feline leukemiagreenspun.com : LUSENET : Squishy : One Thread |
If you have any suggestions, or know anything that I can do, please let me know.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
I'm afraid I can't offer anything but my sympathy, Pamie. I lost my first cat to feline leukemia, and I remember how hard it was. I hope Lillith hangs in there, and with any luck, maybe Taylor will be OK.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
Have you isolated your infected cat from the other one? I've been told by my veterinarian that the vaccination won't guarantee that your cat won't catch it, especially if you have an infected cat living in the house.
It's pretty much a good idea to automatically isolate your cat whenever it's sick.
I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. I'm on the verge of losing one of mine, so I really empathize.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
Pamie,
First off, let me say that I am so sorry to hear about Lilith. But - hopefully what I say to you may help out a little. I worked in a vet's office for a while last year. There was one particular cat, Shei, who had FeLV. She had been diagnosed with it 5 years ago. She was already 6 years old when she was diagnosed, and the vet believed she wouldn't live due to her age. She's now 11 and perfectly fine - she was as happy and healthy as any younger, non-sick cat. She recently found a new home - her previous owner was put into a nursing home so she needed a new place to stay - and the last I heard, she was doing great. The only thing was that she had to stay inside all the time since she wasn't as immune to diseases as before, but she is fine and is living longer than most cats do without a disease. The vet I worked for said that with the proper care, he has seen less deaths come out of FeLV than cats being hit by a car.
I hope that what I've told you makes you feel a little better. I know Lilith isn't as old as Shei, and therefore stands a much greater chance of fighting FeLV.
All my best to you, Eric, Taylor, and of course, Lilith -
Maggie
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I hate that stupid disease. It is so unfortunate, pamie, I am sorry. It is possible, however, that she will go into remission and get better. She could even live for quite a while with the disease active - but there's nothing like a skinny, pissed off cat who doesn't feel good.I am sure you will make her very comfortable and all your good vibes will bring her around. If you would like to consult my cat, Henry, about it, he is always quick to give advice on such matters. (http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/6175/)
Much love to Lillith.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
i wanted to share my story and offer my support and sympathy to you and eric and your two little ones...a a week before this past new years i noticed a change in my eldest cat - snook - she was 10. she wouldn't eat, drink or go to the bathroom. she slept in unusual spots (by that i mean, not her usual places). worried, i took her to the vet. and after a day and $600...i found that she had felv and fiv (feline hiv). yes, she had her vaccines but like you said, apparently she had this b4 the vaccines took effect. i used to let her and lucy (my other cat who is 4) outside all the time...and snook was a rather small cat, weighing in at 8 lbs where lucy weighs 14 lbs. anyway, i was devastated and i had no options. the cancer infected her liver, kidneys and stomach lining...and keeping her alive would only prolong her pain and put lucy in more of a risk. so after 10 years, a few days b4 new years, i had to put her to sleep. and it was the most heart-wrenching thing that i have had to do in my 26 years. i cried for days...and lucy tried her best to cheer me - nuzzling, looking sweet, purring. then i had to muster the strength to bring lucy in for testing - she came back negative. but that doesn't always guarantee, so she needed to be tested 3 months later...and again, negative.
i was told to thoroughly disinfect the eating area, bowls and the litter box. i just replaced everything...no need to have doubles for just 1 cat. so now, lucy stays in...i take her out on a harness and leash and she roams around with me.
i don't think my story helped ease any pain for you...i read all the sites i could find, regarding felv and fiv. and they were disheartening. the best advice i can offer is to listen and talk to, your vet - especially if you trust her. every cat is different...snook had ailments from day one, where as lucy was healthy always. talk to your vet...and just try to make lilith as comfortable as possible. and as hard as it is...try not to be selfish. (that sounds rude, huh?) i just mean, know when to say when. it's a difficult decision...and it devastated me. but it would tear me up to have to watch her die slowly.
and you're right. it was so weird how the week b4 she was fine - fending off lucy's playful attacks and eating and cuddling...then boom! she can barely lift herself to eat. the worst was seeing her trying to sleep in the cat box. i knew then that she was dying and that this was not just a cold...
good luck with everything...
