I just found out that a stray (outdoors only) cat I have been feeding for 1+ yrs, has Feline AIDS anti-bodies, which means he has been exposed to it... BUT the vet already neutered him....!? I had asked him NOT to UNTIL after I found out the test results.... too late now....
: (
Vet said he may live a LONG life BUT that he can NEVER go outside ever again.... but this cat LIVES to be outdoors.
I already have 6 indoor cats of my own, so I am not in position to bring him in my house...
Like humans, being exposed to AIDS does not nec. mean you get it, BUT either way, he can still pass along HIV antibodies to other cats, and put them at risk!
He is friendly (not feral) but keeping him indoors for me is not an option. No one from local animal shelters has responded to my calls/e-mails... : (
I am really at a HUGE loss about WHAT to do here....
My vet told me: "He can NEVER go outside again.." BUT what kind of a life will he have...? Please HELP!
I am heart broken!
2007-09-20 09:29:33 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Nicole,
Hang in there for just a little longer! I am speaking from experience of re-homing a FIV+ cat.
Outdoor only cats can be made into house cats. That is possible, but you must consider your indoor kitties first.
I had a stray adult male kitty 'adopt' me in the late spring, early summer of 2005. He was so skinny and scraggly and I started feeding him until I could make sure he didn't belong to anyone. Many of our neighbors have in/outdoor kitties and we are in the country, which makes us a good 'dumping' place.
I learned this "freeloader", as my husband called him, had be abandoned by a neighbor that had moved after his wife passed. This orange kitty had been her companion and conforter while she was sick and dying. I couldn't believe it, nor could I let him be abandoned again! Since he was an orange tabby and my DH called him a freeloader, he became Freddie the Freeloader or FTF for short.
Freddie was a sweetheart and so affectionate. I debated making him a house cat, but with 5 kitties and 2 with serious illnesses, I was afraid. When his test results came back, it was confirmed, and highly recommended by the vet not to bring him in. But my vet did agree to let me board him at the clinic until I could find him a home.
I am in SW Virginia and hit dead ends everywhere I checked in this immediate area too. But I kept looking until I found the Caring for Creatures Sanctuary in central Virginia. They had just opened a new cat building called the Scratching Post and had a room just for FIV+ cats. And they had space for Freddie! The folks there are wonderful, dedicated animal lovers.
I don't know where you are, but I have attached the link to Caring for Creatures. There is also an agency called the Marley Fund who deal more with FeLV cats, but are starting to raise money for research for FIV also. They do have a link under their "Adopt" category to post "Courtesy Listings" for both FeLV and FIV cats. They have a couple of santuaries also. They are in North Carolina. One more that comes to mind is Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah.
Please don't give up yet. I know it is frustrating. My sweet Freddie is doing fine and is available for adoption. The second link is a picture of him. If you could see the scrawny kitty that found me, you wouldn't recognize this kitty as the same one! I know how you are feeling and I hope your story has a happy ending, too!
Purrs and prayers for you and all your kitties.
2007-09-20 10:19:54 · answer #1 · answered by Patty O 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
okay, i understand why you are having a tough time figuring this out. BUT, i definately think you should not euthanize him. even though he will miss the outdoors, he can still live a good life. take in example, an athlete that loves nothing more than to run and compete in races. one day, they get in an accident and get paralyzed and can't fell or move their legs. do you think that their family would think about euthanizing them just because they can't run anymore? absolutely not! I think that you should learn more about feline aids, try to find a good home for him, and clearly explain to the people that he isn't dangerous to them, but they won't be able to have any other cats, he can't go outside, etc. and inform them on feline aids. there are many people out there that would be willing to take in a needy cat and make his life just that much better.
2007-09-20 16:41:09 · answer #2 · answered by britt 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't euthanize him. Bring him indoors (secluded in one room, no access to your own cats), and try to find a FIV-friendly household that will accept him. There ARE homes out there, that either want a companion for their FIV positive cat, or want to be a single cat household, therefore the 'risk' isn't of concern.
