Gutted: vet suspects Winston has Feline leukemia! :-((

My Mum has been fostering our Maine Coon Boy since last October as I'm currently due our first baby! When we visited for Christmas Holidays Winston didn't seem to be himself, off his food and his coat didn't look good...just seemed to be lethargic. We brought him to the vet who gave him a course of anti-biotics and within a few days he was back to himself!

About 10 days ago my Mum rang and said she felt there was something wrong with him. Once again he had stopped eating his food, wanted to sleep on the bed all the time and wasn't going to the toilet. He was brought to the Vet last week who did blood tests. the Vet called me and said he suspected leukemia from the results. He gave him more anti-biotics and which he has responded to and plans to do a definite leukemia test tomorrow! I am absoutely gutted as he only 4.5 years old and currently in my parents care!

Has anybody had any experience of Feline Leukemia? I don't want him to suffer but am hoping that he may have some standard of living for a few months!

Any first hand experience would be appreciated!

Oh bless I do hope it isn't because although he may be able to be treated with ab's for a while the long term outlook isn't good.....
It is something they can be vaccinated against although some people knock it as it has been known for the vaccination site to become cancerous {more in the early days of the vaccine plus very rare but is known} .... If from a very good breeder babe should have come from negative breeding stock as that is one thing they test for before breeding from any cat, my breeder does have her babes vaccinated against the flu & leukemia from the start too & although mine don't go out to roam free I carry on until they are about six just in case they escape but after that I do stop the leukemia side & just carry on with flu but if they were free roaming cats I would carry it on , what environment is/ has your boy been brought up in....? Feel for you & everything crossed that he will be ok & he has something that a bloomin heavy dose of ab's will cure....xxx

JCK Thanks for the reply. I don't currently have his vaccination papers to check his vaccinations, but my husband is pretty sure he didn't have the vaccination against leukemia :-( Our boy had been an indoor cat from when he was a kitten up until he moved to stay with my parents last October! They live in the countryside and have a large enclosed garden as well as 2 moggies! Since moving to the countryside he still spends most of his time indoors but was freely mixing and playing with one other moggie who was a rescue cat and is not vaccinated! I'm just wondering if he picked it up from one of these cats would it manifest itself so quickly? Or was it lying doormat all along? I'm so upset and so is my Mum as she has become very attached to him too! he is spoilt rotton!

Lets keep everything crossed until after his next lot of blood tests....... my youngest babe was quite ill a short while ago & although I knew he came from FELV negative parents plus he was vaccinated as a babe against it plus he has never gone outside & mixed the second vet who saw him insisted that his blood profile included the FELV test too as she thought a lot of signs pointed towards it,i & he was very lucky he was ok but if your babe hasn't been vaccinated & has mixed with rescue cats then there is a a chance that yes thats where {if it is}he has got it,if the worst is diagnosed no doubt the vet will recommend the other cats are tested too but for now strong vibes winging over for you all....xxx

oh no - when will you get the results? fingers crossed - please let us know?

Update: My Mum brought him to the Vet this morning to get the other blood test done. The good news is vet now doesn't believe he has FELV!!!! He is very chesty and hopefully blood tests might be able to pinpoint what is the matter. Unfortunatly as my parents live about 200km away from me, I can't actually see Winston for myself whist I await baby's arrival!

JCK: Thank you for your reply last night .....as it did give me a little bit of hope!
Will keep you all posted when there are further developments!

That is very naughty of the vet giving you such a scare & then changing his mind without waiting for the blood results but all bodes well for your boy,perhaps he is like my babe & needs a different stronger ab to kick start his recovery,if you could speak to any of my workmates they would tell you what a snivelling sobbing wreck i was the second day when I had to take my boy back before expected I honestly thought he was dying so can understand how you feel not being able to see him & feel so sorry for you......
We are at daughters at the moment & like you she is waiting for the birth of her first child in three weeks, she has two MC's being very attentive to her & what I think is great is they no longer even try to get on her lap they just tuck up beside her which is good as Ozzy weighs in at over 10kg....will be inteersting to see how they react when babe comes home.....
Good luck with babe & that is two things for you to keep us updated on,your little boys health & your new addition.......xxxx

Please do keep us posted. I am glad that he did not have the FELV. that is great news.