My 5 year old cat has been put down after a short battle with feline lymphoma. How did this happen?

I had to put my Gavin down this morning due to complications from advanced feline lymphoma. The disease was far to damaging and quick for any treatment options.





Four weeks ago Gavin was a perfectly healty cat with no signs of trouble. Suddenly he starts loosing weight and stops eating.





A visit to the vet confirmed it was feline lymphoma and now he is gone and I am in disbelief.





How can this happen? He was so young, healthy and full of life. He was also not FeLV and FIV + either and had never had any medical troubles.





I'm just looking for some answers as everything I have read online says this should not have happened. At least not at this point in time.





I just miss by Gavin.

My 5 year old cat has been put down after a short battle with feline lymphoma. How did this happen?
Most animals do not show that they are sick or have any kind of discomfort until it is far beyond being taken care of.





I had a cat who had lymphoma. It was in his stomach. He did have symptoms but I would have never guessed it was of cancer. He would vomit and such and I just figured it was hairballs and the like. My doctor xrayed him and found nothing. Sometimes lymphomas don't show up on xrays. He ended up doing and endoscopy on him and found the lesions in his stomach. He was able to undergo chemo and ended up living another 4 years until the cancer came back with a vengeance and we ended his suffering November 15, 2005.





You don't mention where Gavin's cancer was. Perhaps it was a quick spreading cancer that, although it seems like it was only weeks, he probably had it for a while and unfortunately it was just too far involved for him to survive it, which I'm terribly sorry for.





Cancer can happen to animals as well as humans at any age. Yes, more so in the elderly, but young ones get it too. I'm sorry that Gavin fell into this category. Cancer is a horrible disease for animals and humans alike.





Prayers to you and condolences on your loss.
Reply:well it got sick
Reply:Bad luck, in the short explanation of things. Sorry to hear of your loss. If you get another cat be sure it has the vaccinations against FeLV.
Reply:I'm sorry (((hugs))) =^..^=





http://petloss.com/poems/maingrp/rainbow...
Reply:Maybe I'm reaching, but feline lymphoma is not only caused by FeLV and FIV infected cats, but from second-hand smoking. Has anyone ever smoked around your kitty?








So sorry to hear you lost Gavin. I'm sure he is watching you from the heavens above. I hope the Rainbow Bridge Poem will help you: http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.


When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.





All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.


They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.





You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.





Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....





Author unknown...
Reply:I am so sorry about Gavin. It is always heartbreaking to lose a cat to cancer, especially one so young.





We will probably never know for sure the causes of such cancers, even with humans where a lot of research has been done, the best they come up with is statistical probabilities.





I am on the Yahoo feline cancer group and quite a number of cat's Gavin's age are losing their lives to cancer. Just be assured that there was nothing you could have done to prevent it. May his spirit and your happy memories of him bless you and help you through the trial of his untimely loss.