Conference misery::feline

    I understand how you feel...I went through this earlier this year. Our
    stray had a bite on his back. It got infected. I took it to the vet and
    in the same timeframe a rabied animal was shot and killed directly
    across the street. The cat either had to be quarantined or killed. It
    anyone came into contact with it they took the chance of rabies. I was
    heartbroken but had the cat put to sleep.
    
    If your cat hasn't had a 'known' bite or if you haven't had a rabied
    animal 'that you know of' I wouldn't worry tooo much. The vet is being
    cautious. If the cat has rabies it would show signs soon. Call your
    local police dept and ask if anything like that has showed up in your
    immediate area recently. If not chances are that the cat doesn't have
    rabies.
    
    good luck with this choice....

    God has taken this out of our hands.  My husband just got a call from
    the Vet's office.  Benjamin tested positive for Feline Lukemia and also
    positive for something else (my husband was so upset I couldn't make it
    out).  The Vet said "You have a very sick kitty and I advise we put him
    out of his misery.  He is suffering."  My husband will be taking him in
    tomorrow morning to be put to sleep.  He'll do the same with him as we
    do with our own, stay with him to the end.  Right now he is giving him
    an extra portion of food and hugs.  He'll have a good night.
    
    Linda  

    Linda,
    
    You and your husband did so much more for this cat than others would,
    even though he never actually lived in your home.  He had good food and
    shelter from the elements.  That's more than most cats have in a
    lifetime!  I'd say you have nothing to feel guilty about, and
    everything to feel proud about.  He will know the decision you made was
    the right one, and thank you for it.
    
    -Roberta
    

    My guess is the other thing is positive for FIV.  My heart goes
    out to you and Benjamin.   Thank god Benjamin found a warm, caring
    human being prior to his illness.  Like Roberta said he may not
    have had a home...but he had food, love and caring and that's all
    he needed.
    
    Hugs to you...

    
    
    Linda and Hubby,  I am also saddened to hear about Benjamin. But 
          he was lucky to have you two to care for him till the end. 
    
     Thoughts and prayers, 
    
     Shaw

   Linda,

   My condolences as well - Benjamin will be added to the SLM listing.

   Hugs,
   Debbi

    Linda,
    
    My heart goes out to you and your hubby..  Benjamin knew that he was
    loved...
    
    Please do not feel guilty.  If you hadn't taken him to the vets you
    would have never found out how sick he really is and how much pain he
    is in..  Soon he will be at peace and be with all of our other
    furfaces...
    
    Prayers and Hugs,
    
    Joyce,Shilo, and Oliver
    

    Don't despair, Benjamin waits for you near Rainbow Bridge.
    
    Carl

    I'm so sorry to hear about poor Benjamin.
    
    Deb and THE FIRM

    I feel sort of funny putting this in but, here are some thoughts and
    answers.
    
    First, is Benjamin acting sick or showing signs of illness?  Did he
    just test positive?  We all know that even tho a cat tests positive it
    can still lead a good long life.
    
    Second, the treatment for possible rabies exposure is to vaccinate
    asap.  He may/may not have been infected.  You would then need to keep
    him in his own quaranine room for the specified amount of time.  
    
    If it was me and I didn't have the "cat" situation that I do, I think I
    would give Benjamin a fighting chance.  If he is not acting sick and
    can't come into contact with your own cats give him his time.  He has
    obviously fought a long hard life and now trusts you with his
    affections.  It would be a nicer ending to the story if his last days
    were happier and medicine was not thing to end it.  I have had kittens
    struggle beyond all possibilites to survive.  After watching them try
    so hard I have witheld euthenasia.  ONLY if they weren't suffering.
    Does Benjamin act like he is suffering?
    Good luck and my heart goes to you, whatever you decide.
    Karen

    I don't want to go against any decision you made, but I do agree
    with Karen that has long has the kitty is not suffering, you
    have a place to confine him, and your willing to do this....the
    kitty can live a pretty normal happy life being positive.
    
    My Ziggy (also positive for both) is just one example.  Ziggy was 
    literally on his deathbed with Kidney failure...but with a few days 
    in the ICU and alot of TLC....Ziggy shows NO signs of sickness and 
    is a VERY happy kitty!  I know he won't live to be 100....but I'm
    going to make whatever time he has very happy!!  
    
    Tough decisions...and whatever you decide I'm sure will be
    best for both you and Benjamin.
    
    Sandy

    I am a new reader and took an interest in the story of Benjamin.
    Have you made a decision. I know sometimes it is hard to know
    if you are doing the right thing with the information you are
    given and with the support of others.  These special animals
    are given to us for such a short time, but I truly feel it is
    for a reason, whatever it maybe.
    
    
    Lee plus four black, four legged kids
                        

    My husnad took Benjamin to the Vet's and had him put to sleep (how I
    hate that term, almost as much as "put down").
    
