December 26th, 2011
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When a cat is exposed to the feline leukemia virus (FeLV), the cat might have a transient infection and fight it off, developing immunity — some vets say that up to 70 percent of adult cats survive exposure this way. If the cat doesn’t overcome the initial infection, the virus will move to the bone marrow and the cat will be persistently infected. And finally, the cat may continue to harbor the virus, thereby becoming a carrier.
Many latently infected cats actually become free of the virus after a few years, but others become persistently infected. Cats that test positive should be retested 12 weeks later to confirm the diagnosis. Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people. |
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and doesn’t stop. She starts meowing and then cuts it off xD
What about FIV? Can cats acquire this virus, but never get the full blown disease?
In answer to Nancy’s inquiry: One can’t really tell when FIV+ cats are sick until they exhibit signs and/or are tested, and they can live a very long time if taken care of properly. Any sniffle should be cared for immediately, gums and teeth checked often. I use CoQ10 in their food daily – 30-50 mg of powdered form in capsules – open and empty into food. GNC carries the vegetarian formula which is powdered, and others may as well. FIV+ cats can also live with FIV negative cats and not infect them, as long as they get along and don’t get into biting fights, exchanging blood/saliva.
I had a male cat named Scooby that, at 5 1/2 was injured by some animal and soon afterward stopped eating. After 9 days he was diagnozed with Feline Leukemia. I put him to sleep and his best friend, Lil Bit, quit eating. I, of course, thought he had caught the virus, but after 2 testings, the vets said no. He was just in mourning and didn’t want to eat. Eventually, he did start eating again. That was 13 years ago. Scooby and Lil Bit ate together, drank together and bathed each other. Lil Bit was also sick as a kitten so his immune system had been impaired, yet he never caught the virus. It’s hard to say who is vulnerable. Even if Lil Bit had been positive for the virus, I would have only put him down if he had not resumed eating. It’s a decision that has to be made by each individual when this problem comes up in regard to a cat that you really love.
My cat Taggers was diagnosed with FIV a year ago at the age of 3 1/2 yrs old. The blood test said he had it. It about destroyed me. Taggers was so ill, he didn’t eat so of course didn’t go potty. The vet didn’t much hope. The vet gave him a shot and then gave me pill to give him. Every eight hours I gave my cat the pill. Every hour I would feed him chicken broth thru a syringe. I took care of him during the night and day, then my husband took over when he came home from work while I slept. He would go to bed, I got up and started the pattern over again. Did this for 2 weeks and my Taggers was getting stronger. He finally started to eat soft food, then his hard food. He is an indoor cat, so I was told he contacted this a birth or from the animal shelter where I adopted him from. Everyday I watch and worry about him. If he shows any kind of sign that he’s not feeling well, he’ll be right at the vet’s for another shot and pills. The reason I didn’t give up on him is because he had that look in his eye. Hard to explain it but I just knew. He knows that we love him and he’s biggest baby all 20lbs of him.
Thank you for the information. FIV is not an automatic death sentence and the above comments are testimony that love and care can be the best medicine.
Thanks everyone for sharing your stories. I’ve known for a long time that FIV isn’t a death sentence, and I’m really glad to see you proving that point with your posts about your cats. If you ever need to help someone else get over their fear of FIV, I’d recommend the article “FIV: Catching a Bad Case of Rumors” on the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary website: http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare/cats_fiv.cfm
Also, be aware that any cat that received the FIV vaccine will test positive for FIV for the rest of his or her life, whether or not he or she actually has been exposed to the disease.
In regard to JaneA Kelley’s comment about the vaccine, I need to know where you found this out. I have never heard this but I can see how it would be true. I work with a TNR group and if a cat we find to fix tests positive it is euthanized. Need to know if they received the vaccine if maybe we’ve made some errors here. Does the vaccine have to be yearly to show positive if tested?
I just wanted to clarify one point about FIV. I operate a private cat rescue organization, and over the past 20 years, I have cared for many FIV+ mothers that gave birth to healthy kittens that were NEVER FIV+. If they are tested too young, their immune systems have not yet developed, and FIV virus can be present. However, as they matured, they shed the virus, all retested negative. After a while, we gave up testing all kittens and only spot-checked.
Re: FIV vaccines: The manufacturers must list it on their package inserts that any cat vaccinated, will always test positive, whether the virus is present or not.
Anita, only one vaccine will make a cat’s blood test show up positive – no, it need not be given yearly to have that effect.
A stray cat that was once owned by someone who had it vaccinated against FIV may not really be FIV+!!!!
It’s sad, because not only are all vaccines only about 80% effective, but healthy cats with positive results can also lose their lives.
A message for Anita, Didn’t you try feeding with a syringe. I run an animal rescue and when a cat stops eating is’t usually has a bad cold, also,we have a separate section for Fiv and a separate section for Felv kiddies. They should not be eurthanized
They live very long lives. You people are doing a dis service to the kiddies on the street.If someone tests
positive for aids do we end their live. I had cancer same as Felv no one euthanized me