Advice for my cat

Hi Everyone,

Let me start by introducing myself. I’m Grant. In 2007, i adopted two brother cats named Mack and Declan and they are the absolute loves of my life. I cherish and adore them as if they were my own children. I know people always say you love your kids more, but i honestly can’t see myself ever loving anything more then my two boys.

they’ve always been really healthy cats. However, about 10 days ago, I noticed that Mack had lost a lot of weight and was hidding a lot, which isn’t like him. I took him to the vet. The vet said that it looked like he had leukemia…his tests came back that he was anemic and that his white blood cell count was off the chart. He said my mack had a week to a couple of months.

I was totally devestated. They gave me a script for steriods and an iv to give him fluids once a day. That was a few days ago.

The thing is taht after a few days of the treatment, he’s acting like his old self. He’s not hiding, he’s hungry/eating all the time (when i put out food…he runs to it) and he’s being cuddly and loving. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but he’s really acting like his old self. The vet made it seem like he wouldn’t be hungry or would maybe hide a bit less, but he’s just acting like normal.

I was wondering if anyone had experience with this…could it be a false diagnosis? is it possible i could have more time with my sweet, loving mack?

Welcome to The Cat Site Grant. I and many of us know how soul crushing it is to get that kind of diagnosis. Glad to hear that Mack has responded well to treatment. Talk to your vet again. If that is unsatisfactory, get a second opinion. Mostly it is a one day at a time kind of thing. Sure hope everything goes well. I do not wish to alarm you, but this is a possibility that I have experienced and know others that have had the same experience----a full or nearly full recovery appears to take place for a while, and then----like a light bulb burning brightly just before it goes out. There is really no way to prepare for that. Sure hope this is not the case for you and Mack. Make the most of everyday. I'm pulling for you Mack.

Oh gosh I just posted something about a cat I had to put down who seemed so well with IV fluids but the numbers said he had 0 kidney fuction so although he seemed great he would fail if not on an IV daily [emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128575[/emoji]I hope that Mack is well and stay with you but talk to the vet before you get your hopes to high
Sorry you have to go thur this !
P.s. I have kids and I have to say it is close, and I think my husband actually likes the cats more even if he loves the kids more[emoji]128576[/emoji]

Welcome to the furoms Brotha

So they said it "looked like" he had leukemia, or he had it?  They have tests to know for sure.  In cats, it's called FeLv, or Feline Leukemia Virus.  Here is an article on it:  http://www.thecatsite.com/a/feline-leukemia-virus-felv

So, are they treating him for the actual anemia?  There are drugs to treat it, but I think it may really make a difference as to whether or not he definitely has FeLV (although I'm not 100% positive on that).  Here is a thread that discusses anemia, but this cat was definitely NOT FeLv:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/296997/anemia-pure-red-cell-aplasia.  It's possible that doesn't really make any difference.  Something you might want to discuss with your Vet.

I say if he's feeling better,that's what counts.  Nothing is set in stone about how long he has.  Many cats beat the odds and live longer than a Vet says.  Hopefully your little guy will be one of them, but if not, just enjoy every moment you have left with him