIV, please consider getting a second opinion.

[smokey the elder]

If the secondary infection is dealt with properly, an FIV+ cat can live a long time. I agree: please get a second opinion.

[BarbPond]

Thanks to all of you who answered my post and gave me advice. :) I really do appreciate it! :love: And I am sorry about such a long post.

And NO we will not rush into this!!! That is one of the reasons I did not get it done right away. I never rush into something like that. The condition that he was in yesterday just made me feel like I should put him out of his misery but he has improved over night. Therefore we will not have him put to sleep! I have been reading up on this problem and learning more about it.

We of course want to keep him with us as long as possible and will do so! We dearly love the little guy! He has been through so very much especially surviving the hurricane and flood when just a few months old.

Gabby is 6 1/2 years old. The photo I posted is years old and taken before he started getting real sick. At this point he weights he only weights about 5 lbs and is very skinny and boney even though he eats. I have been trying different foods and stuff to help him gain weight for over a year now. He has not gained any that is noticable. Laura has met him and can verify how skinny he is. She is out of town right now so I couldnt consult with her.

He is very weak and does not play anymore. Just not his old self. He has been running low fever on and off for the past month or so and the other night his fever was much higher. Also he was not drinking water or urinating. That really made me worry but I gave him water with a syringe. That seemed to help some.

I think that I mis-stated the importance of Doc checking his stool sample. Sorry but I was upset and not thinking right. The doc also checked his gums and mouth and showed me the red areas in back of the mouth and behind the teeth. Not the type of red associated with a tooth infection. And both me and the doc knew already that he was anemic. The doc said that he really didnt see much use in a blood test due to the fact that Gabby was showing so many of the symptoms of FIV unless I want him to do it. I didnt see much sense it doing that while he was already feeling so bad.

I have been reading in my cat medical book and these are the symptons that the book lists for FIV that Gabby has had:
anemia
mouth & gum disease
long standing diarrhea
lost of appetite and weight with emaciation
fever
eye discharge
ear infection (mites that I cured)
infection from scratching a flea bite that the doc cured with an antibiotic cream.


Some things about me since most of you dont really know me yet......

I am 66 years old and have had and loved cats all my life! I have raised (sucessfully) 4 children and now have 6 grandkids. I divorced my X after 40 yrs of marriage for lots of reasons but one of the reasons was his hate of cats! He would not let me have but one cat at a time and I didnt like the way he treated them! Oh he knew better then to physically hurt them but he still tended to scare them.

And then I met Wayne who adores cats. I actually met him on a cat site! We have been married for 7 yrs now. Wayne had never been married before! He drives a big-rig and hauls chemicals all over so isnt home but about 5 days out of 7. Therefore I have to make lots of decisions when he isnt home and I cant reach him on the cell phone. He is from Canada. I was able to talk to him briefly last night and again this morning and he also wants to give Gabby a chance.

We have only had 3 of our cats put to sleep and all 3 were due to old age and kidney failure. Their names were: Tic, Tac and Kiki who were all at the age of 13-19 years at the time. Tic and Tac were Wayne's cats before we married and he had them since they were kittens. Kiki was my cat that I raised from the time she was 6 wks old. We now have 10 cats! It seems that the good Lord sends us new kitties to help ease the lost of the others!

I have another kitty here that has medical problems. His name is Grumbles. He is kind of grouchy, hence the name, but also at times he is a big love bug. He has problems with kidney stones and is on special food.

I worked at Lamar-Dixon in Gonzales, La. to help feed and tend to the cats rescured from Katrina. It was both a heart warming experience and at the same time a sad one! Fact is we have 4 cats that lost their homes in New Orleans.

As stated above anemia is common with FIV cats. I am well informed on anemia as I am anemic myself. A few months ago I had to go get a blood transfusion. Three pints of blood! And I take some extra strong iron pills! So I know what that makes you feel like!

I have not been here much due to my health and eyes. I had catarat surgery in November on both eyes and they are still trying to get my new glasses right due to the fact that they had to correct some other eye problems at the time. I go on next Monday to get my computer glasses! That will help with the posting on here.

