Member

Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-08-2004 05:52 PM         

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Hi! I post on the dog site, I don''t have any cat's but I just found out that my sister's cat has aids. I'ts very sad! They thought he just had a bad cold, so they took him in only to find out it's aids. He has a realy bad upper respitory infection and can hardly breath. They have him on the strongest meds available, but worry because they also have another cat. They both have had all of thier shots and are both altered.

Has anyone here ever gone through this before? if so! any advise would be appreciated...

Thank you! Susan

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Posts: 107
From:fort myers, fl. usa
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-08-2004 07:47 PM         

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my cat jason that i had since i was 3 had aids they said he had aids beck in 1989 when i was 8 so he was only like 6 then well the vet said that he had aids but he neevr was ill by it other then getting unrinary tract and kindy stones etc... he just died when he was 15 sooo when they found out he had aids they said he wouldnt live very long w/ the disease but he lived a very long life.... as far as her other cats getting it along w/ my cat jason i had 4 other cats that never got aids from him i still have one of those cats today and she is in perfect health the vet told us as long as the cat is neutered/spayed then they shoudnt pass the virus on as long as they dont have sex w/ any of the other cats which normaly most cats that have been fixed dont have any desire to have sex w/ any other cats sooo he other kittys should be fine... mine r anyways.... what did her vet say about the cat?? i have known of a few cats dying pretty young from it and most vets recommend putting the cat down if they find out the cat has aids jason since i was that young and he was my only cat (i used to dress him up in baby doll clothes etc.. he was my baby) they didnt put him down thank god but he went though life not being on and meds etc... but when they do get sick and do have aids then it is much much harder 4 them to get over it.. i was always afraid that i woudl get it from him and at first was scared of him but humans can not get it from cats sooo it took me awhile to relize that but....have u checked looking online 4 more info on feline aids? maybe someone on here will have a better post then me thats just what i went though w/ my baby sooo... i wish u guys the best and keep me posted on the kitty....

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 03-08-2004 09:15 PM         

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There is a vaccine for feline aids. I don't know much about it but maybe your sister can have the other cat tested and then discuss the option of this vaccine for her other cat. Just an idea.

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-09-2004 11:24 AM         

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Nern, I found out today the other cat has been vaccinated for the aid virus, but after speaking to my sister today, she is so worried that he (the sick cat) is suffering and wondering if they should put him down. They spoke with the vet who said that he was surprised the cat isn't doing any better because he's on the strongest meds available. How would they know when enough is enough! for the poor guy? He breaths with his mouth open, so the vet told them to get a nazal (spelling) spray. They did, but it's not too much better! He looks horrible! and he looks like he's suffering to me. But they are afraid that they will put him down too soon and he will get better.

Please help!!! it's so sad....

Susan

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-09-2004 12:16 PM         

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Bump! I realy need some answers...sorry!

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-09-2004 12:43 PM         

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They just spoke to the vet again, he suggests putting him down. The cat belongs to my neice, who is not handling this very well at all. How do you suggest they approach her about putting him down? She's 18 so she's not a little girl, but this cat is her life! so to speak....What would you say?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Susan

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Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-09-2004 12:52 PM         

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Hi Susan. Any chance of getting a second opinion before deciding to put him down?

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Posts: 201
From:Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 03-09-2004 12:57 PM         

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I'm sorry to hear about all of this.

Unfortunatly, I don't think there's an easy answer in regards to your neice. It's a horrible lesson we all have (or will have to) face. No matter how hard any of us try to make it less difficult, the pain will be intense. Your neice will simply need her loved ones around to help her though it. Make sure eveyone has open hearts and ears to be available for her (and plenty of hugs).

Be logical with her when discussing parting with the cat. If he's in that bad of shape (and I know it's pretty bad if he has to breath through his mouth), talk to her about what's best for her beloved cat.

Making decisions for our pets (who cannot talk and share their wishes) is sometimes one of the hardest things to do.

I'll keep you guys in my thoughts. Sorry I don't have much advice.

