Coping With Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Kitten is just 1 yr old. He was a totally healthy, playful, eating machine. I went to visit my brother and was gone 12 days. My roommate and other cat were hear the whole time, but he’s my baby and never out of my sight for more than a night. The minute i got home i notice right away he’s breathing heavy. I took him to the Vet the very next morning because like i said, he’s my baby. The Vet said everything seemed okay, but if i wanted to be extra sure i could get an x ray for 180.00$. I decided to just watch him closely because everyone was convinced that he had something like a panic attack from my being gone so long. Don’t i wish…

I took him back 3 days later because he just wasn’t getting any better. About 20 minutes after dropping him off for x ray i get a call that his lungs are filled with fluid and should they go a head and drain them cause it can get pretty pricey. I told them i would sooner live in my car then not do everything possible to keep him in my life. 4 hours and 800.00$ later they tell me he probably has FIV but we have to wait for the test results to be certain. This was yesterday. About an hour ago i got a call. They still wont know for sure until tomorrow, but it’s highly likely. From the information they had given me, which wasn’t much, i was under the impression he would have to be put to sleep in like the next 3 days. So after having a complete mental breakdown in front of my poor roommate i thought it might be a good idea to find out anything and everything i can about this disease. Even 4 days is better than 3.

I think iv’e read just about every story posted and although i decided not to put my head in the oven just yet, i’m still very worried due to how sick he just was. Did he go from stage 1 to stage “end” in less than 2 weeks? He’s done nothing but sleep since i got him home. I know he must be exhausted from everything, but his eyes are not the bright yellow i love so much and he just seems so sad when he looks at me. It’s breaking my heart and will absolutely NOT except that theirs nothing i can do.

If anyone knows anything please please please tell me what i can do to keep my baby with me. He’s only 1, but has been with me since his first few weeks. My last roommate kept hearing kitten cries in his bedroom, but every time he went outside to investigate he didn’t hear it. I swear he went out then in then out then in and on maybe the 10th try and 45 minutes later he was holding a tiny black (except for white socks, beard, and whiskers) kitten no bigger than his hand. Somehow he had fallen into the under ground gutters and cried so loud for so long my roommate finally found him almost a block down the street from where we lived. Needless to say i kept him and he hasn’t left a 2 inch range between us since. I’m so terrified right now i want to grab him and just run until i find a place where this isn’t his reality anymore.

Any advice or references or even similar stories to keep my head from doing terribly dangerous things like… thinking on its own. I’ll be in a straight jacket before kitten gets even a fever.

Much Love to all My Fellow Cat Lady’s
(and of course Cat Gentleman)

Thank You
Summer and Kitten