FeLV or FIV?

Question

I had to take my 6 year old cat, Ivey, to the vet last week for an upper respiratory problem. The vet said she had Rhinitis but it could be caused by a number of things, and did some blood work to see if Ivey could be put under anesthesia to do a culture. The vet later called with the results of the blood test and to ask if my cat had ever been tested for FeLV or FIV and I wasn't sure. We got her from a shelter when she was a year old and no one had suggested such a test. So, now they are testing for it. The vet did say the chances of it being one of those are minimal but it's better to test.

My question is if Ivey does have one of these can she still live a relatively normal cat life with them?

I'm probably jumping the gun a bit on this, but both sound quite scary to me. My new vet has been really helpful with explaining everything but I just wanted to hear experiences of other pet owners with these diseases.

Answer 1

Many vets will test for FeLV/FIV when a untested cat presents with URI problems, just because treating a positive cat can be complicated, or impossible. Also, people would like to know before they spend lots of $$ treating for something when it may be something more complicated.
Cats with FIV are most likely to be intact males, since it is spread through deep bite wounds, but there will be occasional females that test positive. FIV is not as easily spread and FIV positive cats can live a long life.
FeLV is more complex and easier to spread from cat to cat through even food and water bowls. Cats that are FeLV positive do not tend to live long lives, although some appear to be carriers and can live quite long. Others, like positive kittens, do not tend to live as lone.
I had an FeLV positive kitten that lived 5 years in great health. She got very ill and was euthanized all within a 5 day period. Owners of FeLV and FIV positive cats must always be aware of any signs if sickness in those cats.

Answer 2

Both diseases have some very good boards over on yahoogroups, so don't worry about not being able to find good information from owners who have pets with either of these diseases.

I've got two FIV males, and no it doesn't actually shorten their life span. Hudson has had FIV for 10 years now, and Fred for 7. We took in both who were strays, both were FIV positive, both were neutered and introduced to our three indoor cats who are non-FIV and there's been no transfer of the disease in all these years. All five of the cats have been in close contact with each other 24/7.

I'm not sure about the lifespan of a cat with FeLV, but owners with cats who have it can give you information on that should your cat come up positive.

One thing though, if the blood test for FIV isn't the Western Blot, only take the 'yes' as a maybe for FIV. The quickie Elisha test has a known failure rate of 30% and will give false positives. The Western Blot is the test to trust. However NEITHER will be able to distinguish between a cat who's been vaccinated against FIV and one who actually has the disease, because the vaccine puts the virus into the blood. But if you've had the cat for at least 3 years and haven't vaccinated against FIV, you shouldn't have to worry about that. The vaccine came out 3 years ago.

Answer 3

shelters do not normally adopt out FeLV positive cats, but if your cat has been outdoors, it could have contracted it.

FeLV is not curable, but it just lowers the immune system. Also, what I did not know until my cat Bart was diagnosed was that the vaccine against FeLV is only 75% effective so I had to keep him completely seperate from all my other cats even after I had them vaccinated. Bart lived for another two years before he succumbed to pneumonia and one lung collapsed. The prognosis for recovery for him (because of the FeLV) was very low, so I had him put down.
If your cat Ivey has FeLV, she can live a normal cat life but INDOORS away from other cats. Some people adopt other positive cats so they can keep each other company.

Some vets are used to putting down FeLV positive cats because owners are unwilling to to take the necessary steps to provide what the animal needs. I am not sure, but I think the shelters put down FeLV positive cats. This is the city shelters, not the private ones or the Humane Society.

Answer 4

A cat can live a healthy life with FIV or FELV. or both. The key is to keep the immune system healthy. Try the avma website: www.avma.org for more detailed information. I have seen many kitties come into my shelter that were perfectly healthy and beautiful, but tested positive for one. Many have been adopted into homes that were familiar with the issues associated with the diseases. Your kitty may never show signs of the disease. Either way, let's hope that she doesn't have it! Talk to your vet once you have the results. If it is positive, your cat cannot be exposed to other cats and must remain an indoor kittly.

Answer 5

you could attempt in case you prefer to, yet whilst the kitten has no longer be around stray cats with unknown FELV/FIP history you probable are ok. in case you do usher in a destiny kitten/cat, its smart to objective first. The FELV shot shouldn't get carry of on your kitten if the kitten is basically no longer likely outdoors or around unknown cats. My cats are a hundred% interior cats and by no potential have been given the vaccine and could no longer get carry of the vaccine.

Answer 6

Im not sure what felv is, is it leaukemia, I know that fiv is like the human form of hiv so she will live quite a normal life but her immune system will be weaker than normal cats so I would keep her in.

Answer 7

I believe FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. I'm not sure about how it affects cats, but I do know that humans can live for years after being diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Hopefully someone will come along and can answer your question more thoroughly.

Answer 8

ok. i looked until i found a cool site to try and help you. go to:
http://www.freewebs.com/fiv_cats/symptomslifespancure.htm
it explains about disease and about what to expect. acc. to this site there is no reason a cat with the disease cannot live a long happy life. you just have to watch for secondary infections. your kitty is lucky to have someone love her so much and want to take care of her. i really hope every thing turns out ok

Answer 9

FeLV is also called "feline leukemia" and is transmitted via fleas. There is no cure.
FIP stands for "feline infectious peritonitis". I don't know the treatment, if there is one.
Either disease is preventable by way of immunization. I would think the shelter would have updated her shots prior to letting her be adopted.
I hope she'll be OK.

Answer 10

i this u sound have the cat check out