A few days ago my 1 1/2 year old cat had started acting weird. She is acting very lethargic and sleeping all day. She normally has tons of energy and is has a spunky attitude. Her third eye lids are showing and she can barely keep her eyes open. I looked at her eyes and there is no discharge or redness. She is not eating dry food but she is eating the wet canned food. Since she hasn't been moving much so she hasn't been going to her water bowl so I put one near her this morning and she started drinking. I haven't seen her use the litter box at all though. About two weeks ago she stopped pooping in her litter box and go on my bathmat or in the tub / shower. She will urinate in the box and then go on the mat. I though she was just being picky and didn't want to use one box for both. I don't know if that is important or involved with her illness. There is nothing physically wrong with her. She is eating and drinking, but she just isn't herself. I'm taking her to the vet when I'm off work, but I don't know what could be wrong.
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Cat is very lethargic and third eyelid is showing
- Thread starter saracallie949
- Start Date
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
thanks, I have an appointment today but I'm just worried 
Let us know how it goes. I hope she'll be okay.
Sending many vibes your way.
Sending many vibes your way.
How's your fur baby doing? How did she get on at the vet? Hope she's on the road to getting better soon x
She sounds definitely dehydrated, that's the lethargy youre seeing.
Their inner lids are like a window to their insides, and she is telling you loud and clear she needs help.
I suspect a UTI. But without seeing her it's impossible to tell for sure.
UTI's untreated can be deadly, so be sure she is seen today.
Let us know, sending good vibes.
Where are you in CA? I'm in the bay area.
Their inner lids are like a window to their insides, and she is telling you loud and clear she needs help.
I suspect a UTI. But without seeing her it's impossible to tell for sure.
UTI's untreated can be deadly, so be sure she is seen today.
Let us know, sending good vibes.
Where are you in CA? I'm in the bay area.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #8
She has an appointment in an hour. I work right next door to a vet so I'm at work with her right now waiting for them to get back from lunch 
Her eyes look much better right now, but it was way too easy getting her into her carrier earlier.
I'm in South Orange County.
Her eyes look much better right now, but it was way too easy getting her into her carrier earlier.
I'm in South Orange County.
Her eyes will look better and inner lid gets drawn back in when she is very alert, like being put in her carrier, at work with you, etc.
She wont seem quite as lethargic either right now, but only because of her surroundings now.
Orange county, so southern cal, I'm northern or I would help!
She wont seem quite as lethargic either right now, but only because of her surroundings now.
Orange county, so southern cal, I'm northern or I would help!
I was thinking it might be a virus, but not if it has been for 3 days, an adult will work a virus through, taking 3 days, the third she would be alot better, the 4th, seems like all better.
Still believe she has a UTI if these are her only symptoms, no diarrhea, vomiting, aet.
Good luck.
Still believe she has a UTI if these are her only symptoms, no diarrhea, vomiting, aet.
Good luck.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #11
Alright so I just got back from the vet and he thinks its a UTI. Her urine was pretty dark so he's doing a urinalysis and a blood panel to rule out anything viral.
Thank you everyone!
Thank you everyone!
Just what I suspected
Not bad for an over-the-net diagnosis!
Easy fix, just give the meds as scheduled and she will back to new soon!!
Good news.
Not bad for an over-the-net diagnosis!
Easy fix, just give the meds as scheduled and she will back to new soon!!
Good news.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #13
Vet just called but I missed it. He left a message saying she's FeLV positive. I don't know what to do? I'm so sad
So sorry for the news.
There are several members here who are highly experienced and knowledgable on felv.
My personal experience first hand was a rescue in February, Baby.
She was living in a feral colony for over a year, and according to neighbors she was sick the entire time.
She was only 4 lbs, just incredibly sick with a bad uri, had a tumor on her side, her inner lids covered half of her eyes.
I had her on clavamox/doxy for several months straight to get the uri taken care of. Got some weight on her, sent her to be spayed and the tumor removed.
Her vet called me and said she was positive. Should he euthanize her....no way. Guess he thought she was just going to be tnr'd.
Over time, her rough patchy fur grew in plush and baby soft, her eyes brightened up, her tumor-removal site healed, she just got well.
She became totally tame, turns out she was owned at one time, she was already spayed and had a proffesional dental extraction done.
So somehow she was left behind/dumped.
She had to go back again because she kept going into heat constantly, that turned out to be from ovarian tissue remnants left behind from her first spay, which continues to produce hormones making her think she was in heat, well she was but could not get prego.
Isn't that odd?
Anyway, Baby was with me for 6-7 months getting well, and she did. She is no youngster either, vet said over 5 yrs old.
She is living her life with an amazing woman who has 2 other felv pos cats
LDG likely will respond, but may I suggest starting a new thread with felv positive in the title?
This way you will get much help in this area.