Cats can, and will, adjust to living indoors only. Don't just consider euthanization, unless you're seriously worn out ALL other options!
2007-09-20 16:37:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you checked with AIDS/HIV support groups? Some of these people might have compassion on an animal in a similar perdicament. Have you checked with Friends of Cats? Have you checked to see if there is a vaccine your other cats can take which would prevent them from catching the disease from the stray? I know there is one for feline leukemia, perhaps there is one (even an experimental one) for HIV/AIDS?
I will say prayers for you and your little buddy.
2007-09-20 17:54:54 · answer #4 · answered by wo_manifest 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Calm down. We have two FIV positive cats and there's good research online for you to check out.
He doesn't have HIV. That's a human disease. He doesn't have AIDS either, that's human as well. He's got FIV which is a compromised immune system in a cat.
A cat with FIV can live, oh, over 15 years with it without too many problems. The only 'death sentence' with FIV is a vet who isn't up on the research who recommends euthenasia!
If the cat won't bite other cats, he won't spread the disease. Most of us on the yahoogroups FIV cat lists mix our FIV positives with our negative cats because we know it's safe. None of us have had a disease transfer from our positive cats to the negatives, and in our house that's been true for 10 years--ten years of Hudson being FIV positive around our other 3 negatives 24/7, sharing everything with them. They're still negative (and I have the blood tests to prove it).
IF you had the Elisha test done, the one they get a result with in 15 minutes, you could have a negative cat since that test will be inaccurate an average of 20 times out of a hundred. It has a known failure rate with FIV in testing. You need to check with a Western Blot test, which goes out to a lab to be read.
IF the Western Blot comes back positive, it means one of two things--you either have a FIV cat or you have a cat who was given the FIV vaccine to keep them from getting FIV. There's no way to know if the cat was vaccinated--the vaccine has been on the market for over 2 years now and every cat who was given it is carrying antibodies to the disease which will register as a positive on any blood test looking for FIV.
So, you have one, or you don't. If he's not aggressive,he can go outside if he doesn't fight. If he's negative, he's just a regular cat who you let go in and out. His life span isn't going to be shortened much by this disease and it's a pretty easy one as things go. You treat the symptoms as they come up (dry coat, runny eyes, mouth problems with ulcers) and you keep them away from sick cats because they'll heal slower than a normal cat.
I highly recommend NOT euthenizing a perfectly good cat! Sign onto the two major FIV cats lists on yahoo groups and come on over and discuss this with owners who've had FIV cats for years.
2007-09-20 21:30:34 · answer #5 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.serendipityanimalsanctuary.com/
This sanctuary says they save cats with AIDS. They also say they are full. (no surprise there) BUT- they might be persuaded with a donation. Or perhaps, they can refer you to another group that might help you. Don't give up yet- I'll keep searching for you.
EDIT: Best Friends, Kanab UT They have FIV cats- AIDS
http://www.bestfriends.org/atthesanctuary/animals/cats.cfm
2007-09-20 16:39:08 · answer #6 · answered by howldine 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
put up fliers in your town that you have an available cat to a good home....when i had a dog and needed to find her a good home i called the vet and they took down my information and hung it on their bulliten board...if they aren't returning your calls then go in there...they can't ignore you if you see them in person
2007-09-20 16:42:18 · answer #7 · answered by buschchick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a cheap cat kennel, and leave him at a shelter, also leave a note attached to the kennel saying that he has kitty aids, and whatever you do bring him to a NO KILL facility
2007-09-21 02:29:58 · answer #8 · answered by Liam's Mommy 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
aww thats a horrible situation. unfortunately, it sounds like euthanizing is the most logical and humane thing to do.
2007-09-20 16:35:26 · answer #9 · answered by Mr_Biggelsworth 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