Hello everyone... Lots of new faces here since the last time i posted here so let me introduce myself. I found this wonderfully supportive place a little over a year ago when i lost my P-kitty:

http://lightning-strike.com/forum/index.ph...ct=ST&f=4&t=221

Mere words cannot explain how much this place helped me.

Now, I've lost my sweet Angel in a most shocking way.

It started about 3 weeks ago. Angel just stopped eating one day. She slept constantly and refused food for almost 48 hours. Then out of the blue, she started feeling better. Eating, playing...being her normal sweet self. Then, a couple days later, she would stop eating again. This pattern continued for awhile until Tuesday.

She was getting progressively worse, visiting the litter box every few minutes...wobbling when she walked, and cried in pain when i touched her. I rushed her to the vet...

They took blood...then came back with the worst news i've ever gotten in my entire life. Angel had both Feline AIDS and Feline Leukemia, plus was suffering from liver malfunction. Her poor little body was worn out and just couldn't fight anymore. She was suffering and there was nothing i could do to help her.

My little Angel-face passed away at 4:30 pm, June 8th, 2005.

I feel like i failed her, and her kittens. Because this means that the other 5 cats i have (Four of Angel's kittens and her sister) have been exposed and might have both of the diseases as well.

I dont know what i'll do if all of my furry ones are taken from me.

The only thing that keeps me going is that perhaps the fact that Angel avoided all the other cats at any costs. More to the point, she couldnt stand them and ran everytime one got near her. But that still doesnt negate the fact that all five of them ate out of the same dishes.



what a horrible week

I'm sorry you are dealng with the prospect of all of your babies being ill at one time. There is, however, a simple blood test that can be done to test for both FIV & FELV and the test only takes about 5 minutes. These tests usually cost an average of about $30.00 a piece, so it could get expensive to have then all tested at one time, but it would be worth the piece of mind to know, so why don't you just take a couple and see what the results are and then go from there. If they are negative, there is a vaccine for FELV that is quite effective. There is no vaccine for FIV, however, so if these kitties go outside they are at quite a high risk of contracting it since the disease is obviously in the neighborhood (the only way it is contracted is through bodily fluids, so there has to be an infected cat around you somewhere).
Take a deep breath, and remember the life these kitties had before they found you. At least your Angel's life was one filled with love, instead of homeless and hungry, which is what she was before she found you. Just feel good for doing what you were able to do for her, and take the other kitties one day at a time. If they test positive, there are some things you can do for them to manage it, so don't give up hope.
Love,
Kim

I am so sorry. It must be awful to lose your precious Angel and then worry about your other furries as well. I am so very sorry for your loss. It is a mercy that her suffering was not long, though, and in these times we have to look for the small mercies wherever we can find them, and with a beautiful name like Angel she must have a foot in St. Peter's gate!
I am so sorry; I wish I could just hug everybody becasue I now only too keenly the raw, gnawing, gaping ache and pain that we are all going through. Prayers for you and Angel and for the other little furry friends in your house that they are OK. Kim is right; the expense really will be worth it for your peace of mind, though, to have them all tested.
Love to you
B
x

Today its been a week since i lost her... wow, it seems like its been forever and a day ago. Or perhaps its because this week has felt like its aged me years.


I miss you Angel-girl.

After dinner seems to be the hardest for me. Angel had a habit of seeking out a little lap time before she settled down to sleep for the night. She would jump into my lap...put her paws on my chest and look into my eyes and purr so loud. If i scratched in just the right spot on her cheek, she would start drooling (just like her son, Sarge.)


I still catch myself looking in "her spot" in the backyard. It takes a few moments for my brain to remind my heart that she is gone.

hugs for everyone

The markers are the worst, aren't they? And I know what you mean about after-dinner-paws! I miss my Ryddley doing that too ( I even keep a spot for her on the couch so that she knows she can still climb up on my lap.
I don't have anything really helpful to tell you (sorry) as I have just gone past the one-week marker and I feel no better about it, but I just wanted to say that I feel for you and I hope that you are doing OK and that you have good people/furries around you to help you through this.
Sympathetic cyberhugs to you and your sweet Angel
B
x
Any news about your other furries? I was just wondering if they had been tested or it you know anything more...?

Thank you brigid


And yes, spoke to the vet... test is only $20 per cat (for both AIDS and Leukemia) so I'll be taking the first two in on Friday. I was going to do it yesterday or today, however i felt it best to not be alone if the news is bad. So I'm waiting until Friday when someone can go with me.


Here's hoping for GOOD news.

Dear Nyte,

I'm so sorry about your little Angel girl. I just lost my sweet kitty, Hobbie, less than 9 months after losing my dog Shiloh. Angel girl's symptoms sound so similar to Hobbie's. Hobbie quit eating and then developed fatty liver syndrome. I'm fortunate that she tested negative for feline leukemia, but I, too, still feel like I failed her.

I will keep Angel girl's kittens and sister in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs,
Kathleen

Nyte,
I'm glad that the test is a little cheaper for you in your area than it is in my neck of the woods . I have had you and your babies on my mind quite a bit, and I hope you are doing okay. Remember, whatever happens, that you gave these babies a chance at love and happiness that they would have never known otherwise, and I know they wouldn't trade that for the world, so stay hopeful, and I will hope and pray that your babies will all test negative. You did a noble thing by taking in Angel and all her kittens. Not many people would take on so many new mouths to feed at one time, and for that you should be acknowledged .
Please let us know how the tests turn out on Friday. I don't think I speak for just myself when I say I am very concerned and will be waiting eagerly to hear what the results are. Take care until then...I am glad you have someone to go with you on Fri., having support is important.
Love,
Kim

Nyte,
I was just wondering if you had any news on the kitties from your vet visit on Friday. Were you able to make it? I hope that no news means good news. I just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you.
Love,
Kim

Ditto what Kim said. I am also wondering what news you have and how you and the kitties are doing. Do let us know.
B
x

Thank you so much for your kindness everyone... here is an update


We waited at the vet on Friday for about 3 hours (they are a country vet practice...no appt...just first come, first serve) and decided to head back home in hopes that today would be a better day to visit.