Here is a link to our cats web site in case anyone wants to see them all.
http://www.eatel.net/~meme/OurCats.html

[pomtzu]

Thank you for elaborating somewhat on Gabby's condition. Hoping that he will continue to be with you for some time to come.

I enjoyed meeting all of your kitties on their website. I just love the name Grumbles too - so funny - yet he did look like he fit the name! ;)

[Taz_Zoee]

I'm glad Gabby is getting another chance. I know how it is watching them lose weight and there's nothing you can do for them.

I looked at your site and got to see all the pictures of all your babies. They are beautiful! Lots of orangies!! :D And the two newest additions are just adorable. :)
It's wonderful to hear you found the man of your dreams that shares your love of cats. I am lucky enough to be with someone that shares my love of dogs and cats. :D We have two of each.

I hope your eyes are better soon so we can keep updated on Gabby and the rest of your crew. :)

[Laura's Babies]

Barbra, is that why I haven't heard from you?...you thought I was out of town? Nope!! I been right here.. Took some "treats" to Dr. Van's office today when I went.. (Experimented with a recipe and it came out good so I took them some of them).... CALL ME!

I SO hope Gabby bounces back and gets over this hump.. He is already so pitiful looking being as skinny as he already is so any set back would scear me to death... If you need me, call me!

[BarbPond]

Laura.... I will call you in a little while. Waiting for Wayne to call me right now. I even stopped by your house but the driveway was empty and nobody at home. :( You must have been at the Chiropractor when I came by. It was sometime between 2:30 and 3:00 pm.

Yeah Laura it scared me to death also! That is why I really couldnt think straight today!

Thank you Pomtzu and Taz_Zoee for your latest posts. I am surprised you could view my cat page as I have been working on adding Wayne's two cats (Tic and Tac) all day.

LOL... about Grumbles.... it took us a solid year for me to be able to even pick him up and about another year before he would trust Wayne. He was so very mistreated and scared. He still fusses sometime but now I think he does it just to see if he can scare us!! It dont work as I just tell him to shut up!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so glad to hear that you'll be giving Gabby more time to heal.:) Hopefully he'll start improving and he'll gain some weight. I also took a look at your website and you have some gorgeous cats past and present. Since I'm such a big orangie fan I enjoyed seeing all of the orangies.:) I look forward to seeing and reading more of your posts in the future.:)

[Medusa]

I'm just now seeing this. I'm so glad that you're not rushing into a decision. As others have stated, FIV isn't a death sentence although I'll admit to never having had a cat w/FIV. It's difficult to know where to draw the line, though, and most, if not all of us, here on PT have been there. Please keep us posted. And welcome to Pet Talk! :)

[BarbPond]

Up date on Gabby...

He is not in good shape and Laura described his condition in her post...

He is already so pitiful looking being as skinny as he already is so any set back would scear me to death...

Yes he has been eating like crazy yesterday but that may be due to the fact that I was giving him his favorite food, shredded baked chicken breast! But he still has the "run" after he eats. And he is so weak that he cant get up on the bed by himself. I have a shorter bench at the foot of the bed but he still cant make it up. He "claws" his way up on the sofa though. Or just sleeps in one of the many kitty beds I have.

I feel that if we can get him to where he can digest food right then he will improve some. Poor thing he cant put on weight if he cant keep his food in his body long enough for it to do some good.

I have put a call into the vet and he is supposed to call me back, which he will do as he knows me well. Have been using this vet for 15+ years but I have tried some of the other local vets at times. Did not like them at all. There is a good vet in Baton Rouge that Laura uses but I have only been there once and it is a good ways (30 miles) for me to drive with my glasses still not right.

I am thinking that I may just go back to this vet today and talk to him in person! I want to tell him all of what you nice folks have told me and have him do that blood test.

Opinions Welcome.......

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear that he's not doing well.:( I had a cat that would have severe diarrhea and he also became very thin because everything he ate would come out of him again.:( This was my RB Starr and he was diagnosed with IBD,irritable bowel disease, and also colitis. He was put on prednisolone which did help but later on he gained so much weight that he could barely move.:( Yes, I would definitely go back to your vet and have some blood work done or at least talk to your vet more about Gabby. Also ask your vet about vitamin B12 injections. These really helped my RB Starr and they also help to increase the appetite and help to increase energy. Good luck. I'll continue to keep Gabby in my thoughts and prayers.

