Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) - Quality of life?

Amalgam

Do any members have experience of a family pet with Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)?

Our cat was bitten a few weeks back and has been affected badly, blood abnormality, liver and pancreas 'not functioning normally'.

Despite a pretty awful week, he has recovered somewhat, eating, but with some aversion to liquids, with a normal personality, having gone through what you could almost call a depression, recently.

We're weighing things up and taking it day by day, but it is difficult, knowing we have such a good natured pet taking a kicking, yet still keeping his chin up.

Do any boardsies have a feline with active FeLV? Does the animal have what you could call a good quality of life?

Our vet has been great.

To be blunt, myself and family don't know if it is fair, to the animal, to keep him going, or to face up to putting the cat to sleep.

Ado86

Do you know that it is the FeLV that is making him sick - or has he already got FeLV and this incident has set him back ?
I would be suprised if he is so sick following the bite alone...
It takes years for cats to become clinically sick with FeLV.

We had a tom cat with FeLV for about 12 years, and only found out when he was in the end stages of the disease. He lived a very healthy and happy life, until the virus caught up with him.

Miss Lockhart

Like Ado86, I also had a cat for 11 years with FeLV. She tested positive on a routine test (was not sick at the time) at age 7 and showed no symptoms until she was 11. However, once she became ill she went downhill very fast. She had a great quality of life until then though.

I think it is really rare for a cat to be very sick with FeLV immediately after infection! Also, it takes up to 8 weeks for a cat to test positive after infection so perhaps he was already infected before the incident? I suppose it's also possible that he is sick because of a standard infection introduced by the bite and the FeLV is just a coincidental issue.

One thing I will say is that I know false positives are common enough with the FeLV test done by most vets (5-10% afaik). You are really supposed to confirm this with another lab test but I don't think many vets do.

Obviously your cat is getting the best care possible now and I would not give up hope just yet. Keep nursing him back to health and following the vet's advice and fingers crossed he will improve.

Amalgam

Thank you both for your response. Two tests have been done, both showing blood abnormalities. Kidney function is normal.

Our cat is male and 11 years old in March/April. He started getting 'the blues' about two months back, lack of appetite.. then I noticed his bones were more prominent on his hind quarters.

He also got a bad infection (body trembing) after something bit him right on the nose. He recovered, relatively speaking, from that.

The last week has seen obvious weight loss and emaciation, along with a lack of appetite.

Having said that, the current bout was rounded off with IV fluids, antibiotics, and steroids. He 'seems' to be on the mend from this outburst. Over 50g of specialised low fat pellets have been eaten today, in 3 sittings. Not keen on liquid though, but that could be due to the IV.

I'll just listen to the vet and see what kind of life the cat has in the next few days\weeks. It is a hard decision to make. Myself and the rest of the family are pretty down as a result. On tender hooks, emotionally, not healthy. Thanks again.

boomerang

Guys, I'm really sorry if I'm being patronising, I don't mean to be, but are the people who replied to the OP confusing FeLV with FIV? They are two different diseases.

Initially, cats with FeLV have a temperature and are lethargic, but more serious symptoms can develop within months rather than years. In time your cat will be picking up frequent infections, he'll have recurrent diahorrea, he'll lose more weight, he'll be anaemic, and he could even develop cancer of the white blood cells.

Personally seeing as it is fatal - and infectious - I would make the difficult decision to put him to sleep before he develops serious symptoms. Unlike FIV, he is unwell now and he will only get worse - there won't be a time when he appears asymptomatic.

I have sadly seen stray cats with advanced FeLV and it would break your heart. This lady, Bella, is just one that was rescued last year. She was put to sleep straight away to end her suffering.









There is a vaccine for FeLV but it's use is controversial as it's thought that a sarcoma may develop at the injection site. This is why the vet should inject the vaccine into the leg, rather than between the shoulder blades.

Miss Lockhart

No, I am not confusing FeLV with FIV. My cat definitely tested positive for FeLV and had no symptoms for the next 4 years of her life. The virus activity is very complex and there are multiple ways the disease can progress, but a significant number of infected cats can remain asymptomatic for several years. However, obviously the OP's case is different in that the cat is already ill.

I actually have 2 FIV positive cats now, both asymptomatic, both postive before I got them. Thankfully both were FeLV negative and have been vaccinated for FeLV (they have to be to be insured unfortunately).

boomerang

No offence meant Miss Lockhart, and I hope none taken.

Very sorry for your predicament OP but I would still advise to PTS.

We took in a cat last May who was asymptomatic at the time but about two to three months ago she started losing weight very dramatically and she just wasn't right - she had recurrent cat flu. When she was tested she was positive for FeLV so we had to put her to sleep.

miss no stars

we got my cat at 16 weeks old and she already had FeLV at the time. Thankfully she beat the thing and has a great quality of life now. From time to time she gets a bit of a sniffle and she usually has gloopy, runny eyes but they're completely minor and she's still a happy and good natured cat, so yes, they can have a good quality of life afterwards.

OP, did you say your cat is 11? That's quite old tbh, and unless you've caught it quite early on it might be kinder to PTS.

Amalgam

Sadly, the cat was put to sleep this morning. He died in my Mother's arms, without any distress or loss of dignity. He had an IV already, so there was no need to distress him with any other injections.

A sad day for myself. A heavy heart.

Blueprint

I'm very sorry for your loss...

star-pants

I too am very sorry, that must be heartbreaking, but at least he went peacefully.

boomerang

My most sincere condolences

Dixie Chick

Im sorry for your loss but the cat isnt in pain anymore now. 11 good years is a lot better than what some cats get in this life.

Amalgam

Dixie Chick wrote: »

Im sorry for your loss but the cat isnt in pain anymore now. 11 good years is a lot better than what some cats get in this life.

Indeed. Thank you all for your response. I've added our cat's details and photo to the Departed pets thread. Thank you again.

artvandelay48

boomerang wrote: »

I have sadly seen stray cats with advanced FeLV and it would break your heart. This lady, Bella, is just one that was rescued last year. She was put to sleep straight away to end her suffering.

Hi Boomerang, can you give me more info on Bella? Did she have FeLV or FIV? By FIV do you mean the coronavirus that turns into FIP? What were her symptoms?

We have a kitten (9 months) who is puzzling the vet. His symptoms are loss of power in hind quarters and constipation. We are seeing a specialist at ucd to get a proper diagnosis but we could be looking at FIP.

morganafay

I'm really sorry you lost your cat.

My friend's kitten was diagnosed with FeLV a few months ago, she was only 5-6 months old, had just been spayed and started getting really high temperatures and really sick. She had to go to a foster home with someone who has cats with FeLV already, since my friend couldn't keep her indoors all day (her housemates didn't want her to).

At least your cat isn't suffering now.