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What Is An Fiv Cat

Fiv In Cats : The Symptoms And Treatments You Need To Know

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

FIV, otherwise known as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, is a common problem in the cat world. This feline viral infection occurs worldwide and first appeared during an investigation of a disease outbreak in a previously healthy colony of cats within the USA.

Though this condition is slow-acting, your cats immune system will generally be seriously weakened when the infection takes hold. The virus is remarkably similar to that which causes the HIV infection in humans although the two viruses are species-specific and cannot be translated or transmitted from cat to human. FIV only infects cats, so theres no risk of spreading.

When FIV in cats happens, it makes the cat significantly susceptible to infections and other illnesses, which is why experts recommend keeping FIV positive cats indoors, living a stress-free life.

Diagnosing Feline Immunodeficiency Virus In Cats

FIV is primarily diagnosed through a blood test called an ELISA test . A positive result means that the cat has produced antibodies to FIV and most likely is infected with the virus. However, it can take up to eight weeks after exposure for a cat to test positive, so it is possible to get false-negative results.

More commonly, a cat can have a false-positive result on the ELISA test if it was vaccinated against FIV, as the vaccination causes the cat to produce antibodies against FIV even though it isn’t actually infected with the virus. Young kittens might also have a false-positive result if their mother was infected during pregnancy, as the mother’s milk can transfer antibodies to the nursing kittens.

If your cat has a positive ELISA test, your veterinarian might recommend a second test that is more definitive, called the western blot test or PCR test.

Caring For An Fiv Positive Cat

Feline immunodeficiency virus is an infectious disease that attacks a cat’s immune system. It causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome in cats, resembling AIDS caused by the human immunodeficiency virus in humans . In North America, a 2006 study of more than 18,000 cats found that 2.5% were positive for FIV.

FIV positive cats may appear normal for years, but their compromised immune system makes them more vulnerable to other infections. Normally harmless organisms found in the everyday environment, like bacteria, viruses, and fungi, can potentially cause severe illnesses. To obtain a diagnosis, testing is done using a small blood sample. A positive screening test is typically followed by a confirmatory test.

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How Do Cats Get Fiv

Infected cats shed the virus mainly in their saliva. Naturally occurring transmission of an infection occurs when an infected cat that is actively shedding virus into the saliva bites another cat, directly inoculating its saliva through the bite wound. A susceptible cat can also become infected when other bodily fluids, particularly infected blood, enter its body. Infected blood may enter the cat’s body through a bite wound, or the cat may become infected by means of a blood transfusion. The virus may also be sexually transmitted.

It is not surprising that many FIV-positive cats are known fighters, particularly those with a history of cat bite abscesses. Any cat bitten by another with an unknown medical history should be tested for FIV approximately two months after the bite.

“A cat bitten by another with an unknown medical history should be tested for FIV approximately two months after the bite.”

The FIV organism is not able to survive for very long outside of living cells. This is another reason why casual infection is uncommon. Kittens may become infected before, at, or soon after birth. In these cases, it is believed that the virus is transmitted across the uterus during pregnancy or through the mother cat’s milk during nursing. Around a quarter to a third of kittens born to an infected mother are likely to be infected themselves.

Do Cats With Fiv Have Bad Breath

Cats with FIV needing forever homes

Cats are prone to developing these conditions, usually due to dental disease, but sometimes due to other bacteria, viruses or allergies. Your vet can advise you if your cat needs further testing to check for infections such as FIV and Calicivirus. Sometimes bad breath is more than just poor oral hygiene.

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Everything You Need To Know About Fiv Positive Cats

From time to time, he Virginia Beach SPCA has FIV positive cats available for adoption. While FIV is certainly a serious disease, a little extra TLC can provide these cats with a long, happy life. Heres what you need to know if you are considering adopting an FV positive cat.

What is FIV?Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a lentivirus, like HIV, that affects cats around the world. Dr. Woyma, Virginia Beach SPCAs Medical Director, explains that the virus attacks and compromises a cats immune system, making FIV positive cats more susceptible to infection. FIV is often confused with Feline Leukemia Virus . While Feline Leukemia can also cause immunosuppression, Feline Leukemia also leads to the development of cancers, anemia, and kidney disease.

FIV is only contagious among cats and difficult to transmit. It is also slow-acting, so cats generally do not show any symptoms until years after being infected. The amount of time it takes for the virus to make a cat become immune compromised can vary, but once symptomatic, FIV positive cats are more vulnerable to contracting other diseases. However, with the proper care, FIV positive cats can live healthy, happy lives.

Treatment Of Fiv In Cats

Unfortunately, there is no cure for FIV. Many antiviral medications used to treat HIV are expensive or toxic to cats, so they are not frequently used.

Zidovudine has been reported to help with some symptoms of FIV, however, it does not prolong survival time and may cause severe side effects. Feline recombinant interferon omega has also been used in affected cats with some success.

Secondary infections should be treated early and aggressively in cats with FIV, and infected cats may take longer to respond to treatment and require prolonged or intermittent courses.

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Why Was The Fiv Vaccine Discontinued

From 2002 until 2017, the FIV vaccination was available in the United States and Canada. It was generally considered safe, with rare and usually minor side effects.

