Tinsel, Glitter and Baubles - the Excellent Cats prepare to knock Everything off your Christmas Tree

[TheShellBeach]

As we approach the festive season, they're already finessing their plans and recalling last year's successes............

@Allergictoironing
What would they actually do at Potters Bar? As far as I'm aware it isn't curable so is it a treatment centre for a flare up?

Hi @Allergictoironing - Sorry to hear about Tobias. Elton is also FIV and in itself it causes him absolutely no problems. You just have to make sure he has good quality food and keep on top of any infections, such as bad teeth, as their immune system has been compromised. However, I should warn you that FIV status can open the door to other health conditions. Elton's CKD status at such a young age is most likely due to him being FIV. I just wanted to make you aware as we weren't and the CKD diagnosis came as a terrible shock.

@Allergictoironing sorry about that diagnosis. There are several cats on here that have FIV and have good lives

@Allergictoironing sorry to hear the news. For what it's worth, I agree with Shell. I don't think the trip to PB would add anything of enough value to balance out the stress he would experience. He can still lead a long and happy life and we all know he is living his best life with you.

Sorry just realised that my previous post was a bit doom and gloom. FIV status doesn't mean that other illnesses are inevitable - just possible. Elton was very unlucky but that was probably at least partly due to lack of proper care. I'm sure Tobias will thrive!

I’m so sorry about Tobias.

I agree with everyone else that he’s going to be better off staying local.

Hope Tobias is ok - I would make same decision under the circumstances - some cats are so traumatised by going to the vet it’s counter productive

I'm going to do a lot of Googling over the next few days, then talk it over with the vet when I take Girlcat in for her screening. I am currently leaning towards having the scan done, but locally not at Potters Bar. Partly because of the money, but mainly because I doubt they would bring much more to the table at this stage and as people have said above, I really don't want to stress him any more than necessary for very little additional benefit.

I do know the FIV in itself isn't usually the issue, it's what comes with a compromised immune system plus a higher chance of contracting cancers. So eagle eyes on him even more than I normally do with the cats (if that's possible). Pretty sure he must have contracted it when a street cat & been in the asymptomatic phase when he was rescued. Though we've not seen any of the more common symptoms, the diarrhoea and his few sneezing spells he's had since summer are on the list; thinking back, they probably started at around the same time.

I don't seem to be having much luck with boys do I? (sigh)

I'm sorry @Allergictoironing

I’m sorry to hear that, Allergic.
I think my instinct would also be not to send him to Potters Bar.
See if you can message Shady’s owner, as pretty sure the beloved Ollie, legend of the litter tray, had FIV. She changes her user name often so not sure what it currently is. I’ll do a search and see if I can find it.

It's usually something Buffy related like fivebyfive or SpikeandBuffy.

I think - though I’m not 100 per sure - it’s @Danikm151

I'm here
Ollie didn't actually turn out to have FIV, the snap test came back positive
When he had his tooth taken out of his nose they did full bloods and it turns out it was a false positive snap test

Sorry, @Danikm151 - i got the wrong poster

Hi! Did Shady pass my message on? 😁

Ghostie is posing tonight, possibly feeling smug as she has hissed Lexter off the bed.

@RumNotRun he did! I'm dealing with paw paws who has turned up to tell me he has an abscess...
you can see the drain point on his black fur but he's lost all the hair above it

The poor little chap! And poor you for having to deal with the smell 🤢 I used to use a cold tea bag on my old cat's frequent abscesses but the smell was vile.

It is absolutely disgusting, I've dabbed it with saline and nearly lost a limb so I've shoved some metacam at him in his food, put him on a towel and backed away fast

Poor Paws 🥲. I’m so glad he knows where to come for food, shelter and help.

No words of wisdom or experience of FIV/FELV to share but sending best wishes to Tobias and Allergic. You are armed with knowledge now and will be able to find the right path for him.

Sorry to hear that @Allergictoironing - Adding my best wishes for Tobias.
Also hoping Paws' abscess clears up quickly

Thank you all for your best wishes for Tobias. Shock of the diagnosis is now over, and it could have been a LOT worse - at one stage, I had determined in my own mind that he had bowel cancer!

I know he could carry on with a really long life - he's only about 4 and a half so he will probably still outlive Girlcat who must be 11 by now. I just need to be even more careful looking out for things that may be symptomatic so they can be cleared up asap e.g. tooth/gum infections, skin infections.

Exactly @Allergictoironing . FIV status can be managed and I am sure Tobias will live a long and contented ife with your care. Elton is a happy little cat despite everything - after all he can't read blood tests so doesn't know he's ill!

Sorry to hear about Tobias's diagnosis @Allergictoironing , although I'm glad it's not as bad as you feared. He's very lucky to have landed on his paws with you after living as a stray.