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
So, cats can go into remission without treatment? I've heard sharks can't get cancer, supposedly because of their cartilage. Maybe cats are somewhere in between that, and humans.Your regular readers know that you are a very protective person. No one believes that there wasn't anything that could be done that you didn't do. One of the reasons we keep coming back is the hope that we shall some day be worthy of the kind of thunder you give to the people, and cats, in your life.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
Oh, Pamie, I'm so so very sorry. I also have 2 cats, and I know they can be just like children -- it's so hard to see them in pain. I do have a possible suggestion for getting Lilith to eat: baby food, chicken or turkey flavor. A lot of people swear by it for cats who aren't eating much, because it's very palatable for them, and doesn't have all the fillers and junk in wet cat food. My thoughts are with you and Lilith. I just know she'll beat this!Lindsay
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
I don't know if it's any consolation, but it might offer some hope...Xing (the cat belonging to me & Lee) has had FeLuke for about 5 years. She was very sick as a kitten, but hasn't had any symptoms since.
It's best to keep your cat inside at all times, and keep everything as clean as possible. Disinfect her dishes (if you have a dishwasher, that's best) regularly (daily, if possible). Give her spring water to drink. The only time that Xing got really ill as an adult cat was when we gave her city water to drink.
I'm really sorry. I'm sending healthy vibes to you and Lillith.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
Try vitamin E--you know if her little nose and eyes get all funky, just take a little capsule and puncture it and smear some of the oil on her. If she will eat something with some of the oil on it, it would be good for her too. Our cat had it--he survived a very long time.good luck.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
I'm really sorry Pam. Call me if you want to talk...
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
First off, thanks everyone for all of your kind words and warm e-mails. I'm a mess here at work.But I wanted to say that she is an indoor cat. Lillith has always been one since I had her, and I always thought she was before she was handed over to me as well. I'm not so sure anymore. She has this scar on her back that I always thought was from Taylor, and somehow she got that herpes in her eye, so she must have travelled outside at one time.
Eric just called to say that he went to check on her during his lunch break. She ate turkey out of his hand. He said she's looking better, but still prefers just to lie on the floor than to jump in your lap like she usually does.
I'll try that spring water thing, though. Taylor is loving this "Eat all you want" rule at the house. He looks pregnant.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
I'm so sorry, Pamie. My cats have managed to escape leukemia, but I worry about it a lot even though they never go outside. I have heard of several cats that survived with it, though. Don't give up hope.The baby food is a good suggestion, too, if she doesn't want to eat. Just don't buy the chicken noodle, because cats don't like that any better than babies do. You'll have Gerber chicken noodle jars in your house forever and everyone will think you're insane.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
I lost my first cat to feline leukemia. Colleen had several serious dips in health because of the illness, all but the last she was able to overcome.It's a tough diagnosis, but it doesn't necessarily mean that she will go soon.
We also had another cat who was just a carrier of leukemia, she never had any symptoms, but she infected several family cats before we found out what was going on - apparently, that's not that uncommon. Your other cat, if he's infected, could possibly never get sick from it.
I'm sorry, Pamie, it's heartbreaking.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
Pama, Sweetie, I'm so sorry. I remember meeting Taylor and lilith for the first time, such distinct personalities! I'm sure Lilith will pull through this. You think she'll actually let taylor have rule of the house? Not a chance. :) I miss Mo so much. I've actually started to buy little stuffed animals and keep them on my dashboard in my car becaus ethey remind me of her. I'm so pathetic:) Imagine trying to explain the fox, the cat, the lamb, the bunny and the little purple alien when you give a friend a ride. But I just try to think of her happy on my mom's farm where she's free to run wild which she always loved.my love to you and your fam
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
I just wanted to say how sorry I am. If ya' need to talk or if there is anything at all I can do for ya', just give me a ring.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
oh pammie.. im so sorry sweetie. i am not a cat lover, nor do i have a cat, but i am a mom of a sick kid so i do know what you are going through. you just feel helpless. all i can say is this, you guys are in my prayers. i hope your cat gets better. sabrina
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
Pamie, I have a FELV kitty, too. With the vaccination, they still have an 80% chance of contracting it, if they are exposed, but some kitties are only carriers. I highly suggest that you get a second opinion about your little precious, because, although she tested positive for FELV, that doesn't mean that it's related to the sickness she has now, which very well could be an upper resperatory infection. Also, my cat is now on steroids, and seems perfectly fine. He acts completely happy and healthy. Your cat could have gotten the FELV from his mother, even. It's a little like HIV, in that some of them never develop symptoms. On a flaky, silly note, as I'm rather a flake, take your kitty twice a day and just imagine that she is a ball of fire, and as you pet her, imagine that you are removing the impurities in that ball of fire with your hand. Try to make it a pure ball of white fire. I know this is incredibly silly, but a friend of mine had a kitten who got sick and was FELV positive, and she did this, and the cat didn't succumb to the virus until he was 7 years old. And I've done it on my cat, when she was near death. And I did it to a neighbors cat that had cancer, and he'd stop crying for about an hour afterwards. Good luck. My thoughts are with you.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
Hi Pamie, I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Lillith, Eric,and Taylor. Take care.
