i wanna know if cats are prone to FAIDS and FIV.....cuz i don't wanna get a cat that will get sick cuz i'll...

Question

cry every night and will die if the cat has to be euthenized.

ya can u help me please??

k thankies.....outdoor cats only live up to two on average??i gotta tell my friend cuz she has the CUTEST CAT but she keeps him outdoors all the time.

Answer 1

Yes to both however there are vaccines you can have them get to prevent them. Then the best prevention is not to let them out of the house. It is contracted by contact with other cats. Simple as that . Those shots cost about 20 bucks.

Answer 2

No, cats are not 'prone' to Feline AIDS. They are, however, prone to colds, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal problems, poisoning (from houseplants), gum disease, etc. Just like people, cats are affected by their environment and can pick up viruses from other cats rather easily. And, just as people do when 'their time' is up, cats die. It's only a suggestion, and others will tell you otherwise, but the healthiest cats are the ones that have not been exposed to a breeder/dealer, shelter or back alley. In all of these places, cats are living in unsanitary and, often, cramped conditions which are perfect for the spread of disease. Keep an ear out for a friend or co-worker whose cat has recently had a litter. If you do adopt a new fur-ball, do have it checked out by a vet, do keep it in the house and do have it neutered or spayed . The checkup will give it a good start, create a medical history and get you used to the vet/office environment. keeping it in the house will prevent it from coming into contact with other, potentially, diseased animals, as well as eating any nasty uhh...stuff. Getting it 'fixed' will take some of the 'wanderlust' tendencies away, which will cut down on the desire to seek out other cats.

Answer 3

Well, if outdoor cats only live two years, my mom must be stranger that I thought. She currently has an outdoor cat who is 17 (the biological mom of my 16 year old cat) and she put one down many years ago who was almost 20. Other cats have lived 6-12 years who were indoor/outdoor cats. Only a couple of her cats died before they were two. (usually shortly after she put out the cash to fix them)

Answer 4

There is really no way of knowing if any animal is sick when you get them. Generally outdoor cats are the ones that are more prone to diseases, but we had a kitten that died at 4 months - he had FIP, which is really rare for indoor cats. His brother was fine - it was just one of those things. It was really heartbreaking for sure, but the best thing you can do is make sure that you get a kitten from somebody you trust and take it to the vet ASAP. Good luck!

Answer 5

There is a FIV vaccine for cats available, but it is only about 80% effective (according to my vet.) The main way that FIV is contracted is through fighting (blood and saliva in open wounds) although it may be passed from an infected mother to her kittens.

The best way to keep a cat FIV free is by getting it tested for the disease (a quick blood test) and having it vaccinated. Having a male cat neutered will reduce (BUT NOT ELIMINATE) its chances of fighting and will increase its overall health and happiness. Having a female spayed will reduce her chances of catching FIV through mating and other scuffles, and also improve her health and happiness. IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO HAVE YOUR CAT SPAYED OR NEUTERED.

As for "indoor or outdoor" keeping a cat strictly indoors will dramatically reduce its chances of catching FIV (and leukemia) but it is still smart to vaccinate, just in case he/she accidentally gets out.

As for life span, my first cat was indoor/outdoor (she came in when she wanted, went out when she wanted) and died at 17 of old age. My second cat was indoor/outdoor but dies from leukemia at the age of six. The vaccine was not available at that time. My third and present cat is indoor/outdoor , he is vaccinated against both leikemia and FIV, and he is 11 years old and counting. He was strictly indoor for his first year of life, but I started letting him out when he INSISTED (tried to escape every time I came or went.) Since he started going out, he seems happier, he comes in every night, and he is just wonderful. As long as an owner plays a responsible part in the health of the cat (all vaccines and boosters, offering the cat temporary shelter and water outside (my cat has a little "house" on the porch) and exercises a little good judgement (I wouldn't have an outdoor cat if I lived nex to a major highway or in an appartment building) then I see no problem with having an indoor/outdoor cat.

Answer 6

Cats are not "prone" to it, but they are likely to be infected if they are not immunized and they come into contact with it. After all, it IS "Feline Immunodeficiency Virus", and it is a highly contagious disease. Just be sure your cat is immunized! And if it is an outdoor cat, remember, outdoor cats live on average 2 years, compared to indoor cats who live 15 to 18 years. How long do you want your cat to live?

Answer 7

You just have to make sure that the cat looks healthy and everything because I had a cat that lived outside and he lived for 5 years. My friends has a lot of cats and they all live outside one of them is 8 years old in people years so it really just matters on how much attention that you give the animal.

Answer 8

make sure you get the cats it's shots most of the time these can be prevented with the regular vaccines. FIV is basically the feline version of HIV, but if you have any questions or concerns about the likelyhood of the cat having these then talk to a vet. most cats you get from the humane society, or aspca/spca have already been checked for these diseases, and recieved their shots.

Answer 9

My last cat lived outdoors all the time, and she was put down at 18 years of age !

Answer 10

The best way to keep a cat healthy is to keep him/her indoors. There are too many things that can hurt them outside. Besides getting deseases, they can get killed by cars, dogs, coyotes, etc. I have 3 cats and all of them are healthy and happy. They live inside and never go outside. Cats can live a long time if you take good care of them and keep them inside. Also, always have your vet check your new kitty.
I also have them spayed/neutered which cuts down on the risk of cancer.