    The vet agreed totally with the decision as Benjamin was in pain.  We
    have pictures of him and I have added his name to the bottom of my copy
    of the "Rainbow Bridge" (look for this poem in the conference) that I
    have.
    
    Between FIV, Feline Luk, a heart mermur, AND the threat of rabies, we
    just could not face keeping him.
    
    As an aside, I could not believe what we had to go through to get him
    tested for rabies after he died.  The vet doesn't do the test.  You
    have to have to wait while the vet cuts off the head, packs it in ice,
    writes all information on the box, then you have to take it yourself to
    the state testing lab.  They called us two days later to say the cat
    was free of rabies.  Only if an animal bites someone can you get the
    city or state to pick up the head and do the testing.  My husband will
    always remember the 30 mile drive with the box next to him in the front
    seat!
    
    Linda
    

    How awful for you and your husband to have to go through all
    that!
    
    Even though he didn't test positive for rabies, he had so many
    other things going against him that it was the best decision.
    Know in your heart that you did the right thing for him.
    
    Take care,
    Pam

    Warm hugs....you deserve it and your kitty knows you did all
    you could for him!!
    
    Sandy

    Here's a question for you all...
    
    
    Do cats "carry" rabies like bats and such, or do they simply "get" it.  
    
    That is, when a cat is bitten by a rabid animal, do they get the
    disease, or can they harbor the virus and not show any signs?  How long
    does it take for a cat to show signs of having rabies?  What are the
    signs (other than frothing, etc?)
    
    
    Curious,
    
    kim

    
    My husband found a dead bat on the kitchen floor I do believe that it
    was about a month ago..  Well he flushed it down the john so that I
    wouldn't see it when I got up.  He told me about it when he got home
    from work that day..  After he told me I called the vet to ask some
    questions.  They in turn had me call the Board of Heath, who had to
    take all of the information down that I had.
    
    To make a long story short both my cats are under house arrest.  
    
    Shilo had his rabie shot in December but they said to be on the safe
    side that he should have a booster...  He is under house arest for 3
    month.  Oliver is a part maine coon kitty that we just got from the
    Needfull kitty shelter in W.Boylston the beginning of July.  He had
    just received all of his shots, but it takes 30 days for the seruim
    (ops) to work it's way through their system, so he is under house arest
    for 6 months.  Thank God that they are both in-door cats.. 
    
    The vets told me that seeing that they ate some of the bat that I
    should watch for tapeworm.  If you call your vet they can tell you
    signs to watch out for...  The reason that the cats are under house
    arrest is that it takes that long for the signs to show up...
    
    *joyce, shilo, and oliver
    
    

    Wellll, what happened is that I got bit but good by the stray I've been
    feeding.  He was being lovey and affectionate and I dunno if I touched
    him somewhere he didn't like or whatever, but suddenly, he grabbed my
    arm and sank his teeth into my wrist.  I howled and he let go. Of
    course, I reprimanded him and he just acted like your basic stupid tom
    cat ("What'd I do? Huh?")  I've been scratched and bit before, but
    never BIT.  Let me tell you, it hurts like a big dog.  :)
    
    Just to be on the safe side, I'm gonna take him in for quarantine
    tomorrow.  The quarantine is 10 days.  I don't think there's much of a
    chance he (or me, now) has rabies, since Lowell isn't exactly a hotbed
    of rabie activity, but you never know.  There are bats around and other
    cats and squirrels, and probably even the odd coon, skunk and what have
    you.  
    
    So, I get to take antibiotics and have a really sore arm/wrist, he gets
    to cost me about $130.00 which I didn't plan on spending this week and
    have a 10 day vacation in isolation.  :)  The upshot is that if he
    passes with flying colors, he gets a rabie and distemper shot and a
    physical included in the $130.00.
    
    Stoopid cat.  (grump, grump)  I was going to have him neutered and
    given shots and stuff, but NEXT month!  These things always happen
    around rent time. :)
    
    
    kim

    
    Kim,  That sudden bitting does not sound like rabies at all. There are
    some cats that when you are petting them have a certain level of 
    tolerance, if you go beyond that point they bite but that's there 
    way of letting you know enough is enough. It is also possible that
    he might have a sore spot , abses (sp?) or something. 
    
    Shaw

    Excuse me, you have to be kidding if you don't think rabies has gotten
    into Lowell!  Your doctor didn't recommend shots for you?  His
    behaviour could be considered normal, but it is also a possibly very
    abnormal thing too.  Rabies IS everywhere.  If it is in Westford and
    Chelmsford and Andover, they didn't skirt the city.  Sorry if I sound 
    to hard.
    Karen

    Well Spunky found out about the Mass rabies law big time this weekend. 
    So did my wallet (:o).
    
    He had been very lethargic - not wanting to move off of my bed, even
    when I was in it - for 2 days.  He went off food and water and was
    becoming dehydrated, so I trundled him in to the vet.  I knew he was
    sick because he didn't sqwauk at all at me during the car ride.
    