-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999
Hey, Pamie, sorry to hear about Lilith. . . such a terrible thing for a really great cat. But I'm sure she will pull through this w/o any problems. Tell Lilith that I miss her and I'll try to see her soon.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
aw, pamie, i'm so sorry to hear about lilith. i'll bet she gets better cause she knows you love her and wants to stick around cause she loves you too! give her a little kiss on the nose for me.... lots of healing energy is coming your way!love sensatori
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Wow, Pamie. I'm so sorry about Lilith. I practically burst into tears when I read your entry about the cat - it reminded me of what happened to my cat a few months ago. I had raised her since she was a kitten. She seemed to be perfectly fine, and then out of nowhere, she stopped eating, and became really anti-social. She lost alot of weight. It turned out she had some sort of liver disease. Every time we tried force feeding her, she just puked the food back up. The vet put a feeding tube in her nose - it was so sad - they had it glued to her fur with bright yellow glue. She always looked so sad and depressed. Finally, she got so bad that she had to stay at the vet for constant supervision - I couldn't even bring myself to visit - it was just too depressing. My parents finally had to put her to sleep to end her pain.I hope Lilith gets better!
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
As a professional pet sitter who has had many cats pass through my life, I'm only too well-acquainted with the dreaded FeLV disease. Although I've always had a multiple-cat household, miraculously I've lost only one cat to that disease, and he lived 5 good years after his diagnosis. Please accept my heartfelt empathy.I, too, recommend the meat baby foods - no veggies, just the meat puree. Another trick I use to encourage reluctant eaters: warming the food in the microwave. It takes less than 10 seconds to heat a small chilled portion (about 3 oz.), and releases aromas that often persuade those with wimpy appetites. (Of course you'd test the temperature before feeding it to your pet. Better to blister your tongue on hot cat food than to blister hers - then she'd REALLY be pissed. Ok. You can test it with your finger.) I don't know if Lillith ate dry food - some of my cats love their dry food soaked in warm water. And sometimes the tiny cans of Fancy Feast are tempting to finicky eaters.
Another suggestion, which you've already done: share your worries with others who care. I've found that commiserating with others who understand my concerns and grief helps to ease the burden a little. A sturdy cloak of empathy from friends is a great comfort.
Best wishes to Lillith from Gris-Gris, Pancake, Gummi, Zipper, Mama, Hunter, Hammock, Hugo, Cooper, Tugboat, Wafer, Dweeb and from me. As I toss the Barbie head for my cats to attack it, I'll be thinking of Lillith and Taylor, and of you - Pamie, and Eric. I'll anxiously await progress reports in your entries.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Warm thoughts for a brighter future and strong recovery. Faith, Hope, and Love too...
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Hi pamie. It makes me so sad about Lillith. I really am optimistic about her having some time left though. While you're waiting for her to get her appetite back, there's this stuff we used for my cat Tigger when he got really old. It's a paste that the vet gave us that you feed them by hand that's full of nutrients. It's like a kitty PowerBar. You get like a dab of it a put it on the roof of their mouth and it's the consistency of peanut butter. It's keeps them from getting too weak. If Lance Armstrong can ride again, SO CAN LILLITH!!!
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Oh, god, I'm so sorry. I don't know anything to help, but now I'm thinking about my cat - my 13-year-old "baby" who was with me all through high school and college and was there for me even when no one else was... And I remember the time I was in grad school and he wouldn't eat and he wouldn't drink and I had no money to take him to the vet, but I finally did and it turned out to be a urinary tract blockage and they fixed it and I did nothing but hug him and cry for three days straight, just thinking about losing him. I'm going to be a wreck for a month when he eventually dies. Reading about other people's cats makes me cry.I'm sorry, pamie. I really hope Lilith pulls through this. Diamond and I are praying for her. And Taylor.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Pamie,I find it rather odd that this being the first time I write in your forum *although I've been reading your page for months* It has to be about such a sad subject.
