A friend of mine found a cat 5 about months ago...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Even though he had a collar, he was emaciated, so she and her husband started leaving food and water out for the critter...apparently a purebred sealpoint Siamese. The cat was very shy, though he took what they offered him. Gradually he became a little friendlier; and yesterday my friend caught him so she could take him to a vet.

The vet said he tested very slightly positive for Feline Leukemia, and wants to test him again later. The cat seems to have made himself right at home, to the point of letting my friend rub his tummy and getting to know their dog. The only trouble is, he hasn't eaten since she took him to the vet. My friend is worried that the positive test result means he's as good as gone. She's also concerned that the cat's original owners may have given up searching for him, though she and her husband have diligently checked lost and found ads and called the local animal shelter when they first found him.

I think she should just relax and enjoy the kitty companion for however long he's got.

What would you do?

[purr]

1. My gut feeling is previous owner knew of the leukemia, and couldnt

afford the treatment so they dumped the cat. I've seen that happen before.

I would keep the cat and give him the best life possible. Enjoy him.. he found a family.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. That is truly pathetic...

Even if they couldn't afford it, they could at least offer their kitty the dignity of dying with his family. :cry:

I didn't realize there was treatment available. How expensive is it?

[purr]

4. Its sickening..

I havent the slightest idea how much it is.. I'm not too sure on the treatment either.. I'd call the vet tomorrow and see what they say.

[Shakespeare]

3. Siamese are extraordinarily sensitive critters....

...as you've no doubt discovered. Hopefully, his hunger strike is just to make a point about how much he disliked going to the vet. Hopefully.

One of my cats is half siamese-half tabby, and he certainly inherited the siamese sensitivity genes. We can't kennel him when we're out of town, because he won't eat. Not one bite. How'd I discover this? We kenneled him together with our other cat (they bunked together) when we were on a 10-day vacation (couldn't find a housesitter). When I picked them up, Mr. Picky was a bag of bones. I felt guilty. The kennel felt guilty. I've never tried boarding him again.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. That was my thought too...

Plus, his tummy was probably already agitated by being taken inside and placed in new surroundings suddenly.

[Guy Fawkes]

5. baby food.

That always gets the little buggers. Can't stand to keep up a hunger strike with that turkey smell assualting their noses.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. I'd never heard that before...

I'll email my friend and tell her right away!

[EFerrari]

8. It really works.

If the kitty is emaciated, liquids are the biggest concern. You can give them with a syringe or at the vets (expensive) or ask someone in the rescue community to do it. **If you can pinch the fur behind the kitty's head and it stays where your fingers were instead of going back into place, the kitty is dehydrated and needs fluid pronto.

After that, hand feeding is a pain but better than compromising the baby.

:)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. When she found him he was a mess...

She said he's much better now; but she was worried that he didn't eat today, after she got the test results from the vet.

[EFerrari]

12. Sure. But, that just may be a "that was scary!" memo to Mom

:)

If she can check for dehydration, she can set her mind at rest or fix it.

[havocmom]

9. Yep. I ALWAYS keep some turkey baby food on hand.

It works wonders sometime. Also, that baby rice cereal (the stuff you mix with water or formula for small humans) is handy to have on hand in case of kitty getting loose bowels. Mixed with some beef broth (keep some of the instant on hand) it can be a real help.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. That rice cereal tip is great!

I'm going to get some to keep on hand for my own kitties! :yourock:

[Beaverhausen]

13. My friend has FIV positive cats

Hers live into their teens. She has one who is on death's door but he is 19 so he's had a good long life.

It takes a little extra care but these kitties can live long happy lives.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. I'm sure she'll keep him...

She's just kind of bummed by the initial test. It could have been a false positive, too.

[geniph]

14. Oh jeez, I really AM a geek

I saw the thread title and thought you were talking about network wiring...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. Word order from Yoda studying have I been.

Sorry 'bout that! :D