But the vaccine has since been discontinued, and many pet parents want to know why it was taken off the market.

Here are the four main reasons why cats no longer get the FIV vaccine.

What Are The Treatments For Cat Fiv

FIV and What It Means For Your Cat

There is no antiviral remedy available specifically for the treatment of FIV in cats. Most vets put their focus on trying to keep a cat asymptomatic for an extended period. One study found that FIV-positive cats live for an average of 5 years after their diagnosis, but their prognosis can vary greatly.

If FIV symptoms start to show up, they treat any secondary illnesses that result from the virus. Treatments often recommended to help cats with FIV include:

  • Medications to help with any secondary infections
  • Fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy
  • Parasite control
  • Drugs to boost the immune system
  • Drugs that help with inflammation
  • A nutritional diet that is easy on the catâs system

Your vet may also recommend the following tips for caring for FIV positive cats:

  • Keep the cat indoors to protect their immune system and prevent them from infecting other cats.
  • Neuter male cats to prevent territorial behavior.
  • Spay female cats to prevent FIV being passed to future offspring.
  • Watch for any changes in the catâs behavior or health.
  • Take the cat in at least two times per year for a vet checkup that includes a urine analysis and blood count.
  • Eliminate raw foods and eggs from their diet.

Antiviral therapies like interferons or antiviral drugs like AZT can help extend the periods when your cat does not have symptoms. Early treatment of FIV can extend an FIV-infected catâs life expectancy and allow them to have a fairly good quality of life.

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Pointofcare Fiv Testing Using Whole Blood

A variety of FIV PoC antibody test kits are available commercially in Australia and NZ. Clinicians should, whenever possible, use test kits that have been independently validated under local conditions, and exercise caution when using kits that have not been rigorously tested by independent researchers.

In FIVunvaccinated cats, three FIV PoC test kits to date have shown good sensitivity and specificity under Australian conditions in an independent study: Anigen Rapid , Witness and SNAP Combo .67

Anigen Rapid , Witness and SNAP Combo FIV antibody kits all reliably diagnose infection in FIVunvaccinated cats. Anigen Rapid and Witness kits, however, have an advantage over SNAP Combo kits in testing FIVvaccinated cats or when FIV vaccination status is unknown as they can differentiate uninfected FIVvaccinated and FIVinfected cats.

In FIVvaccinated cats, or when the FIV vaccination status of cats is unknown, the choice of independently validated FIV PoC antibody test kit is more limited. To date, only two test kits, Anigen Rapid and Witness, have demonstrated the ability to distinguish antibodies produced in FIVvaccinated cats and FIVinfected cats . In a cohort of FIVvaccinated cats in Australia, the Se/Sp of each kit was 100%/100% and 100%/95% .67 SNAP Combo cannot differentiate uninfected FIVvaccinated and FIVinfected cats, with both groups testing FIVpositive with this kit.67, 68, 69

How Is Cat Fiv Transmitted

Most cases of cat FIV come through an infected cat passing it to another through a deep bite. That makes outdoor cats especially vulnerable as they may end up in a territorial dispute that leads to such an injury. A mother cat infected with the cat FIV virus can pass it to her kittens. While FIV is contagious, cats typically do not transmit the virus by sharing an eating bowl with other cats or through other feline contact actions like:

  • Social grooming
  • Sharing a litter box

A cat can’t transmit the FIV virus to a human. They can only pass FIV on to another cat. You can help prevent your cat from contracting the virus by:

  • Keep them indoors to avoid potential contact with infected cats.
  • Put a leash on your cat when you walk them outside.
  • Verify that any cats that will be around your pet for prolonged periods have tested negative for FIV.
  • Make sure recently adopted cats get tested for FIV.
  • While FIV vaccination is not usually advised, you can discuss with your veterinarian.

FIV infections are most common among middle-aged cats between 5 and 10 years of age. Male cats are twice as likely as females to become infected with FIV.

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Life Expectancy For Cats With Fiv

Although the life expectancy of a given cat infected with FIV is highly variable and is impossible to predict, they can live normal lives for years if managed appropriately. Many succumb at an older age from causes unrelated to their FIV infection. Thankfully, many studies have shown that the survival time of FIV- infected cats can be similar to that of non-FIV infected cats.

Are Felv And Fiv Preventable With Vaccines

Meet The Incredibly Handsome Cat With FIV Who Found A Wonderful Forever ...

Vaccination against FeLV is recommended for all cats due to the prevalence of the virus and the efficacy of the vaccine. This is particularly important for young cats, which are at the highest risk of infection. As a cat ages, the decision on how often to boost the vaccine should be discussed with your veterinarian as the recommendations vary depending on the individual cats circumstances. FeLV vaccination does not interfere with the results FeLV testing.

An FIV vaccination exists but is considered more controversial, as its efficacy is less predictable. In addition, cats that have received the FIV vaccination may test positive for FIV during routine blood tests, even when they have not been infected. Certain at-risk populations may benefit from the FIV vaccine, but it is not routinely recommended for household cats.

