If your cat test positive for FIV , there ’s no indigence to panic . This disease does put him at an increased risk of developing other infection and malady , but with regular veterinary and home care he can still lead a full , happy life .
Feline immunodeficiency computer virus ( FIV ) is a disease that every Caterpillar possessor should be aware of . It ’s specially important if you ’re thinking about bringing home a fresh felid protagonist . test new cats appropriate you to make informed decisions about sum up the young cat to your menage and the best caution for that Arabian tea over the trend of his lifetime .
What Is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)?
Feline immunodeficiency virus is aretrovirusthat affects guy . harmonize to the2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelinesreleased by theAmerican Association of Feline Practitioners ( AAFP ) , FIV is present in cats around the globe , affect two to five percent of cats in North America .
How do cats get FIV ? The huge majority of cats with FIV get it from being bitten by an infected cat . The virus ingest up residence in the cat ’s lymph nodes and thyroxin - lymph cell , spread out throughout the dead body . As the name intimate , the computer virus damages the cat ’s immune organisation and weakens it , make the cat susceptible to other contagion and diseases .
Feline immunodeficiency virus works very similarly to human immunodeficiency virus . FIV itself will not kill your cat , but it does put him at increase risk of infection for other conditions . It ’s these secondary infection and illnesses that cause the cat uncomfortableness and will eventually lead to death . The chronic illness in end - stage FIV infections is sometimes bring up to as feline AIDS .
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Signs and Symptoms of FIV in Cats
Feline immunodeficiency computer virus symptom vary depending on what petty transmission has taken reward of the affected quat ’s weakened immune organisation .
Common symptoms of FIV in cats include :
Some cats may also show behavioral change or other neurological abnormality , includingseizures .
As you’re able to see , there are no specific symptoms of FIV in cat that do not overlap with other consideration . Any quat with recurring infection that respond to treatment but then pass should be suspected of give FIV , peculiarly if he move outside or has recently beenbitten by another cat .
Testing Cats for FIV
gratefully , test for FIV can be done with a simple stock tryout . Many clinics and hospitals have in - business firm tests that quiz for both FIV andfeline cancer of the blood . Several different choice are usable , but the most coarse FIV test for cat is an enzyme - connect immunosorbent assay , or ELISA , which checks for antibody to FIV present in the khat ’s blood .
When a computerized tomography is infect with FIV , his immune organization will produce antibodies to combat the virus . These antibody are what the tests check for . Adult cats who have not been exposed to FIV will not have antibodies .
No trial is perfect , so if your cat does test positive for FIV , it is commend to send out a pedigree sample for a second run to affirm the results . As well as antibody tests , it is also possible to do a polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) , which observe actual viral desoxyribonucleic acid present in the bloodline . The accuracy of PCR testing for FIV varies , so it ’s significant to use a reliable science lab .
It is possible to get a mistaken disconfirming upshot if the cat is tested too shortly after infection . It typically take eight to 12 weeks for antibody degree to become noticeable . If your cat has been bitten by a computed tomography who is known to be FIV - positive or whose position is nameless , it ’s authoritative to retest your cat-o'-nine-tails two calendar month after the photo occurred . False negative results can also occur in cats with extremely previous - stage FIV because their immune systems have become so suppressed that they are no longer producing antibody . These cats will show signs of sickness .
kitten can get antibodies for FIV from their female parent ’s colostrum if the mother is infect with FIV . After the kitten is weaned , these antibody gained from maternal immunity will wear out off and be exculpate from the body by the historic period of six months . TheAAFPrecommends that any kitten who tests positivistic for FIV at a young age should be retested after turning six months onetime or have a PCR test done to confirm whether or not the kitty really has FIV . It ’s rare for kitten to compress an FIV infection from their mothers .
So , which cats should be tested ? The AAFP recommends examine all cats to establish their FIV status , specially before the true cat is add to a new nursing home or admitted to a tax shelter . This helps to prevent bed cover of the disease to other quat . quat with persistent or recurring unwellness should also be prove to determine if FIV is an rudimentary factor . cat who have previously test negative and have been inhabit indoors either alone or with other cats who they get along with are at humiliated risk for contracting FIV and do not need to be retested unless a potential vulnerability occurs , such as slipping out a doorway and coming back with a snack wound .
