My kitten has to be tested for FIV and leukemia. What are the chances he has contracted it?

Question

Can my 3 year old cat contract it if the kitten is positive?

Answer 1

If your kitten is less than six months old, the FIV test may not be accurate. You should wait until he is at least that old before having that test run. The feline leukemia (FeLV) test can be run at any age. I'm glad you're having him tested.

If either test is positive, be SURE that your vet runs a follow-up test--an immunofluorescent assay (IFA) test for FeLV and a Western Blot for FIV. Do NOT euthanize the kitten based on one positive test!!!!

The chances of your kitten's being positive depend on a number of things--what part of the country you're in, where the kitten came from, what other cats he was exposed to, etc.

Both viruses are primarily found in saliva. FeLV is a friendly cat disease--it is transmitted primarily by an infected cat's grooming another cat's face/head. This virus replicates in the nasal and oral passages and only lives for a few seconds or minutes outside the cat. FIV is transmitted mostly by deep bite wounds, so unneutered outdoor males are most likely to have it.

Kittens are far more susceptible to these viruses than adults. If a cat has reached adulthood without having been infected, his chances of becoming infected are very small. They are not zero, however.

There is a vaccine available for FeLV. However, it should not be given unless the cat will be exposed to infected cats. This vaccine has a 1:1,000 to 1:10,000 chance of causing a cancerous tumor at the vaccination site. If the cat is not exposed to positive cats, his chances of contracting the disease are close to zero, so it is more risky to his health to give the shot, than not to give it. There is no effective FIV vaccine.

BTW, this is why cat vaccines should be given in the legs, not between the shoulder blades. All vaccines have a risk of causing a tumor, although this risk is very small and it doesn't mean that your cat shouldn't have his shots. If a tumor does develop, the leg can be amputated, hopefully before the tumor has spread.

Good luck! And please have your cat neutered!

Answer 2

You really don't offer enough information to make a reasonable analysis of the situation. Do you know the kitten was exposed to a cat or cats with FIV and leukemia? Then the percentages are very high. Is this an outdoor kitten? Then there's always the chance your kitten was exposed. Is this an indoor kitten kept with other cats that are indoor-only and current on vaccinations? Then the chances are rather slim.

Answer 3

The shelters in our area test for that stuff before a kitten is put up for adoption. Most vets still do the test themselves as part of the first check up.

If you have kept the kitten away from your 3 year old, then you are probably safe. These are two different disease, and how they spread depends on the disease.

If you haven't, don't go gray worrying about it. These diseases do exist, but if they were very common, there wouldn't be as many cats out there that need homes.

You can do a web search for these diseases and it will tell you just how they are spread and what the consequences of contracting the diseases might be. The post would be too lengthy to do on this board.

Answer 4

Unless the mother or father of the kittens, were positive, the chances that the kitten is positive, is pretty low. Also, if he were to be positive, it's recommended that FIV-positive cats should be only cats, OR housed with cats who are also positive, as another cat can get it, if they get in a fight.

Answer 5

Hi there...generally, the risk of transmission is greater when each cat has been exposed to one another even if vaccinated.

FIV (Feline Infectious Virus) is transmitted primarily through deep, penetrating bite wounds. A mother cat may transmit the virus to her newborn kittens during gestation, passage through the birth canal, or nursing. FIV can also be transmitted through the transfusion of contaminated blood.

FIV affects only felines. Some of the pathogens (i.e., bacteria, parasites) that cause opportunistic infections in FIV-positive cats may be transmitted from animals to humans and could cause illness in people with compromised immune systems.

FeLV (Leukemia) usually spreads through infected saliva. It can also spread through infected urine, tears, and feces, and through an infected mother to her kittens during gestation and nursing. Twenty percent of FeLV-positive mothers pass the virus to their kittens. Methods of transmission include the following:
Bite wounds from infected cats (more common among outdoor and indoor-outdoor cats)
Blood transfusions
Mouth and nose contact with infected saliva or urine
Mutual grooming
Nose-to-nose contact
Shared food dishes and water bowls
Shared litter trays
Sneezing

Feline Leukemia:
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/FeLV.html
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/felv.html
Feline Infectious Virus:
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/FIV.html
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/fiv.html

Answer 6

If the older cat has not been vaccinated, yes he can contract it. It is a horrible disease and not at all pleasant to have to deal with. It stays in the ground for 7 years I have been told. We had a cat with it and after she died, all of our other cats died of it as well for a few years. Get them both tested and vaccinated. It is a very painful way to die.

Answer 7

my cats were tested for that, im not sure of the chances but its a scary thing to deal with, i hope the best for your kitten!

Answer 8

If he came from an indoor household with healthy parents, probably close to zero.
But if he was feral (i.e. from outside) chances are a bit higher... but still I doubt that he would have it.