Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ben developed a 105 fever over a month ago, and even though his bloodwork has come back negative to any thing bad, and the vet felt it was just a cat "bug", he continues to have problems with the heat.

A month ago he was diagnosed (with a scan and a FREE T4 test) with hyperthyroid and had tumors removed from both sides.

Instead of feeling better (blood work is normal BUT 1 week after surgery he WAS a bit low on thyroid) he is getting worse. He barely eats, did cough today, and just lies around most of the day sleeping. He will go out on leash and harness in EARLY AM and then after attempting to climb a fence or two, come in and sleep the whole day. This is when the temps are 84 OUTSIDE and 79 INSIDE!

I cannot help but worry he may have FIP/FELV/FIP? He HAS tested negative to them in the past but he also has escaped my yard and visited an old sickly looking Siamese cat in the next yard.

Do you all think he has one of the three or what? This has been going on since May 1!!!!

neither FIV nor FeLV is easily transmitted, so hanging out with the neighbor siamese is not likely to pass either on, should the siamese have them. FIV is only transmitted via DEEP, PENETRATING BITES; FeLV is only slightly more likely as it passes through mutual grooming, sharing food bowls etc. (ie, bodily fluids), but it, too, requires much more than casual contact. that said, since he HAS been ill and his immune system is quite likely compromised right now as he fights off whatever he has, he is more vulnerable to anything he might be exposed to.

with FIP, well, there's no real way to predict who'll get it, nor to prevent nor treat it; it's a mutation of a common virus that usually causes little more than a simple upper-respiratory illness--they don't know, yet, what causes the mutation tho other infections and stress, as well as a genetic predisposition, are the currently suspected culprits.

you need to speak with your vet again, and see what he/she suggests. many cats eat poorly in high heat, and conserve their energy by sleeping more than usual--it could be this or something more. (my cats, FIV+s as well as negatives, are just crashing out in funny positions, looking as if they'd like to melt in this heat!)

is the cat on thyroid medications? is he drinking enough water to keep him hydrated? if he is eating and drinking on his own, even if it's not much, it is probably not an emergency, but i would contact the vet as soon as possible. if he is NOT eating at all, especially if he is a large cat, call the vet right away--not eating can lead to hepatic lipidosis, fatty-liver disease, and needs immediate intervention.

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PHCatByte

Thank you! His blood work - EXCEPT his thyroid which is a bit low since his week ago thyroid tumors removal - is all well within the normal range.

We go back to the vet for a recheck Mon or Tues and there ARE plenty of questions I will be asking.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL22/547732/804999/92756220.jpg Benji on top of Nativity looking down into it

I really doubt that simply hanging around with an old guy next door would transfer any of those. FIP is now considered to be a mutation of a common coronavirus and nearly all cats have been exposed to coronaviruses. They are still working on figuring out the triggers that cause the mutation, but stress is surely among them. FIV is usually passed through mating or DEEP penetrating bite wounds. FeLV is usually passed through the mom or through prolonged intimate contact.

With your kitty having had surgery recently and with the weather going all hot and icky, I would be much more inclined to think that his recovery is slow, not that you would notice it, our felines being the way they are and hiding everything and that the heat is affecting him more now when he's not 100% than it has in the past.

It would not be a bad idea to have the tests run (FeLV/FIV, FIP is just a coronavirus titer and won't really tell you much) if only for your peace of mind. And if kitty IS positive for either of those, NEITHER IS A DEATH SENTENCE. There are great resources available to educate yourself and your vet. A good diet, appropriate supplements and a low stress environment are the basics. I had a FeLV kitty and it is usually something secondary that ends up killing them, in Ninja's case, it was intestinal lymphoma. FeLV is actually closer to human HIV than FIV is. The vast majority of FIV kitties die WITH it, not FROM it.

With all due respect, if your cat had FIP, it would be dead by now.

Lethargy can mean so many different things. It can point to so many different areas.

I noticed the first signs of FIP on May 20th. That was the first visit to the vet. The first sign was indeed, lethargy.

On June 20th my boy was dead. That's how quickly FIP overtakes a cat. The first sign is lethargy. And usually, within a month or two, the cat dies. It's a horrible, terrible, awful thing to go through.

From what you've described in your initial and followup posts, this doesn't sound like FIP. But, I'm not an expert either. I'm not a vet. Just a cat owner who just lost his little boy from a disease he knew very little about two weeks ago.

Be happy! FIP is a death sentence. And, if you treat your cat like your child, it's a terrible thing to go through.

Hi,

I just wanted to say that I am so very sorry about your loss.

AshleyElla

Thank you. It's a painful loss. We still have two other boys. One of them was Winky's littermate. We are watching him closely. Since he has a similar genetic makeup, there's a chance he could be susceptible.

But so far, the brother looks good. Fat and healthy. Not lethargic. Loves to go outside in the backyard during weekend mornings and look at the birds.

Trying to post a photo of Winky, but this is a little difficult!

You can see photos of Winky here. He was a great cat. I will miss him very much.
Winky's World

>>With all due respect, if your cat had FIP, it would be dead by now.
>>

i was trying to be tactful when i DIDN'T phrase things exactly the way you did, but essentially, you are correct...... by the time FIP is diagnosed, the poor dear is probably on its last paws. FIP is indeed a horrid disease because, as i said, you can't predict it, you can't prevent it, and you can't treat it. hopefully, the ongoing research will help make it more manageable if not eradicate it totally.

i am VERY sorry that this is how you had to learn about FIP, but it's the way most people do...

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PHCatByte

I'm sorry PH. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I suppose I'm still very upset about what happened and still question why it happened to my little boy.

However, I feel a little better after going through some posts on the euthansia page, and the tribute page to our Winky is now up.

It will take awhile, but I will manage.
Link

I am sorry about Winky. He was certainly a handsome boy and I understand how deeply you must feel his loss. He must have known how very much you loved him and that you did everything you could for him.
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

>>I'm sorry PH. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I suppose I'm still very upset about what happened and still question why it happened to my little boy.
>>
>>However, I feel a little better after going through some posts on the euthansia page, and the tribute page to our Winky is now up.
>>
>>It will take awhile, but I will manage.
>>Link

oh, heavens, no one was offended! your statement was absolutely accurate, unfortunately!

i'm glad that some of the other posts have helped; remember that we have pet-loss chats every night of the week, because it's NEVER easy. again, i'm sorry that you had to learn about FIP this way.
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PHCatByte