FIV stands for “feline immunodeficiency virus.” This can be a virus in the identical group as HIV, however it’s particular to the cat household and might’t cross over into individuals or different animals.
There are various misconceptions about FIV, probably the most excessive one being that each cat with FIV is sick and/or extremely contagious and must be euthanized. This isn’t supported by details.
What does a FIV-positive take a look at imply?
Let’s begin with what an preliminary optimistic FIV take a look at means, as a result of this may trigger a variety of confusion. The commonest take a look at is a point-of-care speedy take a look at, conceptually just like the COVID speedy antigen take a look at. Not like the COVID antigen take a look at, although, it detects antibodies, a footprint of the immune response to the virus, and never traces of the virus itself. That is essential as a result of, in a kitten beneath 6 months of age, a optimistic antibody take a look at implies that the kitten virtually actually obtained these antibodies by ingesting milk from its (FIV-positive) mom. These kittens are practically at all times actually FIV-negative as a result of it’s virtually exceptional for this explicit virus to move immediately from the mother to the kitten. A take a look at at 6 months of age or older can assist verify this.
If a cat has a optimistic antibody take a look at after 6 months of age, generally they actually do have FIV an infection. FIV is normally unfold by deep chunk wounds, and is a illness discovered principally in grownup cats, particularly sexually energetic males.
Will this cat give FIV to my different cat(s)?
The reply is not any. FIV can’t unfold simply. The virus dies in a short time exterior the cat’s physique, normally inside minutes. Simply residing with one other cat with FIV, in a traditional house surroundings, doesn’t lead to unfold. Even when cats don’t like one another, it’s extraordinarily unlikely that their dislike will outcome within the type of deep chunk wounds that FIV requires to contaminate one other cat. (That is, after all, assuming that the cats are spayed or neutered. If they’re intact and breeding, that’s one other matter altogether.)
What does this analysis imply for me and my cat? Does having FIV imply my cat is sick, or will certainly get sick sooner or later?
Cats with FIV do have the potential to develop immune deficiency, and this may result in persistent or uncommon infections. The excellent news is that many cats with FIV won’t ever develop medical immune deficiency. In my expertise with shelter cats in Toronto, when cats with FIV do have medical indicators of an infection, it’s usually a gentle intermittent chilly, or typically a gentle an infection after a “soiled” surgical procedure like dental extractions. We now have simply not seen the identical type of illness development that we typically see with feline leukemia virus (a completely totally different virus with some comparable options). And when our FIV-positive cats do get sick with common cat illnesses, they reply properly to plain therapies.
Do FIV-positive cats make good companions?
Properly, they’re all totally different, so there’s nobody reply. That mentioned, there actually is a “sort” that we within the sheltering world all know and love. The “typical” FIV-positive cat is a giant tom, with large cheeks, a can-do perspective, and a set of scars from his life open air. Those that are comfy round persons are more likely to be cats who had been socialized when younger and had been later misplaced or deserted. They’ve large hearts and massive personalities and make fantastic, loving members of the family.
Ought to cats with FIV be managed in a different way from different cats?
Probably not. What we wish for all cats is common veterinary visits, to be updated on vaccinations and deworming, and to obtain a high-quality, balanced food plan. Uncooked meals diets are extremely discouraged for FIV cats as a consequence of their increased pathogen load. Good main well being care is especially essential for cats which may have immune deficiency. We additionally advocate that these cats mustn’t have entry to the outside to restrict their publicity to infectious illnesses. Nevertheless, the AAFP (American Affiliation of Feline Practitioners) tips level out that, for cats that will probably be extremely confused with an indoor-only life-style, being allowed open air, together with a working cat placement, might be thought-about. This doesn’t pose a threat to different cats they could encounter – once more assuming they’re first spayed or neutered to forestall high-risk behaviours.
Adopters might fear {that a} FIV-positive cat will quickly get sick. That is unlikely, as these cats usually have a traditional lifespan. In the event that they do develop indicators of FIV immune suppression, it’s as much as every household to determine how they wish to proceed. There are a number of drugs which may assist suppress the virus, however the advantages for cats haven’t been confirmed as they’ve been in individuals. We counsel adopters to concentrate on sustaining a superb high quality of life for his or her FIV-positive cats. All cats, even these with a FIV-positive analysis, deserve a second probability in a loving house.
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