Cats and chemo

Hi Wildlifelover  I had chemo and two dogs,  Nobody said it was unsafe for them to be with me when having chemo.  Obviously take hygiene precautions like gloves with litter trays etc.  In fact I don't know what I would have done without them, they are such a comfort.  Good luck with your treatment,

Lee x

Hi

I have 3 cats and had surgery, chemotherapy and then 5 weeks of radiotherapy in 2022. Pets were not mentioned at any point. 

I took extra care changing their litter but no other precautions other than washing my hands more regularly. One of them continued to sleep on my bed as normal and all were a great comfort and company. I would say also the routine of having to get up and care for them helped me. 

I wish you well for your treatment

Jane

Hi. I had chemo and radiotherapy together in 2019. I have 3 cats. One of them, Chynna, who was almost 8 years old at the time, had never been a lap cat, suddenly started to come on my knee while I was waiting for the hospital transport to pick me up to take me for my radiotherapy. My radiotherapy and chemo was 5 weeks. Once it was over, she stopped coming on my knee and never came on again. I later had 6 months of chemotherapy. The cats were around me all the way through and were fine. Chynna started to come on my knee again when I was made redundant in 2023. She's on my knee at every opportunity now. They definitely got me through my cancer.

Take care 

Kim

Hi Kim I have four dogs.  They are getting me through my treatment.  They are the reason I get up and go for a walk every day.  Don't know what I would do without them.  Are you enjoying your retirement?

Lee x

Hi Lee. Our pets certainly are great at getting us through our treatment. My cancer was 7 years ago, but last March I went into hospital for a parastomal hernia operation. I had complications, which saw me hospitalised for 5 weeks.I  missed my cats so much. My sister was feeding them twice a day. When I came home they hardly left my side. Even now Ebony sleeps right beside me on the bed all night. I'm really enjoying being retired, but if I sit down even for a minute, I'm guaranteed to have Cynna asleep on my knee. I hope your treatment is going well.

Take care 

Kim

Hi Kim you must have been really poorly to be in hospital for five weeks, now they just want you in and then out as soon as possible.  My dogs are lying next to me in bed now (I know very lazy to still be in bed) .  I had to take ill health retirement from work but I enjoy being at home.  My dogs love it.  Glad your cats are giving you comfort.  I had cancer in 2013 and had op, chemo, radiotherapy.  Now have secondary cancer which cannot be cured but having treatment.  

Lee x

Hi Lee. I'm sorry to hear that your cancer can't be cured. That must have been terrible news to be given. You're not at all lazy to lie in bed. I probably would lie in longer if I could, but after 29 years of getting up for work at 4 am, I still struggle to sleep much later than about 5. By then the cats are usually trampling all over me wanting food. Take comfort from your dogs. 

Kim