[BarbPond]

Yeah....

Doc called me back already!!! He said that since I decided to try and keep him a bit longer that he wants to try treating Gabby with 2 different antibotics. Baytril (enrofloxacin) and Clindamycin. He said that I do not have to bring him in again and pay for another visit but to just come get the medecine. He said he would talk to me about the meds when I get there. He also said these meds should help with about any secondary infection that Gabby may have and wants to try this before sticking poor Gabby and doing blood work on him.

He is so boney that I am sure a needle would not feel good at all. This doc is so sweet and gentle with the animals!

Ps: This doc also knows that I love cats dearly and that we dont have much money so he trys his best to save me some $$$. I am sure he will give me the meds for cost price.

[lvpets2002]

:( Sorry to hear that your Precious Baby is sick.. I sure hope the meds will work & fast.. Come on wittle baby & get to feeling better real soon.. Sending Lots of Prayers & Huggss..

[BarbPond]

Well first off let me say that Gabby never did loose his appetite! It just would go right through him.

I went and got the meds and he also put him on Hill's prescription diet for gastrominal problems, in the can. I got the meds and when I got home I fed Gabby the new food and he ate about 1/3 of the can. I then gave him his pills which he didnt like too well. :) But I got them down him with only one tiny scratch from a hind claw. He sure wanted to get away!!

Doc had a big grin on his face when he saw me and he motioned for me to come into the back hall. He said he was glad I didnt have Gabby put to sleep. He said "I figured you would be back soon." When I asked how he figured that he simply said, "Because you are one of the sweetest persons I know and because I can tell how much you love you cats!" I was caught off guard by that and didnt know how to reply so I just gave him a hug and said thanks! He told me to call him and he would return my calls if I had any questions.

[BarbPond]

Thanks to everyone here that has helped me with this problem! You are all a bunch of nice, caring, pet lovers!

Hugs to all.... :love:

[Medusa]

Sounds like you have one of the good guys for a vet. That's so important! We're praying here for Gabby and you. Keep the faythe. :love:

[kaycountrygal]

BarbPond, I just went to your site and read about all your lovely cats and how they ended up with you & hubby. I'm glad you now have a hubby that appreciates & loves cats. Yes, You certainly do have a lot of experience with cats. I do hope Gabby gets to feeling better. It sure sounds as if you know what to do and how to take care of him.

I hope your vision gets better and that the computer glasses help. It was good to read about you and your cats. Kay in NC Th 1.28.11

[Freedom]

I hesitated to return to this thread; now I'm glad I did.

I went to look and meet all your cats, what a lovely clowder you have!

I also did some checking on FIV online -- as I have one FIV+ boy, never hurts to recheck stuff. So, those things that you listed from th cat medicine book, I found here too:
http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/fiv/symptoms.shtml

I didn't remember that FIV progresses in stages. This is the bit I remembered:
FIV & Opportunistic Infections

Opportunistic infections are the major cause of death in FIV-positive cats. They usually develop in the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. Some common symptoms are poor coat condition, persistent fever, and loss of appetite. Other symptoms and conditions include the following:

And it is under that section that they list the anemia, weight loss, and other things you had listed.

So, if you can treat each symptom, that should help.

The reason I was afraid to come back is, as I thought about how you and Laura described him, 5 pounds and so thin, I sort of ended up leaning the other way. I'm glad you are going to push forward and give another try!

Those 2 meds should cover infections. I wonder about something for the anemia? That makes a person feel tired and sluggish; if that is addressed, it may help him feel better.

Prayers for Gabby, and for you, from RI.

[BarbPond]

I wonder about something for the anemia? That makes a person feel tired and sluggish; if that is addressed, it may help him feel better.

I said in one of my posts while just rambling on... I have anemia myself so I know how it makes you feel. It got so bad last November that I had to go to the hospital and get 3 pints of blood. I was so tired that I was having a really hard time walking from one room to another! I felt almost 100% better after I got the blood! I now take 325 mg of Iron each day. But Iron supplements can to mess up your digestive system at times. But that is something we can check into later on.

