My FeLV+ cat won't eat

kc88

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Hi all. I recently took in a 1 and 1/2 year old stray. When I took her to the vet, we found out she is FeLV+. The vet said we could remain "cautiously optimistic" since she seemed otherwise healthy, but warned us that, like every other FeLV+ cat, she could decline rapidly.

Well, in the past few days, she's barely touched her food. It's really worrying me. She normally eats her dry food like crazy (she's not a fan of wet even though I put it out every evening...she won't eat it), but for the past 2-3 days she's only eaten a couple of bites. I'll put out 1/2 cup in the morning and measure it the next morning and it's still 1/2 cup. She seems to have been going to the bowl twice a day and eating a couple nibbles.

There wasn't any stool in her litter this morning so now I'm even more concerned. My particular vet is only in on weekends and I'd rather try to get him on the phone since he knows her condition. She's drinking plenty of water but just sniffs her food.

Do any of you have experience with FeLV cats and this sort of problem? I know it's common, I am just wondering how I can remedy it before her health starts going down the tubes. Poor thing...


I've had cats my whole life and she is quite possibly the sweetest and most affectionate. She found us, you know. I'm very distraught over this whole thing and would appreciate any help. Thank you.
 

momofmany

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There's a woman here who adopts nothing but FeLV+ cats. I'll try to ping her to have her jump in on this thread.

I've had FeLV cats in the past. If your baby is not eating, she's ill. If its a simple respiratory infection (OK, so nothing is actually simple with a FeLV cat), you may be able to boost her immunity with antibiotics for a bit to get her over this problem.

I would be getting her into a vet ASAP, as FeLV cats can take a downturn rather quickly. They have their health ups and downs as do all other cats, its just that their immune systems can't fight their downs very well.

I'm sorry that you are going thru this.
 
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kc88

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Thank you very much. I'm going to drop by Petco on my way home to pick up some different types of high-quality food to see if maybe she'll eat something else (who knows) and I will call the vet first thing in the morning if she's still just picking/sniffing/not eating. He's been kind of unresponsive so now I'm worried about that too (left a message over the weekend with no response about some other test results... nothing).

EDIT: Just called the vet, the receptionist said he'll call back (won't be my vet but oh well) after 5 to check in so we'll see...? Hopefully I'm not commuting and don't miss his call.


UPDATE, 7:30 EST: Thankfully, for some reason, she's eating now. All it took was a different wet food (no idea!). Chunks instead of minced wet food.

The vet called me back (not the one who usually sees her, but a diff. one from the office) before she started eating again and he was like, "Well we can put her to sleep this weekend." !?!? I was like, "Uh, she's fine otherwise, she's just not really eating." Sheesh. I think she's got more than a weekend left in her.
 

kittkatt

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Originally Posted by KC88

The vet called me back (not the one who usually sees her, but a diff. one from the office) before she started eating again and he was like, "Well we can put her to sleep this weekend." !?!? I was like, "Uh, she's fine otherwise, she's just not really eating." Sheesh. I think she's got more than a weekend left in her.
I think I'd be finding another vet if that's his solution to taking care of your cat.


I'll PM you with some info.
 

gloriajh

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Originally Posted by KittKatt

I think I'd be finding another vet if that's his solution to taking care of your cat.


I'll PM you with some info.
You need a vet willing to fight with you - I agree, hope you can find a vet that won't be so easy to offer a "sleep" solution so easily!!!

Glad you found that another food works - somehow they just get bored with the same stuff.

I just found Buddy's food - his usual favorite - hadn't been touch all day. I usually warm it up before I serve it, but I didn't this time. When he doesn't eat much my little alarm bells go off - but not to touch it at all, I could get real concerned. ugh! I gave him more food, along with the usual kibble treats, and he is eating the kibble - so he does have an appetite. Whew!


I feed him 99.9% of Wellness - no grain, canned food. When I first thought he was reacting to the grain in food I bought some Merrick's Cowbow Cookout - it was sloppy juicy and he loved it - but then I got a case where the food was more solid and he turned his nose up.


While I think that any recipe with fish is problematic - that's what he prefers - and I do anything to get him to eat.

I use a dry food kibble ("cookies") to get him started eating - about 8 little pieces - and then he begins eating the canned.

I can't offer very much help to you - but I'm sure others can and will - I'm just wanting to encourage you to find a vet that will be on your and your furbaby's team.
 

katiemae1277

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sounds like your baby just wanted you to worry! but I agree with Momofmany- not eating is typically a very bad sign in FeLV kitties, like Gloria, whenever one of my cats stop eating my heart drops into my stomach and I immediately fear the worst
But sometimes they are just feeling finicky!

