***THE TRUTH ABOUT FiV & CATS***
We have a few FiV +ve cats in our care...
All are very sweet and loving and they are all searching for their forever homes.
FiV in cats:
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a viral disease which affects the immune system of domestic cats. Whilst FIV cannot be transferred to humans, it acts in the same way as the human form of HIV, destroying the immune system and leaving a cat susceptible to infections and disease. Once the cat has been infected, FIV can then progress to feline acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, otherwise known as Feline AIDs.
How is FIV spread?
FIV is spread mostly by bite wounds inflicted while fighting with other cats but can also be transmitted by a mother cat to her kittens across the placenta or through her milk. It is reported that between 14% and 29% of cats in Australia test FIV positive. Outdoor cats are at the highest risk of disease.
Some of the symptoms of FIV include:
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Lethargy
• Swollen lymph nodes
These signs of the initial signs of infection, often go unnoticed and in most circumstances the cat will recover and appear to be healthy for some time.
However in saying this, infected cats will succumb to other diseases because of their depleted immune system.
Other diseases, illnesses or symptoms include:-
•Dental problems and inflamed gums
•Weight loss and a decline in body condition
•Cancers such as lymphoma, carcinomas and sarcomas
•Anemia (low numbers of red blood cells)
•Low numbers of other cells including white blood cells and platelets
•Behavioural abnormalities (dementia, hiding, roaming, rage, depression, inappropriate urination and defecation)
•Inflammation of the eye
As the disease progresses a cat’s immune system becomes too weak to fight off other infections or disease and as a result, they will usually die from one of these subsequent infections.
How do I tell if my cat has been infected?
A blood test can tell us if your cat as been exposed to the virus from 60 days after the initial infection. Testing can be done at your vet clinic.
Kittens less than 6 months of age can be tested for FIV but they may need to be re-tested if they come back with a positive result. This is because antibodies they receive from their mother’s milk can interfere with their test results.
How do I protect my cat from FIV?
There are a number of things you can do to prevent infection:-
•Vaccination - if your cat has been tested for FIV and their result is negative, they can be vaccinated against the virus.
•Keep your cat indoors or in an enclosure to limit their exposure to other cats
•Desex your cat to decrease the chance of them roaming and fighting with other cats
•If you are introducing a new cat to your house, test the new cat for FIV first.
Vaccinating against FIV
The FIV vaccination consists of an initial course of 3 vaccinations 2-4 weeks apart, then a yearly booster.
Cats must be tested for FIV first and must be negative in order for them to be vaccinated. ... See more
