Cat slowly dying from mystery illness

Hello,

About two weeks ago I came home from work to my one year old cat, Lily, laying in the same spot I left her that morning. I picked her up and she was limp in my arms and staring blankly at me. I set her down and she wobbled to the stairs to the garage and fell down them. I rushed her to the emergency vet soon after that. After a battery of tests all they could find wrong with her was a low white blood cell count. She tested negative for FeLV and FIV. She was released from the hospital two days later with a weeks worth of Baytril and Clamavox.

Slowly she started getting better. She started wanting to sit outside with me on my balcony and following me around my apartment as usual. I was hopeful she was recovering. I took her to my normal vet about a week after her hospital stay. She was active and seemed recovered. My vet did another CBC and sent me home with her. Later that day he called with the results. Her white blood count was lower than the week before, not only that but her platelets were also very low too I was told to watch for bruising. My next option was a bone marrow biopsy. The next day I kissed her bye and left for work and she meowed for me to come back like usual. I came home at 6pm and she was curled up on her chair not moving again. Noticing the resemblance to the week before I rushed her again to the vet. They said she was dehydrated and gave her fluids and sent us home. I woke up the next day and got ready for work I fed Lily and. I went to find her and she was laying by her still full food bowl (at that point she had not eaten for almost 20 hours) and had thrown up. I went to her. she was barely breathing and her paws were twitching. To say I rushed once again to the vet is an understatement.

I arrived and they rushed her back. The vet came out and told me she had stopped breathing and was on a breathing tube. Her blood test showed the same low white blood cell count, low red blood cell count, low platelets, and now low glucose levels. 

The vet called me today saying that she seems to have neurological damage from lack of oxygen. She is too weak to take home. 

I graduated from college last year I got my first career job and in January I got my first apartment. I adopted Lily in February finally fulfilling my dream of having a cat (my mom and sister are allergic)

I don't know what to do for Lily. This past two weeks have cost me over $3,000. I can't afford much more as I'm almost maxed out on my credit card. My question is this, should I consider euthanasia for my poor baby? She is suffering so much I don't know what to do for her. I can't afford any expensive treatments that may or may not help her. It's not her fault I'm not financially equipped for this. I thought I would have time to save and have steady income before she would face this kind of hardship. 

Thank you for any sort of advice.


My baby enjoying her sunshine.

I'm so sorry you are going through this
They have no explanation as to what is causing her blood counts to be so low? Did they do a blood smear?
She is a beautiful girl.

They have no clear indication of why her blood work is so low. Vet specialist looked at her and said it could be anything from FeLV hiding in her bone marrow to possibly FIP causing the weight loss and lethargy. Not knowing what is wrong with her is the worst feeling and she is only getting worse as the days go by. 

I am so sorry this is happening to you.

As hard as it may be, please think of what's best for Lily in terms of quality of life. If the vet tells you she's too sick to live on any treatments, maybe it would be best to free her from the pain. As hard as it may be for you, it would be unfair to keep her in this world suffering, limp and sad.

It's a very hard predicament and I have no professional advice for you since I am not qualified. The vet will know. It seems you have a very good vet aiding you and helping Lily, so do consider his advice.

Do what's best for Lila, sometimes it's treatment, sometimes is letting her go..

I'm sending the best of vibes for Lila and you and I do hope the vet figure out what's wrong with her so you can be together many years from now on.  

 

My first thought, remember I am a layperson not a vet or vet tech, is the dry form of FIP especially in a young cat.  Did they check for antibodies to the coronavirus.  Having the antibodies does not mean having FIP but not having them would rule out FIP.  The dry form of FIP usually involves unexplained fevers but the symptoms are really all over the place depending on which organs are being affected.

Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done for FIP and there is nothing that you did or didn't do that caused it.  It is a horrible disease that is not well understood other than it appears to be a mutation of the coronavirus.

I'm so, so sorry you're in this position. It must be absolutely heartbreaking for you.

You have to put Lily's needs before yours, hard and painful as that will be. You say the vets have told you she's suffered neurological damage. For me, the only choice would be to let her go. I know that will be hard to read. I get the feeling, though, that you're coming to that conclusion yourself, and that you're simply looking for reassurance that its the right thing to do. Trust your instincts. You've gone above and beyond for this little girl, and her life with you has been a happy one. 

Don't feel bad about not having the funds for extensive veterinary treatment. I'm not convinced it would be the right thing to do even if money was no object.

I am so, so sorry. My heart goes out to you. This decision is always incredibly painful, but especially so with one so young. We're all here to offer support for you in this difficult time 

My worst fear is that it is indeed FIP as Denice has said. I'm very conflicted with the prognosis and what would have to be done. She is only a year old and it is so hard to make this decision when she has barely had any time to enjoy life. Thank you everyone for the support and much needed advice.

Update:

Sadly, this morning, I had to make the decision to end my little girl's suffering. At the end she could only move her head and paws. When the vet told me that she was withering away and gave me a choice to either put a feeding tube in her or let her go I was devastated.  I am still devastated. I find comfort in knowing that her pain is gone and she is no longer suffering. I miss her immensely and hope and pray that Lily is in a better place now with lots of sunshine, plenty of birds to chase, tons of boxes to play in, and comfy places to sleep.


I was with her until the end. She gave me 7 months of unconditional love and let me love and care for her. Thank you Lily. I love you.

 I am so, so sorry. You gave Lily a wonderful life, full of love and happiness.

Rest in peace Lily, you beautiful girl

                    

I'm sorry for your loss...she is beautiful

I am so sorry for your loss! As an animal lover (especially cats) making that decision is definitely the worst part. Both you and Lilly faught as long and hard as you could. Hopefully knowing that she is chasing birds and sleeping on the window sill will bring you peace. Someone once told me when I lost my precious baby that Animals turn into Angels and are forever with us. [emoji]128150[/emoji]

Oh, I am so sorry..  ((((hugs)))          

You tried as much as you could to stop your baby's suffering...  Sometimes that is all we can do....

Again...so sorry....

I want to thank everyone for their kindness and support. Your beautiful words have given me great comfort in my grief.

I want to give my condolences too, so sad to hear what has happened. I just went through the same thing, yesterday with my 8 year old, Lucy, deciding that there was no quality of life left, and to let her go, the best and really only option. The emergency vet I went to, then gave me an additional bill for $156 to put my Lucy to sleep. I have spent about $1800, so know what you must be feeling after spending double that, to have to put her to sleep also.

Like so many I want to say I am sorry. You showed Lily love and she knows that even today where she is in a better place.

I'm so sorry you've lost Lily, especially after only having her for a short time. I believe you made the right decision to end her suffering. This thread will now be locked out of respect as per TCS policy. If you feel up to it, you may find starting a thread for her at the Bridge Forum to be comforting.