While FeLV and FIV are dangerous and scary diseases, we know more than we ever have, not only in regards to prevention, but also the management of infected cats. With proper attention and care, we can minimize risk to other cats while giving FeLV or FIV positive felines the best chance at good health and a happy life.

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How Do Cats Get Felv And Fiv

Both FeLV and FIV can be transmitted through bite wounds. In the case of FIV, saliva from an infected cat is the primary mode of transmission. The FeLV virus is shed through saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk it may be transmitted through mutual grooming, from queen to kitten, bite wounds, or rarely, through shared litterboxes and feeding dishes.

These differences in transmission mean different populations of cats are at higher risk of infection. In the case of FIV, although both males and females get infected, intact outdoor males are at the highest risk of infection because they are usually the ones getting in fights. An FIV-positive cat that lives with other cats and interacts with them in a casual, non-aggressive manner is unlikely to infect them. Unlike FeLV, grooming is not thought to play a significant role in transmission of FIV.

With FeLV, the fact that casual cat-to-cat contact can result in infection means it is easier for cats to become infected, especially cats in the same household that spend a lot of time together. While cats of any age can become infected, kittens are much more susceptible to FeLV infection. The greater the virus exposure, the greater the risk of infection.

In both cases, the virus is very fragile in the environment and does not persist for a significant length of time outside of the body. Neither virus is infectious to humans.

Is My Family At Risk

Absolutely not! Although HIV belongs to the same family of viruses as FIV, the two viruses infect different species. HIV infects only humans and FIV infects only cats. The viruses are very specific for their species and there is no risk of cross-infection between the immunodeficiency viruses of cats and people.

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Symptoms Of Fiv In Cats

The clinical signs of FIV vary depending on the stage of infection and the individual cat. Early signs within the first few months of infection are often mild and easily missed, like fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, and enlarged lymph nodes. The virus then goes through an asymptomatic phase in which there are no obvious signs of illness.

Many symptoms of FIV do not appear until the disease has progressed and the cat is immunosuppressed. Symptoms of FIV are often related to secondary infections and include:

  • Chronic or recurrent infections of the skin, eyes, bladder, and respiratory tract
  • Inflammation of the gums or mouth
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Cancerous growths

Symptoms of FIV can be similar to those of feline leukemia virus, or FeLV, so diagnostic tests are required to distinguish between the two.

Alternatives To The Fiv Vaccination

Adopting a cat with FIV

Prevention is the key to avoiding FIV infection. So, even though the FIV vaccine is no longer on the market, there are several steps that you can take to safeguard your cat against the disease.

Spaying and neutering is recommended for all cats. This will help reduce fighting behavior and, therefore, the risk of infection. Also, keeping your cats indoors will minimize their risk of encountering FIV-positive cats, who tend to live outdoors and are often strays.

Also, any new cats in your household should be tested for FIV so that you can determine the risk of disease transmission to other cats in the home.

You might think that cats living with FIV-positive cats would definitely become infected, but recent studies have shown that FIV transmission in multi-cat households is actually rare.

FIV is not likely to spread through normal contact or by sharing food and water bowls.

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What If Your Cat Is Already Infected With Fiv

While infected cats may maintain a relatively normal lifestyle and life expectancy, the virus can eventually impair the immune system and cause progressively worsening health issues.

Cats suffering from advanced stages of FIV may experience fever, weight loss and recurrent infections throughout the body.

But many FIV-positive cats can lead normal lives if they are well-cared for, monitored for infections and taken for regular vet checkups.

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Keep Fiv Cats Indoors Where Possible

At home, cats with FIV should ideally be kept indoors in single-cat households to protect them from other infectious diseases and prevent transmission of the virus to other cats.

If this is not feasible, infected cats should be supervised while outside or given a curfew, as most transmission occurs overnight, and they should be housed in a small group of cats who do not fight.

Stressful situations should be avoided where possible.

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What You Should Know When Adopting An Fiv Positive Cat

Are FIV cats unadoptable?

Historically, FIV- positive cats have often been considered un-adoptable, and are euthanized in many shelters. However, new research has shown that FIV-positive cats are in fact very adoptable, and can live the same lifespan as an FIV-negative cat. This research has also debunked the myth that FIV- positive cats cannot safely live with non- infected cats. That is why many veterinarians, including the feline medicine experts at the American Association of Feline Practitioners , suggest shelters and owners never opt for euthanasia based on a positive test alone.

According to Dr. Julie K. Levy, founder of Maddies Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida, it is estimated that about 4% of all feral cats in the US are infected with FIV. The infection rate is even lower at 1.5% to 3% in healthy owned cats. She says, Looking at all cats, feral and otherwise, who are diagnosed with FIV, we find that about 25% are female and about 75% are male. The vast majority of FIV infections occur among outdoor, unneutered male cats that fight and bite. Levy also pointed out that the condition is rare among kittens, because they dont start in with their high-risk behavior until theyre older. So, although older cats are more vulnerable, age in itself is not a determining factor. Its a behavioral issue.

Is your family at risk if you adopt an FIV-positive cat?

How is FIV transmitted?

How is FIV diagnosed?

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