When I was 7 years old my grandmother gave my family a cat she had found on the railroad tracks one day. Smokey was the best cat you could ever meet, never met anyone he didtn' like, alwasy friendly, knew just when a person needed some love and definitly had the best personality I've ever seen in a cat.....I loved that cat like anything...as did the rest of my family. When I was 16 the cat came down with lukeimia and it was the hardest thing that we had ever had to go through. My mom is a physiotherapist and tried so many kinds of treatments on the poor thing....sometimes they worked sometimes they didn't..........I know that in the states medial treatment etc is expensive..but we found that acupuncture (as odd as it sounds) did seem to make Smokey more alert and responsive..and even made it seem like he was back to his old self. I did a lot of reading up on the subject...and when a cat is young enough, and healthy enough to start with, they can live with lukemia for many many years, even after they have had symptoms. I'm hopeing that this is what happens with lillith. Smokey unfortunately couldn't and my mother felt that we had to put him down......it was teh sadest day ever, as for some reason people can get so attached to animals (although sometimes I wish you couldn't.)
becasue my mother felt as if this cat was part of the family, after he was put down we burried him in the back yard by a little herb garden that he alwasy liked to lay in....she then went out to the grave stone people and had them carve a granite head stone for us (just like as if he was in an actual cemetary.) "Smokey 1988-1997" with a little cat head on it, now sits in our backyard in the garden, and smokeys garden blooms more and more each year with healthy looking flowers .....flowers that we never planted there, they just started to bloom.
I just felt the need to share this story with you.......I truely hope that things with you, eric and Lillith turn out for the best. If not, please remember, its not your fault. No matter how much you took care of that cat, some things you just can't help.
Monica
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Pamie & Eric, I am so sorry about Lillith. You have my sympathy.Last November my husband and I were given the cutest little red cat. He had six toes on each paw and a pointy head and he was the most lovable cat. I had him for approximately 24 hours and had just got back from the pet store with all kinds of toys and food and a bed when I noticed he was not looking well. Long story short, we took him to the emergency vet and when the actual VET came in I knew it was all over. He said the kitten had feline AIDS and Luekemia (sp?). I did not even know that existed. The vet said he must have been born with it and that is why the mother had abandoned him. The vet said it was likely he could get the kitten to live through the night but he would be in pain and would not live long after that and what would you like to do Miss? After crying hysterically while the vet was talking to us, we made the decision to put the poor thing to sleep. We did not even give him a name yet.
I cried for 2 weeks straight. Every day. And I only had him for 1 day.
Sorry. I can't imagine how horrible this must be for you guys.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Pamie, you've given my family and I so many hours of laughter through your marvelous columns, that I have only to offer my most sincere hope for your little kitty's recovery...yes, I say recovery, because NO ONE can tell you how long any of us last. I say this with some history as I was diagnosed w/cancer and given a 10% chance -- and grabbed it. That was 11 years ago. So tell the naysayers to go to hell because I really believe that through will and prayers you can beat this thing. Good luck to the four of you. You have everyone praying for you.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
This is terrible, Pamie -- I'm so sorry. My cat is only a year old and I've been neglecting her vet visits (partially because she howls bloody murder when I take her out of the house), but I now definitely plan to go get her her immunizations and boosters.I think Lilith and Taylor will both be fine because they live in a house full of love and that is the best treatment for any ailment.
Stay strong -- your readers are here for you.
