When you have a cat in your family, you want to make sure that they are cared for in the best way possible. You feed them the right food, give them plenty of love and, if necessary, take them to the veterinarian. Unfortunately, there are some things that tend to alarm cat owners. One of those is feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
The statistics can be rather alarming. Up to 3% of healthy cats will be affected by FIV and the rates are slightly higher in cats who are at a higher risk for the infection or who are sick. It is what is known as a lentivirus, which means that it affects the cat’s immune system over the course of time. It is passed from one cat to another through penetrating bite wounds or blood transfusions but it is not able to be passed from a cat to a human.
Many people are concerned about FIV and, unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about the virus. First of all, it’s good to know that a cat that suffers from FIV can live a long and healthy life if they get the proper care. Understanding the truth about the virus can help you to take the necessary action if your cat is affected.
Myth: FIV can be spread through casual contact, such as sharing food, water or grooming
Fact: FIV is typically transmitted through a deep, penetrating bite wound. Nonaggressive, casual contact of cats who live in the same household will not spread the virus. There may be rare occasions in which the virus is transmitted from a mother to her kittens, typically during birth or through the ingestion of infected milk.
Myth: Cats will show symptoms of FIV immediately after being infected
Fact: When a cat is infected with FIV, they may not show any signs of the disease for years. Diagnosis only takes place through a blood test, which reveals the presence of antibodies. There is also the possibility of false positives, so retesting using a different format is often recommended. If kittens are born from a mother with FIV, they may show positive results, even if they are not infected. Retesting may take place every two months until they are six months old.
It is possible that an infected cat will not display any symptoms or they may experience a progressive deterioration of their health. Once a cat with FIV becomes symptomatic, you will likely recognise a loss of appetite, fever, poor coat condition, inflammation of the mouth and gums, recurring and chronic infections, persistent diarrhea, cancer, slow weight loss and blood disease. These can be a problem in many different conditions, so it is important to work closely with your veterinarian if your cat is diagnosed as FIV positive.
Myth: There is no treatment
Fact: A cure does not exist for FIV but there are various ways to manage the condition. Those include providing a healthy diet, keeping them indoors and through regular, biannual checkups with the veterinarian.
Myth: Cats who have FIV do not live long
Fact: It is not unusual for a cat with FIV to live into their teens if they receive the proper care and monitoring.
There is also a vaccine available that is supposed to keep a cat from contracting FIV, but it is not well supported by research. There is also a risk of cats developing sarcomas where the injection takes place. After a cat has been vaccinated, they will always test positive for FIV, so it may be difficult to recognise if they later become infected.
If your cat has been tested positive with FIV, understand that it is not a death sentence. Many cats live a long and happy life.
Via: Conscious Cat
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