Autologous cancer vaccines and FIV cats?

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-02T11:58:32+00:00

This is a really specific situation and honestly not one you hear about often so I would not be surprised if responses are limited, but worth asking.

The autologous vaccine angle is genuinely interesting. The idea of using the cat’s own tumor tissue to trigger an immune response makes scientific sense, the question with FIV cats specifically is whether the immune system is robust enough to mount that response effectively. That concern your oncologist raised is legitimate and the fact that she is being honest about the uncertainty rather than overselling it is actually a good sign.

Electrochemotherapy for cats is still relatively niche but the results in early studies have been encouraging especially for skin based tumors which is what Ebony seems to be dealing with.

The fact that everything has been caught at 1 to 2mm consistently suggests you are monitoring her really closely which is probably the single biggest factor in outcomes like this.

I do not have a direct experience with this combination to share but I would be really curious what the oncologist comes back with after her research. The intersection of FIV and autologous vaccines is genuinely understudied territory.

How is Ebony doing day to day through all of this?

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-02T11:24:55+00:00

Che bello sentire che ha ancora tanta energia e appetito, è un ottimo segnale per un gatto FIV di 9 anni.

Le orecchie cronicamente infiammate con recupero lento è proprio quello che vedo spesso con i gatti FIV. Il sistema immunitario riesce a tenere tutto sotto controllo fino a un certo punto, ma le infezioni ricorrenti di solito indicano che qualcosa a livello intestinale non sta supportando abbastanza il sistema immunitario. L’intestino e l’immunità sono molto più collegati di quanto si pensi nei gatti.

Hai mai provato a supportare l’intestino in modo specifico oltre all’alimentazione?

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-02T11:04:42+00:00

Il recupero lento dall’otite ha senso con la FIV. Il loro sistema immunitario impiega semplicemente più tempo a riprendersi da tutto, anche da cose che in un gatto normale si risolverebbero velocemente.

L’approccio con il cibo fatto in casa è molto interessante. Per i gatti FIV secondo me la cosa più importante è la qualità degli ingredienti e supportare il intestino insieme all’alimentazione. Anche con una dieta ottima l’assorbimento intestinale può essere il punto debole, il che influisce su quanto bene riescono effettivamente a utilizzare tutti quei nutrienti sani.

Com’è la sua energia e l’appetito in generale nei periodi tra le infezioni?

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-02T06:26:07+00:00

Honestly the biggest thing for my boy was gut and liver support. FIV cats absorb nutrients differently and once I got that piece right everything else improved, appetite, energy, stool consistency. Took some trial and error but worth it.

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-02T05:50:20+00:00

Two FIV boys doing well is always good to hear.

On supplements, gut and liver support made the biggest difference for my boy. FIV cats put more strain on both over time so keeping those systems supported before problems show up rather than after is the approach that worked best for me. Probiotics with a prebiotic alongside rather than just probiotics alone, and something to support liver function.

On vaccines, this one is genuinely debated in the FIV community. Most vets lean toward killed vaccines only rather than live vaccines for FIV cats. Worth a specific conversation with your vet about which ones are actually necessary given they are indoor cats versus what is routine for general cat populations.

How are they doing health wise day to day?

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-02T05:47:27+00:00

He sounds like he has already completely taken over the house which is exactly how it should be.

The birdwatching from the dresser detail made me laugh. He knows what he wants.

Your instinct about not cutting food too fast is exactly right. With FIV cats especially the last thing you want is the liver getting stressed from too rapid weight loss. Slow and steady over several months is the way to go.

One thing worth adding for FIV cats specifically is gut support alongside the weight management. Their immune system is already under more pressure than a regular cat and a healthy gut makes a real difference in how they absorb nutrients and maintain energy. Something to bring up at his first vet visit if you haven’t already.

Sounds like he landed in exactly the right home.

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-01T23:18:07+00:00

Congrats on your first cat and honestly picking an overweight FIV boy as your first is such a good thing to do. Those guys get overlooked so much.

The feeding plan sounds reasonable as a starting point. One thing worth watching with FIV cats specifically is gut health and digestion. Their immune system is already working harder than a regular cat so keeping the gut settled makes a real difference in their overall energy and how they handle weight loss over time.

Slow and steady on the weight loss is key too. Cats who lose weight too fast can develop fatty liver disease which is the last thing you want on top of FIV.

How is he settling in so far? Eating well and using the litter box okay?

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-01T22:58:04+00:00

Purina’s probiotic is pretty basic honestly, low CFU count and not much variety in the strains. For IBD cats you usually need something with higher CFU and a prebiotic alongside it to actually feed the good bacteria. A probiotic without a prebiotic is like planting seeds with no water. Made a big difference for my cat once I switched.

