I'm so sad right now - my poor kitty

DH and I finally got a kitty in August after saying forever that we wanted one but always having a reason not too -too much money, not enough room, can't just go away whenever.
Well, we finally got little stray from a friend of his sister. She takes care of ferrel cats but this one wasn't ferrel and she couldn't take her inside (had her living in her garage for a while) and wanted a good permanent home for her. So, we take her in and she is just the sweetest little kitty. She loves to cuddle, always wants to sit on a lap. And she's so good.
Well, we finally got around to taking her to the vet today (she's an indoor cat so we didn't think there was a huge rush) and turns out she has Feline Lukemia. She's not 'sick' at the moment, but the vet says that she could get sick at any time and most likely won't live as long as most cats. I knew that they all die one day, but as I didn't deal well when I had to put my last cat to sleep, (that was another reason NOT to get one) I just can't believe now I may need to deal with it a lot sooner than I'd though.
Anyway, I'm just so sad now.
Anyone else ever have a cat with this? I really don't know much about it.

awww Im sorry

I am so sorry - i can imagine how you feel - i can never picture not having my cat

I am so sorry to hear that! to you and your precious kitty!

I'm sorry!! Maybe the fact that you caught it early will help? Maybe there is medication??

I hope your kitty lives a wonderful life while he/she is here, you sound like you are a great owner!!

I am so sorrt to hear that about your cat. It is lucky you all found each other. It is wonderful whe has such a great mommy to love her and take care of her. Enjoy all the time you have with her

I'm sorry

Im so sorry.. My cats have never had this.. so I don’t know a lot about it. Hang in there.
Enjoy the time you have with the kitten.

At least it gets to live with you and be happy as opposed to living out on the streets dying from this disease.

Try to stay positive. You did a good thing by taking it in. You can care for it and give it a good home.

I am so sorry

So sorry about your cat.

Kathy116 has a cat with Feline Leukemia...and its pretty old now....you should FM her for info.

So sorry for you & kitty! Poor little thing!

I'm so sorry

I feel so bad, I know when you bring a sick kitty into the house that you have to throughly clean and wait a number of months if you are going to bring another one in.
I am so sorry you are going thru this.

I'm so sorry! I know it is hard, but try to focus on the positives. She's feeling fine now, and has a wonderful family who loves her and who she loves right back. You are giving her a happy life - and I'm sure she is thankful (strays seem to just know how lucky they are and truly appreciate the family who took them in). As you said, every pet passes away one day, and there is no way to predict the future. Enjoy the time that you spend with her, and keep on top of her health by working with and talking with your vet. It is more than possible that she Will live a nice long life.

Both of my cats are strays. A heart murmur was found in my youngest one, which was then diagnosed as an enlarged heart. I too was told that he may or may not live a long life. I was really devastated at first. But then I realized that focusing on the worst case senario will not do my cat, or myself, any good. He's on medication, and so far so good - his condition has not worsened. I hardly ever even think of his heart disease now, and just enjoy having him as part of the family!

If you need someone to talk to, please feel free to FM me.

I am so sorry to hear this- I took Xena to the animal hospital in Aug 2002 because she vomitted 18 times in one night. She was also a stray that Frankie adopted in 96 and had regular check-ups. The vet tells me that she has cancer in her lungs stomach and intestines. He wanted me to put her down righ then and there. I told him I couldn't because she was Frankie's cat first. He does blood work everything came back normal. Frankie takes her the next day to the specialty hospital in Plainview- cancer in stomach and intestines and asthma-and they said she would only live a few weeks.

Xena is here November 2003 1 year and 3 months later- running around like a lunatic, yes she occassionally has asthma attacks but other than that she is fine- any one who has ever been to my apartment can attest to that-Point of my story- there is always hope!!

So sorry Pam