O.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Pamie, I'm so sorry about Lillith. I hope she is feeling better soon. I have two cats myself and I get all torn up just thinking that something will take them away from me someday. Bunny is 18 years old and a little feeble now. Every now and then she loses her appetite for a few days, and I always panic. Those little cans of Fancy Feast are her favorite -- they might work for Lillith. Try the Beef & Liver flavor -- it's Bunny's favorite. And heating it up a little does help. She also loves tuna. My other kitty, Josie, is about eleven, but we're not sure since she was a stray. She jumped out of a dumpster at a CircleK in Austin and ran over to my open car window meowing back in 1990. You'd have to know how shy this cat is to appreciate how desperate she must have been to approach me. Turns out she was pregnant too. When her five kittens were about six weeks old, Josie got very ill and the vet was sure she had FELV. I cried the whole time we waited for the results because I knew it would mean that all the kittens had it too. We got lucky and they were all okay. But it's true that Lillith could have been born with this.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Pamie, I'm so sorry about Lillith. I hope she is feeling better soon. I have two cats myself and I get all torn up just thinking that something will take them away from me someday. Bunny is 18 years old and a little feeble now. Every now and then she loses her appetite for a few days, and I always panic. Those little cans of Fancy Feast are her favorite -- they might work for Lillith. Try the Beef & Liver flavor -- it's Bunny's favorite. And heating it up a little does help. She also loves tuna. My other kitty, Josie, is about eleven, but we're not sure since she was a stray. She jumped out of a dumpster at a CircleK in Austin and ran over to my open car window meowing back in 1990. You'd have to know how shy this cat is to appreciate how desperate she must have been to approach me. Turns out she was pregnant too. When her five kittens were about six weeks old, Josie got very ill and the vet was sure she had FELV. I cried the whole time we waited for the results because I knew it would mean that all the kittens had it too. We got lucky and they were all okay. But it's true that Lillith could have been born with this. We'll be keeping our fingers and paws crossed for you! Give that Fancy Feast a try. The supermarket cashiers have commented on how spoiled my cat is to get that brand, but I always tell them that after 18 years of love and devotion she deserves it.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
I lost one of my cats to FLV six months ago. She had been hit by a car when she was just a kitten. She was diagnosed with FLV (she wasa stray that adopted us) on the same day her leg was amputated and her jaw wired shut and ever after that ran around the house like a holy terror on three legs. She lived ten more years, before she became sick and we had to put her to sleep. Just give her back all the love and affection she has given you, no matter what happens that is the most important part of owning a pet. My thoughts are with you and your sick kitty.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
Having sat in the rain for 6 hrs trying to syringe vitamins into my dying cats mouth, while he hid under a bush, I sympathise Pamie. Keep strong and know she's got a wonderful owner.My thoughts are with you.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
pamie... I hate to read that you're in so much pain, especially when you bring so many of us such happiness each day...you, Eric, Lillith and Taylor are in my prayers.
-- Anonymous, August 03, 1999
I'm so sorry about your kitty, Pamie. I think the nutritious stuff you get from the vet is called "Nutracal" or "Nutrical". How heartbreaking! You are a good mom, and you are doing the best thing you can for Lillith. I'm sure she appreciates it. I'd talk to her a lot, so even if she doesn't want to be physically close to you, like if she feels like hiding under the bed, she'll know that you're there for her. Good luck, and she has the support and love of all your readers.
-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999
sorry, pamie, i can't offer you anything but my sympathy. i lost my last dog to parvo, which is the most comparable thing i can think of to feline leukemia, and it was the hardest thing i've ever been through. but lilith sounds like a strong cat, and i pray that she'll make it through.take care, pamie.
-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999
oh, sniff. I have three cats and don't know what I would do without them, or even if one were to get sick. all four of you are in my prayers... oh, and if it brightens up your day any, Lillith and Taylor aren't the only cats to have torn themselves a spot in the fabric of a boxspring. my cats did that with my old bed, and it was near impossible to remove them :) good luck.
-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999
I feel encouraged for Lilith after reading some of the things on this page-- but I have a kitty myself, and I would just be devastated if anything happened to her, so I can sympathize. I really hope she's going to pull through this, and it sounds like she has a good chance. Especially since you and Eric seem to be taking such conscientious care of her. Good luck!! I'll send some positive energy her way. :)
-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999
I'm so sorry to read about Lillith! I'm sending healing thoughts her way, but with all the love and attention you're giving her, I'm not as worried. I'm a cat person myself, and I know how close we can become to our feline family members.I once had a kitten we had brought home from my grandmother's farm. I was 16 at the time, and my parents left us alone for the weekend for the first time. The kitten got very sick, and I had to drive her and my little sister to the vet. The vet told us it was leukemia and she was too far gone (or too young) to save. I had to make the decision to have her put to sleep or bring her home to suffer and die slowly. I had her put to sleep; it was the hardest decision I had made at that point in my life.
-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999
Hard to contribute here cuz the associative thought of anything happening to Vasya just withers me--but then again, thinking of that makes me NEED to send you my best wishes. Be well, Pamie, Lilith.
