Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
My kitten
was first tested positive for Aids as a baby. When he was 4 months old he
was tested again and it was negative...should I get a third test? Also,
what is your opinion about breeding knowingly with an Aids positive
female cat?
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, or FIV, is commonly referred to as Feline Aids. The similarity of human HIV and aids goes as far as diseases of the immune system, and not further. Feline Aids, or FIV, is usually unnoticed by the pet owner, and affected cats live a long and normal life. It is a much milder immune system disease than the HIV virus is in humans.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus only affects cats, and is transmitted by direct contact. Infected cats show little or no clinical signs for their entire life. Once infected, a cat carries the virus for the entire life, and may pass it to other cats sharing the same household. When considering adding a new cat to a household, you should test the old and new cats to prevent spreading the virus.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the immune cells of the cat, reducing its ability to fight off infections. Outdoor cats and feral cats have more trouble because of this virus, for they are exposed to more germs, and need a stronger immune system. Cats that contract concurrent diseases, such as leukemia, have a much harder time with the disease because of their compromized immune system.
The tests for the disease are excellent. The screening tests may show false positive tests, so any positive tested cat should go on to more accurate tests before declaring a true positive. Merely repeating the same screening test is pointless.
There is no treatment or cure for the disease. Cats that test positive should not be allowed to go outside to protect them from outside infections, and to prevent them from spreading this disease to other cats. If you have a know positive Feline Immunodeficiency Virus cat, you should not bring in another cat into the same household, and you should not breed infected cats, for their offspring will carry the disease also.
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