And as far as vets go, it took me a while to find a vet willing to really fight for my babies, and she is in a multi-vet practice so I am very careful to request her or this other vet when I have to go in: the other 2 I will no longer see because of comments they've made. FeLV kitties can live for quite a while with the proper care, and a whole lot of luck. My Pandora turned 5 years old in April! Thank you for giving your baby a chance
If you ever have a question please feel free to PM me.
 

ducman69

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Another trick for future reference is to grab some Purina Fortiflora available online relatively cheap.

Its just a probiotic, but apparently they put quite a bit of flavoring on there, and most cats end up eating the food its sprinkled on like its a treat.

Fish flavored food, while not the best to always feed, is still better than nothing and also often a big hit for a kitty that isn't eating.
 

gloriajh

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Originally Posted by Ducman69

Another trick for future reference is to grab some Purina Fortiflora available online relatively cheap.

Its just a probiotic, but apparently they put quite a bit of flavoring on there, and most cats end up eating the food its sprinkled on like its a treat.

Fish flavored food, while not the best to always feed, is still better than nothing and also often a big hit for a kitty that isn't eating.
Fortiflora - hmmm - since a FeLV cat's immune system is likely compromised, I wonder about using a probiotic which has live microorganisms - in most cases, bacteria - and if using it would possibly harm a cat with an autoimmune disease?

I have found a vitamin supplement in a pull apart capsule that I open and shake over Buddy's food which helps somewhat.

I'd be interested in finding out the pros and cons on using the Fortiflora on a FeLV, or FIV cat - especially if they are on any antibiotics.
 

ducman69

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Probiotics are actually often prescribed following antibiotic treatment, since that destroys both the "bad" and "good" bacteria we want alike.

Probiotics are considered healthy bacteria, and over-consumption generally only results in flatulence and wasted money, nothing more.

Probiotics aren't an issue for AIDS patients in humans, so I don't see why it would be different for cats.

Here is another recent study about probiotics and the immune system:
"A 2010 study suggested that the anecdotal benefits of probiotic therapies as beneficial for preventing secondary infections, a common complication of antibiotic therapy, may be because keeping the immune system primed by eating foods enhanced with "good" bacteria may help counteract the negative effects of sickness and antibiotics. It was thought that antibiotics may turn the immune system "off" while probiotics turns it back on "idle", and more able to quickly react to new infections." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0127095945.htm
 

gloriajh

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Thanks for the article - this is interesting - will be doing more research.


I know about the benefits for humans of using a probiotic - but just need more assurances about the use on a cat with FeLV or FIV.
I'll be checking with my vet - I think she already nixed the probiotics for Buddy because of his compromised immune system. (?)
 

ducman69

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Fortiflora contains multiple strains, but if that's an issue you can ask if just plain lactobacillus acidophilus would be an issue, as those are available in most grocery store's refrigerated health food section and is safe for cats too (although most get the weaker potency or just give half a pill crushed into food).
 
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kc88

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Wow! Thank you all for the replies; how very helpful. I am proud to say that Boo has been eating regularly (hooray), but she seems to only like the AvoDerm wet food with some Science Diet/Nutro Max dry (separate). The vet said the latter are fine, weeks ago when I actually got him on the phone -- anyone know if AvoDerm is okay with FeLV kitties? Seems to be all natural ingredients w/ no gluten so I can't imagine it could be bad -- but I'm no expert!

This vet is giving me serious agita. I left a message (aaaagain) this weekend, since he's only in on weekends, and even though the receptionist promised he'd call me back, he didn't. He said he'd talk to me about Boo's positive IFA test results, and I really want to get him on this phone to understand what this all means. But I guess not.
I've just been relying on the internet here. I'm looking into a new vet, but since I live in NYC they're all kinda pricey...my current vet is at least affordable, if unresponsive. Welp.
 

momofmany

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An IFA test is the only valid test for FeLV. Most vets will do a simple Elisa test (also know as a stick test), which tests for exposure to FeLV, not actual full blown FeLV. A cat will test positive for FeLV on the stick test if their bodies were exposed to the virus. It takes 30-60 days for a cat to fight off the disease after exposure. If a cat is fully vaccinated, they have a 90% chance of fighting off the disease. If a kitten was born to a mom with full blown FeLV, there is about a 95% chance that the kitten will have it. Kittens don't have the full immunity to fight it off as an adult can. I actually have an 8 year old cat whose mother had FeLV, and while his 3 littermates contracted it, he was strong enough to fight it off.

After the 30-60 day period, if a cat cannot fight off the disease, it turns to full blown FeLV, and it's only the IFA test that can detect it. If your kitten was only tested using the Elisa test, I wouldn't assume that he has it. But it sounds like he received a positive result on the IFA, which means he does have it.

While FeLV cats will not live a normal life span, they are still loving bundles of joy like any other cat. Don't let your vet pressure you into something you don't want to do. You can have good quality time with your baby - may be a year, may be a couple of years. Similar to AIDS, keep up the quality of life and they do well.
 
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