-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999
pamie,I've been meaning to post something since I read about Lilith, but I have to admit that I haven't been able to do so without crying myself. I lost my best friend and soul mate, Roxanne, almost 5 years ago now to a disease called histoplamosis, and reading about Lilith's being sick brought it all back. She was an indoor kitty too; we gave her all the love in the world and she always had the best in veterinary care (our vet once told us that he couldn't imagine a better fate than to be reincarnated as one of our kitties!), and then she got a disease that usually only outdoor cats get. Sometimes there's nothing you can do to protect them. We had to force-feed her too, and her beautiful silky white fur fell out from the drugs (I guess it was chemo although they didn't call it that). I also hated that she couldn't talk to me!! I wanted so badly for her to be able to tell me what she needed and wanted. We thought she was getting better -- her fur started growing back and she started eating a little on her own and playing a little with our other kitty, Doofus -- but one night she sort of relapsed and she died in my arms on the way to the emergency vet clinic. But I did have 12 long happy years with her before the disease finally took her from me. We had her cremated and I still have her ashes in the little cedar box they gave me, with her favorite "ballie" sitting on top.
I'm sorry pamie -- didn't mean to depress you like I've depressed myself! I just wanted to let you know you and Lilith and Eric and Taylor have been -- and continue to be -- in my thoughts every day. "Sorry" nor "empathetic" aren't adequate words to express what I'd like to say to you. But I do want to tell you to hang in there and try to stay positive. As you've read, many kitties go into remission and live long happy lives after a FeLV diagnosis. I wish I still had this cat book I had years ago; the lady who wrote it had a unique stance on FeLV treatment. According to her, in cats it's not a "cancer" per se, but a different kind of virus, and she had great success "curing" cats with high doses of Vitamin C. I'm sorry I don't have the book anymore, nor can I remember the author's name (coincidentally enough, I think I had to throw it out because one of my cats peed on it!), but you might try researching with those topics. And I'll look on Amazon.com to see if any of the titles rings a bell; if I find it I'll email you the details.
Anyway, hang in there. Let Lilith eat whatever she will. I had success with Roxanne with a canned food I got from my vet. It was Hill's Prescription Diet (all of our cats are on their foods), and the type was A/D, or Anorexic Diet. She seemed to like it pretty well, and when she wouldn't eat I would mix it with water and give it to her with a syringe. Since it's made specifically for cats who won't eat, it's packed with nutrients for them, plus it's nice & stinky, the way cats like it. The vet also told me then not to worry about giving her things that are supposedly "bad" for them (like tuna), because when they're not eating your main concern is to get some nutrition in them.
Also, and I'm not saying this to make you feel guilty, but since I went through something similar I feel like I should mention it... Try not to neglect Taylor. I know it's hard not to focus all your energy on Lilith, but believe me, he knows something's going on, and is upset about it too. Doofus totally stressed the whole time Rox was sick; we tried to make sure that while one of us was tending to her, the other was playing with Doof or petting him (or feeding him, his favorite activity!). It seemed to help his spirits a little. But they're a lot more sensitive than we realize they are!
Best of luck, pamie, and know that my hubby and I are sending positive vibes your way, and keeping you and Eric and Lilith and Taylor in our thoughts. I have confidence that with the two of you (and your vet, who sounds great) taking care of her, that she'll pull through and go on to live a long and frisky life!
hugs, liz
-- Anonymous, August 05, 1999
Radiohead songs with feline implications:Climbing up the Walls (Friskies remix)
Planet Felix (The Cat)
Karma Police
Fake Catnip Trees
Paranoid Android (Robocat mix)
Subterranean Homebound Feline
And of course, Creep.get better, Thom Yorke.
o.
-- Anonymous, August 05, 1999
Another good website to pay a visit to is the Cornell Feline Health Centre - http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/FelineHealth.htmlThey also publish a reference book called The Cornell Book Of Cats, which is an excellent source of information of the feline persuasion.
I do hope everything works out in the best possible manner. Given what others have posted here, there's a fighting chance Lilith will beat down this uprising. We were less fortunate with our cat Katie; she had a heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which took her from us in the space of 24 hours. (I posted an entry about her story earlier this year - http://www.northco.net/~cd/012899.htm)
Keeping fingers crossed for you;
(May your litter always be freshly scooped)
Ron Collings
Radishes And Gooseberries
http://www.northco.net/~cd
-- Anonymous, August 06, 1999
I am so very sorry to hear about your cat being sick, Pamie. I'll keep all of you in my prayers - My pets are like my children, and I would be devestated if any of them were to become sick. It's obvious how much you care for your animals. Wishing you and Lilith warm thoughts!
-- Anonymous, August 14, 1999