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-09-2004 01:00 PM         

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I'm not sure! I'll have to ask that question. But if you saw him, I think you would agree. He looks horrible, and she also said that he hasn't eaten anything sinse Saturday Morning and they have to force water down him. I don't know! it's all so sad! just trying to get some answers for her.

Thanks....Susan

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-09-2004 01:03 PM         

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Thank you! Lucidity

Man do I hate this! she's my favorite neice.....I love them all, but we are very close....

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 03-09-2004 02:26 PM         

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Im really sorry Susan.
Hopefully, since your neice is an older child, it will be easier for her to understand that if the cat is suffering...its really best for the cat to be put down.
((Hugs))

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 03-09-2004 04:19 PM         

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When I was a teenager, my mom and I took one of my kitties, Shaba, to the vet b/c she was really sick. The diagnosis was FIV and the vet recommended that we put her down. The vet said she would keep getting one infection after another and wouldn't live very long. Well I loved and couldn't bear to let her go unless there was no hope. We took her home and gave her medicine. She got better a few days later and was a very healthy cat for the rest of the time we had her. One day she disappeared, I think someone catnapped her b/c she was very beautiful. She lived with us for a healthy 3-4 years after the vet told us to put her down.

It's hard to make the call on when to let go. It helps if you have a vet you really trust. I think the bottom line is when there is still hope you should give the cat a chance to live. Some animals fight to live and make it through when the vets think they wont.

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Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-09-2004 04:36 PM         

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I don't know exactly how long this has been going on but I would wait for the meds to work.
The reason I say this is because just last year my cat was very, very sick and everyone, including the vet, said I should put him down. I just couldn't do it without putting up a fight so I kept him on the meds and he slowly got better.
It wasnt AIDS, it was some rare fungal infection thing. Like an upper respiratory infection. He had to have about 5 surgeries to remove bone in his face and all of his top teeth. Well, it was long but he pulled through and now he is doing GREAT! He has a face only a mother could love but he's happy and healthy.

Of course I don't know anything about feline AIDS so the situation may be different but this is just my input.

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Posts: 107
From:fort myers, fl. usa
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-09-2004 07:17 PM         

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i would also give him a lil more time if he is not eating i woudltry some nutical...or if they r still not sure on putting hm down i woudl definaltly get a second opinion.. i know how ur neice feels i was 18 when i lost my jason but he didnt die b/c of aids i think... he lived a very long happy life i think it was just from old age... i woudl give him a lil more time though likeit was said in the earlier post just to see if he will pull though... sometimes it does take awhile 4 the meds to take effect....

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-09-2004 10:02 PM         

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Thank you all so much! They have decided to wait for a few more days to see if he improves. He just really looks like he's suffering to me, but then I'm not a vet! He's been on the meds now for four days "I think" Anyway I will keep you all posted and again Thank you!

Susan

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From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 03-10-2004 11:28 AM         

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I found this site with some information on living with a FIV+ cat. I thought it might help your sister.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/owning_an_fiv__cat.html

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-10-2004 11:32 PM         

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Thank you fleafly! I gave my sister this site and she has been checking it out. He began to drink water again on his own this morning or perhaps it was last night (I'm not sure) but that's good news!

Susan

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From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 03-11-2004 09:51 AM         

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Susan,

I don't know what meds they have him on, but the strongest anitbiotic is baytril. That combined with asprin should get him better.

Cats look terrible when the breathe through their mouth. Several of mine are sick right now. I have been running a humidifier to help them breathe better.

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Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-12-2004 10:51 AM         

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Hi Susan. How is your sister's kitty doing?

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Posts: 813
From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-15-2004 03:01 PM         

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Hi! Chessmind, Thank you for asking about my sister's cat. He is doing much better! Thank God! He has begun to eat a little more and is drinking alott of water now. I'm so glad they decided to wait and didn't put him down. Thanks to all you wonderful caring people, and your great advise! that's what made the difference.

Thanks again! Susan

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 03-15-2004 05:09 PM         

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I'm so glad to hear he is doing better Susan!

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From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-15-2004 06:03 PM         

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Hi Susan. I'm glad he's doing better. I wish him all the best. Keep us posted.

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