Good luck to you and your child
There are several members here who are highly experienced and knowledgable on felv.
My personal experience first hand was a rescue in February, Baby.
She was living in a feral colony for over a year, and according to neighbors she was sick the entire time.
She was only 4 lbs, just incredibly sick with a bad uri, had a tumor on her side, her inner lids covered half of her eyes.
I had her on clavamox/doxy for several months straight to get the uri taken care of. Got some weight on her, sent her to be spayed and the tumor removed.
Her vet called me and said she was positive. Should he euthanize her....no way. Guess he thought she was just going to be tnr'd.
Over time, her rough patchy fur grew in plush and baby soft, her eyes brightened up, her tumor-removal site healed, she just got well.
She became totally tame, turns out she was owned at one time, she was already spayed and had a proffesional dental extraction done.
So somehow she was left behind/dumped.
She had to go back again because she kept going into heat constantly, that turned out to be from ovarian tissue remnants left behind from her first spay, which continues to produce hormones making her think she was in heat, well she was but could not get prego.
Isn't that odd?
Anyway, Baby was with me for 6-7 months getting well, and she did. She is no youngster either, vet said over 5 yrs old.
She is living her life with an amazing woman who has 2 other felv pos cats
LDG likely will respond, but may I suggest starting a new thread with felv positive in the title?
This way you will get much help in this area.
Good luck to you and your child
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #15
Dr. Ron Hines has a way of summarizing things, here is what he has to say about felv+ cats.
He is the only vet who says anything about the inner lid showing, as I said, Baby had her inners quite a ways out, even after she got well. Interesting.
Feline leukemia (FeLV) is the most common cause of serious disease in young cats. It is caused by a retrovirus that is spread from cat to cat through prolonged contact, bites and from parent to offspring. This virus, and its cousin retrovirus, the feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), cause a slow, generalized decline in your cat's health. Human AIDS is also a retrovirus and the two diseases share many similarities.
Feline leukemia is a misnomer in that fewer than half the cats infected with FeLV develop cancer. When they do, it is not actually the FeLV virus that is the cause. It is that the cat’s own cancer-fighting mechanisms have been crippled by the virus.
Estimates in 2013 are that 2-3% of the cats in the United States carry this disease. However, the incidence is likely to be greater in urban areas where cats live in high density than in rural areas where they do not.
How Did My Cat Catch This Disease ?
If your cat is over eight months old, it was probably due to being bitten by an infected cat.The feline leukemia virus was present in the other cat's saliva - although other body secretions can pass the disease as well.
If you have several cats, there is a slight chance the positive pet caught the virus from another one of your pets through mutual grooming or other intimate contact. So be sure to have all your cats tested by your veterinarian. Never introduce an untested cat of any age into your feline household until you know for certain that it does not harbor this virus or the FIV virus.
However, if your cat is younger than six months old, its infection was probably passed down from its mother before it was born or while it was nursing. Basically, the younger a cat is, the more easily it can become infected.
The Leukemia virus does not survive outside of the cat's body for more than a few minutes. So unless you own another infected cat, this pet did not catch FeLV from contact with contaminated places or objects.
Most cats that become infected with Feline Leukemia conquer the virus and recover. Their bodies mount an immune attack against the virus, producing antibodies that cure them or keep the virus in check. Veterinarians used to believe that in some of these cats the virus was completely eliminated from the body - read the paragraphs below that are in red to see why that is now in doubt. In other cats, the virus appears to be held in check throughout the cat's normal life.
But in a few cats, the virus spreads to their bone marrow and persists in a dangerous form. These cats will eventually develop a fatal disease at a period in their life when stress or a compromised immune system allows the virus to proliferate.
What Are The Signs Of Feline Leukemia I Might See In My Pet ?
In the earliest stage, your pet will usually not show any signs that it has been infected. But anywhere from a month to years later, owners will notice that the cat's health is in decline. At first, the cat's health problems appear to be minor - perhaps less appetite, some weight loss, less time spent grooming, more time spent sleeping.
I often notice that the third eyelid of these cats is extended farther over the eye than normal. Some of these cats develop enlarged lymph nodes that one can feel as lumps under the skin. Many develop abscesses or run unexplainable fevers. Ear infections, bad breath and mouth infections are common - as is a persistent anemia.
Some cats develop persistent or reoccurring respiratory tract infections or relapses of previous respiratory virus (Herpes 1). Some of these cat develop persistent or intermittent diarrhea. A few even develop inexplicable neurological problems, personality changes or seizures.
He is the only vet who says anything about the inner lid showing, as I said, Baby had her inners quite a ways out, even after she got well. Interesting.