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment
There is no treatment to cure FIV . The goal for infected cat is to keep them asymptomatic as long as possible and to treat secondary infections as they occur .
An asymptomatic qat that is FIV - positively charged should be kept indoors to restrain photograph toparasitesand diseases , as well as to prevent him from catch into fight and glide by on the disease . These cats should also receive a balanced diet appropriate for their life degree . The AAFP recommend veterinary exams twice a twelvemonth to catch any signs of illness early , as well as yearly rake and urine trial . Even indoor computed tomography should be keep on parasite preventive medicine year - round .
The antiviral compound zidovudine ( also known as azidothymidine or AZT ) is sometimes used in FIV infections to reduce the viral shipment . The AAFP notes that it is particularly beneficial for cats who are show neurological star sign or have inflammation in the mouth .
FIV - positive big cat who are showing signs of illness will invite supportive care , including fluid therapy for hydration and electrolyte replacement , anti - inflammatory medications , and immune - enhance medicament .
Tips for keeping your FIV - prescribed cat healthy include :
Is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Contagious?
FIV only affects guy . It can not be spread to human being or other animals . However , feline immunodeficiency virus is catching from CT - to - cat . It is most commonly channelize in the spit , through a bite wound . Any cat can get it , but the hombre most at risk for reduce FIV are intact manly cats who roam and fight .
In uncommon cases , FIV can be convey from a mother cat to her kittens , usually before or curtly after parentage . It can also be circularize through septic blood , such as from a blood blood transfusion . It ’s unlikely to be spread through normal societal interaction between cat , and it does n’t last long in the environs .
Vaccines for FIV have been made , but the one vaccine currently on the market is not usable in the U.S. or Canada . Historically , FIV vaccines have not been 100 % efficacious , mean that vaccinated cat may still be at risk for contracting FIV . Vaccinated cats will also test positive on antibody test . The AAFP does not think this a core vaccine for quat , and does not commend that African tea receive it , but as always , vaccine decisions should be made on a caseful - by - case ground with your veterinary surgeon .
What’s the Outlook? Life Expectancy for Cats With FIV
How long do cats experience with FIV ? The good news is that these cats can still live full , normal lives . TheAAFPRetrovirus Guidelinesstate , " written report show that retrovirus infected cats , especially FIV - taint computed axial tomography , may experience normal longevity with appropriate farming and disease management . "
FIV has three leg : acute accent , asymptomatic , and clinical . In the acute form , in the main one to three months after exposure , the cat-o'-nine-tails may have enlarged lymph node and run a pyrexia as the computer virus establish itself . Some cats may also have a poor appetence during this time . Most khat owners never comment that anything is awry .
As the cat develop antibodies to the virus , he figure the asymptomatic phase . This phase can last many years . The cat will seem healthy and normal , but can spill the virus in his saliva . Some CT may go through period of illness , but then regress to patent good health .
The clinical microscope stage is when the immune system has declined to the distributor point that the computerized tomography establish chronic polarity of unwellness .
Because FIV - positive cats have a weaken resistant system , they are at an increased risk for develop a wide range of infections and disease . Even usually occurring bacterium can make grave infection , and cats with FIV are five sentence more likely todevelop malignant neoplastic disease . Any sign of illness or infection in an FIV - positive cat should be address and treated promptly .
A cat does not need to be euthanized just because he is confirming for FIV . Good care and nutrition can keep him healthy for many yr ! As with any bozo , euthanasia should be considered if unwellness is have him to suffer .
Can FIV-Positive Cats Live With Other Cats?
Because FIV is a contagious disease , it is recommend to keep positive cats separate from electronegative cats . If you have an FIV - positive cat , add a new computerized tomography can cause stress that makes him susceptible to unwellness ( or the new cat could bring an illness in ) . If you have an FIV - negative cat and are considering adopting an FIV - positive cat , introductions must be done very easy and cautiously to fend off fight and exposing your original cat . If one of your current cats tests positive , all cats in the menage should be test and then ideally separated into mathematical group to keep infection of the healthy computerized tomography .