Then Saturday our little Cotton Ball seemed to be getting very sick. Of course, i feared the worst. He stopped eating, slept all day etc...but his symptoms were slightly different than Angel's. He sneezed often, coughed...hacked and seemed like he wanted to hurl, but nothing came up (ick...sorry)

By Sunday he was still bad and seemed to be getting worse. I, being the drama queen that i am, was hysterical for most of the day. I was so worried that i was going to lose Cotton too. I mean come on...two kitties in two weeks?!

By sunday afternoon, i couldnt take it anymore. And although i really couldn't afford it, i packed up Cotton and took him to the Emergency Vet.

I told them what had happened with Angel, through my tears and the vet told me that they would test him but that it looked like an upper-respritory (sp?) infection...so not to worry too much.

After the longest 20 minutes of my life, the tech came out to tell me that both his Feline AIDS and Leukemia test were negative and they were setting Cotton up with some antibiotics.

So whew...one negative and only 4 more to go

again, thank you so much for your concern...makes me feel less alone in this hard time

I am so glad that Cotton Ball (I love that name) only has an upper respitory infection, and that his tests for Feline Aids and Leukemia were negative. I bet you breathed a huge sigh of relief when you heard that. Now we will all pray that your other 4 babies also test negative. It is so hard to lose one of our furbabies, i lost my dog Brandy 2 weeks ago today, and 21 hours later i had to have my siamese cat put to sleep. But i know there healthy and running around at Rainbow Bridge waiting for us to be reunited.
When are you going to take your other 4 babies to be tested? Please let us know when you hear something, until then God Bless.
Janet.

Nyte,
YEAH!! Not that Cotton is sick, of course, but I am so relieved for you that your kitty tested negative.I hope that is just a preview of what is to come for the others! I know that money doesn't grow on trees, but IF you can afford it, I would vaccinate your Cotton, and any others as they test negative, as soon as possible. Like I said, I know it can be expensive, but well worth it considering you have an obvious threat of exposure. As a vet tech, I certainly don't encourage people being "backyard vets", but there are some companies ( www.Jefferspet.com & wwwfostersmith.com I think are a couple) that sale vaccines for pets very cheap ( as well as all kinds of other products, too, you should take a look...I just love both of these companies and order from both of them quite a bit!)that you can give yourself (except for FIV, there is no vaccine for that). My first reccomendation, of course, is to see a vet, but this other alternative is much better than nothing. Just make sure they test negative first for FeLV. I do hope the others have as good an outcome! Take care!
Love,
Kim

Nyte,
My heart truly goes out to you and the effort you have made to give these kitties a good life after you rescued them some time ago. I know how confusing all those virus names can be when looking at those vaccines, so I looked them over myself to let you know which one would work best for you, and be the mosy cost-effective. Go to www.jefferspet.com and enter the item number A2-K . This vaccine is only $7.15, and it will give your kitties the protection they need from everything they can be protected by, with the exception of FIP, which you would have to get from the vet if interested. These vaccines come ready to use, so you don't have to order syringes or needles, and the shipping is VERY reasonable. Well, it is for me, anyway, because I'm only one state over in Georgia (they are in Alabama) so I guess it would depend on where you live.
I hope I'm not being "too helpful". I just like to be supportive of those who extend a loving hand to our homeless furbabies.
Love,
Kim

Thank you SO much Kim! I understand your feelings about not wanting to advise anyone to be a "homegrown vet." If it comes right down to it, i will most definately vaccinate them myself if i have to, but i sure do not feel very comfortable about it. Hopefully, i will be able to get them all to the vet VERY soon. (payday is coming up again

Cotton Ball is feeling MUCH better today...romping and eating and being his very vocal self again. Oh how i missed his meows (i swear it sounds like he is saying "Hello" sometimes ) He ate almost an entire bowl of food by himself and then polished off the rest of the dry food. So i can breath a little easier today.


It doesnt feel like enough to merely say "thank you" to all of those that have posted with kind thoughts. So Kim, Brigid, Kathleen and Janet... Here is a huge HUG from me and my kitties. We cannot thank you enough!

Oh, here is a link to few pics of my kitties

Cotton Ball's Catster page

Nyte,
Your kitties are just precious!! I also noticed that I'm only about 2 hours south of you!! Small world!! Keep us updated on the other kitties.
Love, Kim

I had a strange experience last night that have to share. I thought about telling my boyfriend, but i just get the feeling that he wouldnt understand.

It was around 10:30 pm last night, i had just arrived home... When i walked in the door, all my kitties rushed to greet me and then proceeded to have the "midnight crazies" as we call them. You know, the rushing from room to room, puffing up etc...

Now, i found this sort of odd because usually, the midnight crazies only affect one cat per night. But this time it was all of them. I put their collars on and said goodnight to each of them. I then sat down at my computer for a bit of net surfing.

That was when the overwhelming smell of rubbing alcohol filled my room. Angel smelled like that right before she passed. It immediately made me burst out crying. I looked around my room and couldnt help but quietly say "Angel? Is that you?" Right as i said that... Sara, Loki and Sarge all came rushing upstairs and just stopped, staring at me.

I know i'm probably projecting but i would swear that they thought she might be up here in my room.

I miss you Angel.