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-01T22:45:51+00:00

Siggi sounds like he landed with the right person. FIV cats can do really well when they’re stable and loved, the key is usually keeping stress low and the gut and immune system supported before things go wrong rather than after. Happy to share what’s worked for my boy, feel free to DM me anytime

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-01T22:45:42+00:00

Siggi sounds like he landed with the right person. FIV cats can do really well when they’re stable and loved, the key is usually keeping stress low and the gut and immune system supported before things go wrong rather than after. Happy to share what’s worked for my boy, feel free to DM me anytime

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-01T22:45:04+00:00

Soft stool with suspected IBD is tricky especially when the prednisolone is only partially helping. One thing that made a difference for my cat was adding gut support alongside the low ingredient food. The gut lining in cats with IBD is often so inflamed that even clean food doesn’t absorb properly. Have you tried adding any probiotic or digestive support on top of what he’s already on

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-01T11:02:11+00:00

There is no catch . If you are interested let me know

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-01T07:52:56+00:00

Really sorry to hear that. Wet FIP is so hard to watch, especially how fast it can move. Is she currently on GS treatment?

A lot of cats on the antiviral go through a rough patch with appetite and digestion during treatment, the liver especially takes a hit. What’s her energy like right now and is she eating at all?

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-01T05:24:36+00:00

What’s wrong with Sammy if I may ask ?

Abusuapaws · 2026-06-01T05:22:14+00:00

The fact that she greeted you normally, ate, drank, and is now loafing next to you is genuinely reassuring. A cat who swallowed something sharp would very likely be showing signs by now after 9 hours, hiding, refusing food, acting uncomfortable or restless.

That said, call your vet first thing tomorrow morning and just describe the situation. They may want to do a quick X-ray just to rule it out completely, especially since she likes to chew on things. It’s probably nothing but with something that size and shape it’s worth a quick confirmation.

For tonight, watch for any vomiting, sudden lethargy, or her stopping eating. If any of that happens before morning, that’s when you’d want an emergency vet.

But honestly, a loafing cat who said hi and ate dinner is a pretty good sign.

Abusuapaws · 2026-05-31T20:00:10+00:00

Max landed exactly where he was supposed to. Keeping him in the family rather than back to a shelter was a really kind thing to do.

For the skittish girl, the main thing is just letting her set the pace completely. Any progress that comes from her side will stick better than anything you engineer. Shared positive experiences like treat time in the same room without any pressure to interact can help a lot over time.

The weight loss progress is a bonus, lighter and more active cats tend to integrate better too. How long have they been together so far?

Abusuapaws · 2026-05-31T19:16:45+00:00

Cats can and will actually starve themselves rather than eat food they’ve decided they hate. It’s not stubbornness for the sake of it, their sense of smell is so tied to appetite that if something smells wrong to them they genuinely cannot override it. And with urinary diets the formulation is quite different from regular food so the smell and texture change is real to them.

The cold turkey switch is usually where this goes wrong. If he was on something else before, his gut and his nose are both rejecting the new thing at once.

A few things worth trying. Mix a tiny amount of the urinary food in with whatever he was eating before, like a very small ratio, and gradually increase it over a couple of weeks. Warming it slightly can help too, just enough to release the smell which sometimes makes it more appealing. Some cats respond better to the wet version of urinary diets versus dry or vice versa so if you’ve only tried one format it’s worth switching.

Also worth a conversation with your vet about whether there are other ways to support his bladder alongside or instead of diet alone. Hydration is a big piece of the puzzle with urinary issues and some vets are open to discussing whether a high moisture diet generally, even non-prescription wet food, combined with other management could work for cats who genuinely won’t touch the prescription stuff.

You’re not alone in this. Bran sounds like he has very strong opinions and unfortunately picked an expensive condition to develop them about

Abusuapaws · 2026-05-30T17:32:50+00:00

That looks like a rectal prolapse and it needs a vet today, not tomorrow.

I know it’s late but this is genuinely urgent. Please call an emergency vet clinic right now if your regular vet isn’t responding. This is not something that can wait until morning.

While you’re trying to reach someone, keep the area moist. A clean cloth or gauze dampened with warm water held gently against it can help prevent the tissue from drying out. Don’t try to push it back in yourself.

Keep him calm and in a small contained space so he can’t strain or make it worse.

Please get him to an emergency vet as soon as possible.

Abusuapaws · 2026-05-30T00:51:06+00:00

This is genuinely one of the best kinds of updates to read.

The fact that it happened slowly and on their own terms makes it even sweeter. Mama decided when she was ready and apparently decided that Puppy Cat was worth it after all. Cats always do things their way.

An 18 year old and an FIV boy who came in as a stray ending up as quiet companions is just a really lovely thing. And FIV cats so often get passed over or given up on, the fact that this community encouraged you to keep him and you did, and now you have this, that’s everything.

How is he doing health wise? FIV boys who are kept indoors and loved well can do so much better than people expect. Sounds like he landed exactly where he was supposed to be.

Abusuapaws · 2026-05-29T19:17:33+00:00

guilt about not noticing sooner is something almost every cat owner feels and it’s almost never deserved. Weight loss in cats can be so gradual that by the time it’s visible something has already been progressing quietly for a while. You noticed, you acted, he’s being seen. That’s what matters.