    This had happened 2 months before - a total of $229 at the vets
    including xrays, many many tests, and we turned up nothing.  He is an
    indoor/outdoor cat - one of those that we tried to make indoor only and
    failed when he succeeded in learning how to get out underneath the
    dog's belly when we let her out into the fenced yard.....  
    
    Turns out he's *so* sick that he even let the vet take his temperature
    without ripping her or myself to shreds, or requiring sedation like we
    have to do normally.  1 day of IV fluids (he was so dehydrated subQ
    wouldn't do) and antibiotics and he was eating, peeing, pooping, and
    back to his lovable 'don't get *near* me or I'll rip your eyeballs out'
    self.
    
    The vet found a wound under his armpit which was healing nicely, but
    since it was unknown origin, she had to booster his rabies and advise
    me that the law says he must be kept under observation for 45 days!!! 
    I can't imagine what sort of damage he will do in 45 days, or even how
    we will physically be capable of keeping him indoors that long.  He's
    so sneaky and smart, and FAST.  The only thing I can think of is caging
    him, but that would drive him absolutely bonkers.  The vet recognized
    the problem and said that the town *may* check up to see if he is in
    confinement but that they call first.  Since Spunky always comes in at
    night this may work.  Any ideas on this?
    
    This second visit cost $222.  At this pace he'll be the $6 million
    dollar kitty by Christmas.......  Oh well, what can you do, except say
    OUCH!
    
    Dana & Spunky (I want OUT, NOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!!)

    Dana...
    
    I can just imagine what my life would be if I had to keep
    one of my cats totally confined for 45 days...while the other
    ones had the freedom.
    
    Is it possible to give him the freedom of you house when you
    are not there or you are sleeping, but anytime you feel doors
    will be opening/closing try to keep him caged ONLY during that
    time!!!
    
    Good luck....I own a few 6 million dollar kitties...so I know
    that feeling, but boy aren't they worth every penny!!!
    
    Sandy

    Sandy - 
    
    You must have been reading my mind.  I tried what you suggested last
    night and today.  You probably heard the yowling all the way from
    Central Mass!  For such a little guy he can *sure* raise a ruckus.
    When we let him out when we went to bed (after doing the dog
    walks/training/playtime/chores, etc) Spunk yowled and grumbled for an
    hour, then went and hid.  I woke up about midnight remembering I hadn't
    given him his pill, and he was nowhere to be found.  I was convinced
    this cat had found a way out, but he finally turned up about 2am.  
    
    You can imagine how thrilled he was when, as soon as I spot him, I grab
    him and shove a pill down his throat!  He is convinced I am the devil
    incarnate.  He wouldn't even take his treat afterwards.
    
    This is going to be a *long* couple of months!
    
    -dana

    It's really different if you have an ill cat that you are
    treating and you need to keep him confined, but trying to
    keep a VERY healthy cat, who's feeling good, confined.. 
    is tough.  He just don't understand the LAW and probably
    feels your punishing him for something he has no idea
    what he did!!
    
    Try having a special time with him every night and do fun
    things....  I wouldn't want to be in your shoes for the next
    month!!  Good luck and keep us posted.   
    
    Sandy
    
    

    Maybe change what doors you use?
    
    Is there any way the kitty can be closed off from the outside doors?
    Our door from the house to the garage is in the washroom/pantry and you
    can go into the room, close the door between the kitchen and pantry and
    then go out through the garage door. We call it our "kitty lock", (ie:
    kinda like an "air lock"). That might help limit the "escapes".
    
    As far as keeping an active cat indoors, how about lots of catnip? It
    might mellow him out. And of course lots of toys. Maybe even a perch
    (like the Aruba cat perches) by a window)?  
    
    Good luck - it will be tough. They can be very determined. But the
    alternative isn't pleasant, even if you can't explain that too the
    little furface!
    
    janetb.

    Hi Janet,
    
    We do have a kitty lock on the front door, but not the back door or the
    side door - the back door heads out to the fenced in back yard, and the
    side door heads directly to the out doors.  Fortunately we don't use
    the side door often - it's the back door that's the major problem. 
    This morning I was letting the dog back in and Spunk just bolted right
    by me - but I managed to grab him a little unceremoniously.  
    
    Our version of an Arubacat is a 6 foor stepladder with paint-can shelf,
    which is parked in front of the windows in the unfinished addition. 
    This is Spunk's perch and I've been keeping the birdfeeders filled out
    there so he has some entertainment.  
    
    I'll try the catnip idea. [drugs!  yeah, that's the ticket!]  He's
    driving me nuts.  If it doesn't work on him maybe I'll try it on me!
    
    Tomorrow I'm going to either lock spunk on the front porch while I let
    the dog out or I'm going to take the dog out via the front door.  
    
    The good news is he's feeling *just fine* - no aftereffects or
    remissions.  
    
    -d