Advice for anaemic cat

[pottersbar]

Hi all,

Our five year old rescue cat started displaying signs of lethargy and disinterest in food over the last three days. She is normally a very active and mobile cat, running around the garden, chasing butterflies and flying up and down the stairs.

She's never been a big eater but has really gone off her food. We took her to the vet this morning who took her temp and ran some blood tests.

She has a high temp (40.1 degrees) and bloods show she is very low in red blood cells and is anaemic. They said she was in a very bad way and needed a blood transfusion to see what the problem is and to be put on a drip.

I'm in Essex and the 'closest' place they can do the blood transfusion is in Potters Bar, Herefordshire, over 1.5 hour drive away from where I am. I can't go there today so she is at the overnight vets on a drip and they have run some more tests there that show no tumours, leukemia or anything really sinister but she does have an enlarged spleen and her PCV is 7% so the vet said she is in the best place. He said it might be an auto immune thing where her body is just attacking her blood cells or it could be a problem with her bone marrow. The blood transfusion should show what the issue is.

Today has cost £2,600. We have an annual vet fee insurance of up to £3k.

I am keen to do the blood transfusion tomorrow but wondered if anyone knows how much this is likely to cost and what the prognosis might be for her life afterwards if it is an issue with her bone marrow or autoimmune. Will she be on lifelong meds? Will she need regular vet trips. I can afford an extra £2.5k (hoping the insurance covers today's cost) but can't afford much more than this if the blood transfusion is more. How do you know what to spend? I could get a credit card but it's the ongoing costs I am worried about.

If anyone can give me a hand hold whilst my lovely cat is at the overnight vet and also give advice about severely anaemic cats, I'd be very appreciative. Thanks

Has she had digestive issues ?

She doesn't have any digestive issues, no. She is completely fit and healthy - or so I thought. The only thing is that she barely eats anything and she is pretty small, but she's always been like that. I got her from Cats Protection League when she was 18 months (that's the age they guessed her at) and said she was fussy with food. She is not food motivated at all and has a small handful of biscuits and Sheba soups every day. I have tried Hills, mackerel, James Wellbeloved, other decent cat brands and formats of food (mousse, gravy, jelly) etc but all she tolerates are the Sheba soups.

She normally goes outside for poo and wee, but the last few days she has been using the litter tray and her poo looks normal (no blood, diarrhea or worms etc).

I think the blood transfusion unfortunately is only a buying time thing rather than a cure. You still need to know why she is anaemia. And I think if it's a bone marrow issue then there's not much hope. Sorry 😢. Hope she pulls through

could she just have anorexia ? I don't think the transfusion will cost that much, not 2.5 k

@newmyname - I'm not sure, the vet has always said she is is healthy just small. Would the anorexia cause anemia?

@Borris yes, the vet said it wouldn't cure anything but would give answers to why she is anemic. I have read about bone marrow being a possible cause and if it's that then it could be game over. I just wonder if anemia is something she will always have?

I hate having to bring money into it but it has to be a consideration when we have now maxed out the insurance. How far do you go with it? I guess how long is a piece of string.

@pottersbar yes it can, another thing that can happen is an autoimmune disease attacks the gut so that nutrients aren't absorbed

@newmyname - thank you for your advice. I am hoping we will have some more answers in the morning when they have done some more tests on her.

\wishing you good luck @pottersbar

@newmyname thank you x