Possible FeLV or Feline Asthma, very worried about my little cat!

[lucertola28]

Hi
Just wondering does anyone have any experience of FeLV or asthma in cats?

One of my cats has been poorly since last Thursday evening 30th Dec. Initial symptoms on Thursday night was she vomited and her breathing seemed faster than normal. Also lethargic, she is usually really playful, energetic and full of mischief. Brought her to vet first thing Friday morning (31st) she tried to eat that morning before vet but vomited it back up. At vet's she had temperature and breathing still fast (approx 60 breaths per minute). They gave her an antibiotic injection, anti inflammatory and anti nausea shots too and to bring her back in morning for a check. Next morning she still had a temperature. They gave me anti inflammatory liquid medicine (Loxicom) to give her and see how she got on for a few days. Next check up was 3 days later on Tuesday 4th Jan. She still had symptoms so they decided to keep her in for the day. Do comprehensive blood tests and give her an IV for the day as she had got a bit dehydrated.

Bloods all came back clear and very normal, so they still were not sure what was causing her symptoms. They booked her in for 6th to do test for FeLV/FIV and chest x-ray. Her temperature on 6th was in normal range but high end of normal.

Spoke to vet later and there was a very very very faint line on the FeLV so they have sent off sample to lab for a more thorough/sensitive test. She kind of described the in house test as being like an antigen test and the lab test like a pcr test. She wants to rule FeLV in or out as a possibility.

Chest X-ray didn't show anything obviously wrong such as fluid around heart/lungs. Though she said there could arguably be mild indications of feline asthma.

Brought her home Thursday evening and she has been on oral steroid tablets since yesterday to see if she responds to that treatment.

She is due back to see vet on Tuesday, won't have FeLV results from lab by then though. I think they tak about 7-10days.

She's still pretty lethargic, still has the rapid breathing and just not 100% herself. Much quieter than usual since onset of symptoms. She is only 1year 8months old approx.

Has all her vaccinations and boosters inclincluded FeLV but her and her sister were rescue kittens. I got them when about 11 weeks old and they'd been rescues at about 7/8weeks mother cat was stray/feral so it is possible they contracted FeLV from her before being rescued and vaccinated etc.

Just feel so sorry for and worried about my poor little cat she's very sweet and like my little shadow.

Has anyone experienced similar illnesses or these conditions in their cats?

Did it take a while to get a diagnosis?

Thanks so much

Just to add her appetite has been pretty close to normal since the 31st she is eating, using litter tray etc.

Bumping for you OP as I don’t have any answers but I hope she is ok. Poor kitty.

Hi all

Little cat is much the same this evening. She's resting on my bed right now and if I listen up close I can hear what sounds like a little wheezing.

I might give vet a call in morning to see if they want to see her tomorrow or wait until Tuesday.

This is photo of her from few months ago

Sorry to hear this, and hope your cat feels better soon. She is a cutie!

One of my cats has also been having some difficulties recently (coughing episodes which aren't furballs & appearing to have difficulty breathing). He is booked in for a chest X-ray and diagnostics as the vet thinks it might be asthma. So although I can't offer any advice, I'm going through something similar.

Hope they get to the bottom of your cat's diagnosis soon.

My cat has asthma, he collapsed a couple of times before he was diagnosed and it’s mostly managed with steroids now, once or twice a week in winter and daily in the summer. He wouldn’t take the inhalers.
It’s mostly well managed

I hope it’s ‘just’ asthma and you can get it under control

Thank you all so much for replies.

I hope you get a diagnosis soon for your cat too violetbunny.

Thanks Hoowhoowho that's reassuring. Hope your cat continues to do well.

I'm just hoping it's something that can be managed. Really crossing everything it is not FeLV or something very serious. There is also the chance that it's a one off illness that she's just finding hard to shift.

I'll update when I know anything more

Brought little cat for her check up this afternoon. Vet said clinically her respiration is improved, but still not normal. No wheeze anymore. No temperature either which is good. I was paranoid she might have lost weight but her weight is sane or a little more.

Current plan is continue with steroids for another little while and I'll call vet Friday to chat how she's getting on. Also I'm to take video of her breathing at home when relaxed so vet can get idea of how she is compared to before.

FeLV results will take another 5 days.

Possible was/is bronchitis and she may need inhaler in future.

So paws crossed she's on the mend albeit slowly

I do hope so OP. Poor little cat.

One of mine has asthma. She was initially given prednisolone tablets and antibiotics, but I've taught her how to use an inhaler with a pet spacer and she's stable on this now.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

One of mine has asthma. She was initially given prednisolone tablets and antibiotics, but I've taught her how to use an inhaler with a pet spacer and she's stable on this now.

Thanks, that's really good to hear. She is pretty good at taking tablets and having checks and treatment at vet's so hopefully she'd adapt pretty well to taking an inhaler

Let me know if you need any tips on inhaler training.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

Let me know if you need any tips on inhaler training.

Thank you, I will definitely ask for tips if vet prescribes inhalers

Today's update:
Brought her to vet to get pro bdp test which checks for cardiac issues. Results were all clear.

Current plan is to discontinue steroids as they are not having much of an effect and may be making her lethargic.

Since last night when she's fast asleep her breathing is more normal. When she is awake though is still on the rapid side.

It may just be a bad virus that she's struggling to recover completely from. So we are just going to monitor her for next few days as she's not getting any worse and is stable.

Should have results of FeLV pcr test early next week too.

It's just a bit of a wait and see game right now

Thanks for the update. Hope she gets rid of the virus soon.

One of mine has asthma, he also had calici virus and mycoplasma felis which both affected his breathing. He has an inhaler twice a day now, he tolerates it really well, tbh his breathing is still not great but he's been ill for nearly 10 years so it's just a case of managing it now and he's worse in the cold weather

Anyone had Covid in your household ?

Omg she’s super cute! Get well soon xx

None of us have had covid, was just saying to a friend earlier maybe she has kitty covid. We're going to give her until next week to see if she improves. Depending on if FeLV test is negative or not, if no improvement she may get referred to specialist internal medicine vet.

Right now as I type she's playing a game of kitten chase with her sister, so I'm hoping she is slowly recovering.

Update

Some good news, my little cat is a lot brighter and seems to be on the road to recovery. Last few days she's been more playful and had more energy.

She had a vet check up today, no temperature, respiration improving and has put on a little bit of weight.

FeLV pcr test came back negative too which is a relief!

Most likely is she had a nasty virus that affected her badly and wiped her out.

Hopefully she will continue to get well.

I'm glad your kitty is feeling better and recovering well 😃

Great result. So happy for you

Perhaps she had a feline version of that covid-that-isn’t-covid bug that’s doing the rounds, wee soul.

Hello, my 5 year old fur baby he has feline asthma also, it was like he was trying to bring up a hair ball throughout the day for weeks so took him to the vet, same as you, they said no fluid however mild imflamation which suggests asthma, he was put on prednisone tablets prescribed by the vet and then put on a inhaler and spacer twice a day as it’s a preventive, he went from having a (I know what it is now) asthma attack 4-5 a day at random to just one so it’s better then nothing, it’s scary when it happens but as long as they are under treatment I’m sure they will be fine, my one was diagnosed in January also. Good luck to your fur baby