I am the guardian from Western Pennsylvania with 10+ cats (oldest ages
17-female & 13-male), with a newly diagnosed FeLV+ stray, now named
Smokey. I want to thank everyone for your comments of support. I am
very grateful. I am still on my quest to find a new home or foster
parent for him (if we can get him stabilized) . My support where I live
is very poor & limited. Both vets I have talked to have given the 1st
option of euthanasia because I will "just be throwing money down the
tubes" to treat him as put by one of the vets. I even had to make the
suggestion of Pet-Tenic for him (6 days after the vet visit) after
reading the Feline Leukemia website. I am freaking out about exposure
to my other 10 cats since the vets keep telling me he is highly
contageous! The boosters on my other 10 cats are due here in August so
I have a vet coming out on Wednesday, 08/09/06 to administer the
boosters. I don't even wear the same clothes around my other cats (I
place them in a plastic bag to use again, high enough for my other cats
not to reach). I use Lysol spray, Clorox wipes, Germ-X hand sanitzier,
etc. I even go to the extreme of taking a shower after visiting
Smokey. Sometimes I have to hold the tears back at work & break down &
cry when I finally get home. I am panic stricken over this whole
situation & not sure what the right thing to do is. Smokey has a right
to a chance for life ~ I cannot chose to euthanize him just becuase he
is sick, it is not his fault. Although I do understand there will
probably be a time where there is nothing more I can do. I have limited
finances, I am not a Rockefellar, but I am not ready to give up yet.
Help! Can anyone give me some more words of wisdom & experience? Thank
you.
*_Smokey's Situation_:*
We have only "known" Smokey for less than 4 weeks.
I do not know how old he is.
As far as I can tell he is not neutured. He is too weak to even
vacinate for rabies,etc.
He is only 4 1/2 pounds. He has diarrhea (although it is somewhat
better but not anywhere close to where his stool should be). He seems
to be running a slight fever.
His appetite is very good. I wish he would drink more water so I am
going to make him homemade chicken broth.
I Sub-Q 1/2 to 1 unit of IV every other day, every day if he lets me.
He is wormed ~ I will need to worm him again in 8 days.
He is on three antibiotics (two oral liquids & one for his ears). He
had a bacterial ear infection.
He is a very loving, warm soul.
I have him isolated in a bedroom from the other 10 cats. I have a
laundry basket in front of the door & a towel w/a 2x4 piece of wood at
the bottom so there is no contact with the other cats. We live in an
old farm house. So I cannot install a window air conditioner because
the electrical outlets are only two-prong, ungrounded. There is a fan
in his room.
~Dee
