does this happen when there outdoors or indoors or genetic?
my sister brought her cat from the vet and he has swollen glands. she was told he had a fever and he could have gotten in a cat fight. but i'm worried if its spreadable or something since i got 2 cats myself. it be nice to hear some info about this. they just told my sis to watch out for him if he does get it. he might or may not. I don't get it though how he could get it from glands. or if he gets again.
2007-10-15 07:27:53 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Certainly the risk for an indoor cat is non-existant. Kittens can get it from their mothers and most kittens are routinely screened for it by veterinarians.
Unneutered cats (male and female) can contract it easily during mating rituals which commonly involve biting.
Certainly if you bring a stray cat into your home it should be tested before possible interactions with a resident cat. It can be passed through saliva in food, water, food dishes, etc.
Swollen lymph glands are a symptom of many types of infection, not necessarily FIV.
2007-10-15 07:40:10 · answer #1 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
FIV is a serious disease... if your sisters cat is an outdoor cat, this is MUCH MUCH more likely to happen than indoor.
It is spread by blood, biting, etc.. so if the cat was in a cat fight, then the possibility is greater..
BUT, IN YOUR SISTER'S CATS CASE: Almost sure its not FIV... See, swollen glands have nothing to do with FIV.. swollen glands and a fever means that this cat HAS an immune system that IS fighting off infection.. fever is the body's way of fighting infection, and lymph glands transport White blood cells (leukocytes) which fight infectious pathogens (foreign antigens)... so actually the fact that the cat has a fever and glands swollen is a GOOD thing, in that we can probably rule out the lack of an immune system---which is what Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) causes!
ok? feel better?! good!
2007-10-15 08:02:00 · answer #2 · answered by Peter Griffin 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Feline FIV is present in 20% of the stray cat population and 20% of the indoor population, that hasn't changed since they've started researching the disease back in 1985. It's passed by biting mostly, not casual contact. It's not a death sentence unless your vet is one of those who recommend automatic euthenasia (if he does, he's not up to date on the current research, find another vet).
Cats with FIV can live, oh, over 15 years with the disease. It compromises their immune system so you do have to keep them away from sick cats, but otherwise you just treat the symptoms (runny eyes, sore mouth, dry coat) and keep them on good food and you're ok. They can't pass it to another cat unless they bite them deep, getting their saliva into a moving blood supply.
There are very good sites online with up to date info, and there are sites with completely outdated information out there (these usually suggest keeping the cat as a single pet, euthenizing, don't share water bowls, etc.). Yahoogroups has at least two very good FIV lists there.
I've had two FIV cats with us, living 24/7 with three non-fiv cats for ten years now, and there has been no spread of the disease between them. All cats are healthy, non-symptomatic of anything, and are friends with each other. The two FIV guys were adult tomcats, fixed just prior to our introducing them to our three non-FIV's. Everything went great.
The Western Blot is the definitive test to tell if a cat has FIV, it's done in a lab and checks the factors in the blood. The quickie test done at the vets is the Elisha snap test and has a known 30% failure rate, it'll give false positives in 30 out of 100 healthy cats, so if that one is given and comes up as a 'yes' only take that as a maybe. Also, any cat vaccinated against FIV will have the antibodies and will come up as a yes on both tests, even though they do not have the disease. This causes a lot of confusion, and can get some cats killed if taken in as a stray to shelters who only use the Elisha test (and who subsequently euthenize all supposed 'positive' cats).
2007-10-15 12:36:33 · answer #3 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat has it. He is an indoor cat, but likes to escape outside. I don't know of any incidents with interactions with other cats, but a few years ago he started eating his own paws. He took him to the vet and found out that he has FIV. He gets shots about once or twice a year, but it constantly chewing at himself. Not sure how he got it, but I'm guessing he made contact with another cat when he escaped outdoors.
2007-10-15 07:36:49 · answer #4 · answered by bellereve04 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can get it from racoons or other cats. If there are other cats in the household & a cat has been diagnosed with FIV all cats must be tested. It can be passed on to felines only. Most Vets will insist that you put the cat to sleep if you have other cats.
2007-10-15 08:19:21 · answer #5 · answered by Cheyenne 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
FIV. They get it from other cats. Usually intact males that fight, as it is spread through bite wounds.
There is a simple test for it. Vets can do it right in the office and you can have results in 10 min.
2007-10-15 07:31:27 · answer #6 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Check websites or medical books for cats. He should be seen by a vet and kept INSIDE so he's no longer at risk for that, or getting hit by a car, etc.
2007-10-15 07:51:34 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
very low. if they can get it.
2007-10-15 07:31:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