Hi,
Today my cat, Kero, was diagnosed with FIV and FIA. He is a 6 year old outdoor cat and our veterinarian believes he must have contracted it from another stray cat (our neighborhood has a lot of them) or from fleas (which he did have as well). He had been lethargic for the past few days, but didn't worsen until Tuesday. I only know what my mom has told me (I am in college and was only home for the weekend) .We are all worried and feel extremely guilty for letting my cat get to these conditions.
He is very sick and cannot walk or eat, so as a result we have been syringe feeding him and cleaning him and his bedding at least 2 times a day. We cleaned the entire house and his bedding to try to eliminate fleas. He has received medication and antibiotics for his fever and health, but our vet recommended he get a blood transfusion which is very costly ($1200+) and has warned us he may not even survive with the transfusion due to FIV. I want to give him the blood transfusion, but I don't want my cat to suffer any more than he has too. Plus knowing that he will be a permanent carrier with FIV and FIA, he will have to be an indoor cat as I don't want him to infect any other cats.
Therefore knowing my parents don't exactly have the money, he may still die, there is a possibility of him transferring the virus and parasite, suffering from FIA, and being forced into an indoor cat, makes me feel as though I am making an extremely selfish decision. Due to the vet hours, he cannot go in to get the transfusion until tomorrow or Monday, depending on his status tomorrow, and he just looks plain miserable and weak. He can barely move his tail. I am unsure of what to do next, so I was hoping there was someone here with experience that could give me a bit of their advice or just let me know what was their experience. Is there a possibility of him even surviving? And if not should I put him to sleep? How quickly should I even decide? It is all happening so fast and I feel as if I am not coherent enough to even think at the moment.
Thank you in advance
Gladys
Today my cat, Kero, was diagnosed with FIV and FIA. He is a 6 year old outdoor cat and our veterinarian believes he must have contracted it from another stray cat (our neighborhood has a lot of them) or from fleas (which he did have as well). He had been lethargic for the past few days, but didn't worsen until Tuesday. I only know what my mom has told me (I am in college and was only home for the weekend) .We are all worried and feel extremely guilty for letting my cat get to these conditions.
He is very sick and cannot walk or eat, so as a result we have been syringe feeding him and cleaning him and his bedding at least 2 times a day. We cleaned the entire house and his bedding to try to eliminate fleas. He has received medication and antibiotics for his fever and health, but our vet recommended he get a blood transfusion which is very costly ($1200+) and has warned us he may not even survive with the transfusion due to FIV. I want to give him the blood transfusion, but I don't want my cat to suffer any more than he has too. Plus knowing that he will be a permanent carrier with FIV and FIA, he will have to be an indoor cat as I don't want him to infect any other cats.
Therefore knowing my parents don't exactly have the money, he may still die, there is a possibility of him transferring the virus and parasite, suffering from FIA, and being forced into an indoor cat, makes me feel as though I am making an extremely selfish decision. Due to the vet hours, he cannot go in to get the transfusion until tomorrow or Monday, depending on his status tomorrow, and he just looks plain miserable and weak. He can barely move his tail. I am unsure of what to do next, so I was hoping there was someone here with experience that could give me a bit of their advice or just let me know what was their experience. Is there a possibility of him even surviving? And if not should I put him to sleep? How quickly should I even decide? It is all happening so fast and I feel as if I am not coherent enough to even think at the moment.
Thank you in advance
Gladys