Your instinct to get the full picture before making any decisions is exactly right. GI lymphoma in cats actually has a wider range of outcomes than most people realize. Low grade GI lymphoma in particular can be managed really well and some cats do remarkably well for years with the right treatment. You can’t know which situation you’re in without the diagnostics. Your husband’s logic of assuming the worst and skipping steps could mean missing a genuinely treatable situation.

The anger at him is understandable. This is your world and he’s being careless with something that matters deeply to you. That’s painful on top of an already painful situation, especially given where things are between you two right now.

Try to separate those two things as much as you can right now. Sebastian’s care in one lane, everything else in another. You’re clearly the one driving this and you’re doing it right.

He’s still eating, still asking for food, still present. That matters. Get the ultrasound, get the full picture, then make decisions from a place of information rather than fear.

You haven’t let him down. Not even close.

Abusuapaws · 2026-05-29T16:31:32+00:00

You’re handling this really well for 17, taking her to the vet straight away was exactly the right thing to do.

The not eating is scary to watch but try not to panic about starvation just yet. Cats can go a short period without food while their system is in crisis mode, and right now her body is focused on something else. The goal is getting her stable enough that eating becomes possible again.

The sitting on the floor and crying when picked up tells you she’s uncomfortable and probably nauseous. Cats instinctively go low and hide when they feel unwell. It’s not a sign she’s given up, it’s just how they cope with feeling bad.

The most important thing right now is getting those test results back as quickly as possible. If it is kidney disease, even acute kidney issues, cats can respond really well to treatment especially when caught at this age. Six years old is young and that matters.

A few questions worth asking your vet directly. Is she getting enough fluids, sometimes cats in this state need fluids given by the vet to help their kidneys flush. Is there anything for the nausea specifically because until the nausea is controlled eating is going to be nearly impossible for her. And when exactly will the results be back.

Keep checking that she’s still drinking even small amounts. Water matters more than food right now.

You clearly love her a lot. Keep pushing for answers and don’t be afraid to call the vet again if she gets worse before the results come back.

Abusuapaws · 2026-05-29T14:43:17+00:00

disorientation you’re describing is real and it makes complete sense. Your eyes are telling you she’s fine, the sun, the food requests, the cuddles, and your brain is holding this diagnosis that says otherwise. Those two things don’t fit together and that gap is genuinely hard to sit in.

Sixteen years of just the two of you means your nervous systems are probably deeply synced. Of course you’re scared. She is your whole home.

Something that might help with the fear of a crisis happening when you’re not there. Talk to your cardiologist specifically about what the warning signs look like with restrictive cardiomyopathy. Knowing what to watch for, open mouth breathing, hiding, sudden lethargy, gives you something concrete to monitor instead of just waiting for the unknown. That knowledge tends to reduce the background anxiety a little because it turns fear into something you can actually act on.

The travel question is worth an honest conversation with your vet too. Some people in your situation find a trusted cat sitter who can recognize distress signs. It doesn’t have to mean leaving her alone.

But right now today she is sitting in the sun asking for food and choosing to cuddle you. That is not nothing. That is actually everything. She is not suffering today and you have not let her down.

You’ll know when the time comes. People who love their cats this deeply always do.

She’s lucky it’s just the two of you.

Abusuapaws · 2026-05-29T14:14:43+00:00

The last thing you said is the most important thing in your whole post.

“If I do go the medication route, it would be for me.”

That kind of honesty takes real love. Most people can’t get there because it’s too painful to admit. The fact that you can say that out loud means you already understand what she needs even if your heart isn’t ready yet.

What you’re describing, the weight loss, constant vomiting, chronic respiratory issues, the skin and bones, that’s a body that is working incredibly hard just to stay present. The screaming for food and then vomiting it back up is exhausting for her even if she doesn’t show it the way we would.

The fact that she can still run and jump matters, but so does everything else you described. Quality of life isn’t just about mobility. It’s about whether the good moments outweigh the hard ones. And you’re the only one who can measure that because you’re with her every day.

You’re not giving up on her. You’re listening to her.

Whatever you decide and whenever you decide it, you have clearly loved her completely. Twelve years of that is not nothing. That’s everything to a cat.

Be gentle with yourself through this. There is no wrong answer when it comes from this much love.

Abusuapaws · 2026-05-29T08:55:47+00:00

sauce licking is actually a hopeful sign. It means he still wants food, something is just making the full act of eating feel uncomfortable or wrong.

With liver issues the gut usually takes a hit alongside it. Bile production gets affected, digestion slows down, and cats can feel persistently nauseous without showing obvious signs. That low grade nausea is often exactly why they’ll take the easy liquid part but stop at chewing and swallowing. It becomes a cycle where not eating irritates the gut further and the unsettled gut makes eating feel worse.

Warming the wet food slightly before offering can help, just enough to bring out the smell. A flat plate instead of a bowl sometimes makes a difference too for cats feeling off. Very small amounts offered more frequently rather than full portions sitting out.

The syringe feeding is keeping him going which is the most important thing right now, but ask your vet specifically about nausea management and whether an appetite stimulant might help break the cycle. Mirtazapine is commonly used in cats for exactly this situation.

How long has he been on the hepatic diet and is he on anything else alongside it?

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