Feline leukemia (FeLV) is the most common cause of serious disease in young cats. It is caused by a retrovirus that is spread from cat to cat through prolonged contact, bites and from parent to offspring. This virus, and its cousin retrovirus, the feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), cause a slow, generalized decline in your cat's health. Human AIDS is also a retrovirus and the two diseases share many similarities.
Feline leukemia is a misnomer in that fewer than half the cats infected with FeLV develop cancer. When they do, it is not actually the FeLV virus that is the cause. It is that the cat’s own cancer-fighting mechanisms have been crippled by the virus.
Estimates in 2013 are that 2-3% of the cats in the United States carry this disease. However, the incidence is likely to be greater in urban areas where cats live in high density than in rural areas where they do not.
How Did My Cat Catch This Disease ?
If your cat is over eight months old, it was probably due to being bitten by an infected cat.The feline leukemia virus was present in the other cat's saliva - although other body secretions can pass the disease as well.
If you have several cats, there is a slight chance the positive pet caught the virus from another one of your pets through mutual grooming or other intimate contact. So be sure to have all your cats tested by your veterinarian. Never introduce an untested cat of any age into your feline household until you know for certain that it does not harbor this virus or the FIV virus.
However, if your cat is younger than six months old, its infection was probably passed down from its mother before it was born or while it was nursing. Basically, the younger a cat is, the more easily it can become infected.
The Leukemia virus does not survive outside of the cat's body for more than a few minutes. So unless you own another infected cat, this pet did not catch FeLV from contact with contaminated places or objects.
Most cats that become infected with Feline Leukemia conquer the virus and recover. Their bodies mount an immune attack against the virus, producing antibodies that cure them or keep the virus in check. Veterinarians used to believe that in some of these cats the virus was completely eliminated from the body - read the paragraphs below that are in red to see why that is now in doubt. In other cats, the virus appears to be held in check throughout the cat's normal life.
But in a few cats, the virus spreads to their bone marrow and persists in a dangerous form. These cats will eventually develop a fatal disease at a period in their life when stress or a compromised immune system allows the virus to proliferate.
What Are The Signs Of Feline Leukemia I Might See In My Pet ?
In the earliest stage, your pet will usually not show any signs that it has been infected. But anywhere from a month to years later, owners will notice that the cat's health is in decline. At first, the cat's health problems appear to be minor - perhaps less appetite, some weight loss, less time spent grooming, more time spent sleeping.
I often notice that the third eyelid of these cats is extended farther over the eye than normal. Some of these cats develop enlarged lymph nodes that one can feel as lumps under the skin. Many develop abscesses or run unexplainable fevers. Ear infections, bad breath and mouth infections are common - as is a persistent anemia.
Some cats develop persistent or reoccurring respiratory tract infections or relapses of previous respiratory virus (Herpes 1). Some of these cat develop persistent or intermittent diarrhea. A few even develop inexplicable neurological problems, personality changes or seizures.
I have no particular knowledge on FeLV, but I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry to hear about her diagnosis.
Saracallie949, how is your kitty doing?
The info from Dr. Hines is the only place I found to state anything regarding the inner lids associated with being felv positive.
Baby's inner lids never retracted back in, and wanted to ask if your kitty's have.
The info from Dr. Hines is the only place I found to state anything regarding the inner lids associated with being felv positive.
Baby's inner lids never retracted back in, and wanted to ask if your kitty's have.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #19
Her eyelids are still showing, she was doing a lot better. I was giving her iron supplement drops and water with a dropper. I have been having to pick her up and put her in her litterbox to go to the bathroom but as of yesterday she has gone downhill. She isn't eating and her breathing is hard and fast. I'm taking her tonight to the vet to see if there is anything else we can do. Otherwise I'm going to have to let her go. She's been miserable these last few weeks.
It sounds like it's time, I'm so sorry for you having to go through this.
Just remember, cats don't fear death as we do, they accept it as part of life. They don't think about how they will miss us either.
They only know their pain and suffering, and if they had it their way, without human intervention, they would go off and die alone.
This is natural, and not a bad thing.
Sometimes knowing this is the hardest part for us to accept and understand.
You are a great kitty mom and have cared for her and loved her.
But it's okay.
She has obviously had felv for some time, and once she started to show signs of illness, she has been on her way down.
Ahh, if only they could talk....
I truly believe that she will move on to another dimension where she will be in her healthy and content state again.
Just remember, cats don't fear death as we do, they accept it as part of life. They don't think about how they will miss us either.
They only know their pain and suffering, and if they had it their way, without human intervention, they would go off and die alone.
This is natural, and not a bad thing.
Sometimes knowing this is the hardest part for us to accept and understand.
You are a great kitty mom and have cared for her and loved her.
But it's okay.
She has obviously had felv for some time, and once she started to show signs of illness, she has been on her way down.
Ahh, if only they could talk....
I truly believe that she will move on to another dimension where she will be in her healthy and content state again.