I am going to go to that website you posted and do some reading. Thanks for posting it!

[BarbPond]

Freedom....

The cat veterninary book we have is:
Cat Owner's Home Veterninary Handbook
by, Delbert G. Carlson, D.V.M. and James M. Giffin, M.D.

It is a good size book with over 400 pages in it. We use it fairly often.

We also have a book on Cat Emergency Treatments.

Gabby Update:
He is taking his meds for me like a good boy! He also likes the new food and as soon as I get his bowl out he starts meowing like crazy! I have been giving him just a 1/3 of a can at each feeding and I am feeding him about 3 times a day. Dont want to overload his tummy. His motor skills are improving some as he can now jump up and down from the kitty benches. Right now he is sleeping in the sunshine on one of the benches. I think he is feeling a bit better already but still looks real sick.

[Freedom]

Oh good, I meant to ask about that book, thank you for posting the info!

[BarbPond]

You are quite welcome Freedom! I have had this book awhile now so dont know if you can still get it or not. Maybe you can on Amazon or Barnes/Noble.

I also have a smaller paperback type book on Cat Emergencies.

First Aid for Cats
by Bruce Fogle, D.V.M.

Just reading it will teach you quite a few things! It tells you stuff such as this:

The basics of first aid, from cleaning wounds to CPR.
What to do in emergency situations.
How to decide when a pet needs to see the Vet.
How to reduce the risk of emergencies.

[Laura's Babies]

I am SO glad to hear Gabby loves his new food! Now, lets get that boy well and back to normal!!!

I delievered all those treats to the group today. You should have seen their eyes when they saw them! They said to really THANK YOU!... then the kitties at Pet Smart got some treats!

[BarbPond]

I am glad the folks and the kitties enjoyed getting those treats. I will try to remember to tell Doc and the rest of the office crew that they were well recieved. :) Exactly who is "the group" you refer to? Just curious. Maybe I can get some more next time I go there for food.

[Kittyfoot]

Hey folks, I'm Wayne (aka Kittyfoot, aka *&#!! truck driver;)), Barb's hubby. I just got back from a run to Indiana. I've read your encouraging posts and I just wanted to say thank you very much. It's hard for me to give Barb the support she needed when I'm a thousand miles or more away. Cell phone is only so good and with the odd hours we run I'm pretty wiped out by the time I stop. Believe me, I haven't slept well all week fretting about my little family here. With what I do, the stress levels already high but it helps knowing that our babies have the best kitty mom they could possibly have.

Gabs was by the door when I came in and oh he looks so much better than when I left. When "Mommy" got out his supper dish he went into "full meow mode" just like he used to and he gobbled that down in a flash and looked around for more. He trails Barb everyplace she goes; knows who's controlling the food for sure. He did go get a few laps of water from the kitty fountain so that's encouraging too.

Right now, I'm propping the eyelids open with toothpicks so I'll end this here. Thank you all once again and be assured that Gabriel will get the best of care no matter what. G'night all.

[Laura's Babies]

Barbra, it's Northside Humane Society.. They got a great bunch of people there but most uf of help where ever needed with other groups too..

HI WAYNE!! Welcome home man!! Get some rest, get caught up and get some time in with the fur kids...

[BarbPond]

Thanks Laura. That is the place up in Ethel and I know where Ethel is as I used to live up that way when I was WAY younger!

Gabby is doing much better today. He was even trying to play some. But mostly he just wants to EAT. I am not sure just how much of the can food I should give him in one day. Dingy me forgot to ask and they are closed for the weekend so I cant call.

Anyhow he is pooping right, and drinking water also. Right now thankfully he is napping instead of yowling for food. But soon as I try to go to the kitchen his radar kicks in and here he comes on the run! :D

Any suggestions on how much I can safely feed him???

[Randi]

It's so good to hear Gabby is feeling better. :) Concerning food... feed him small portions with at least one hour intervals. I'm sure you know that, though.

Hope he will be completely back to normal. You're certainly doing all the right things.

Kisses to Gabby. :love:

[BarbPond]

Thanks Randi... That is what I have been doing but wanted to just make sure that I dont make him sicker. I find that tending sick cats is alot like tending our human kids. Grin! :)