how does a cat catch FIV?

Question

I just found out my cat has FIV and I was wondering how it happened? I have had her for around 10 years and shes around 11 years old now. She is deaf and was adopted and has been an inside cat for most of her life but more of an outside cat now. Im just wondering if its my fault she has FIV? She was healthy when I adopted her.

Answer 1

if she mated with a cat that had FIV, if she drank water that an FIV cat had drank from. it's just like HIV, it's spread through bodily fluids. most likely cause is contact with a male that had it.

Answer 2

FIV is only passed from mother to kitten (and 3/4 of the kittens won't have it once their own immune system kicks in) or by bite wounds. All the newest research says it's not spread by casual contact or shared water/food/litter.

She may have been bitten before you got her. An FIV cat can live over 15 years, so it doesn't shorten their lifespan unless you find a vet who recommends automatic euthenization.

On the other hand, if only the Elisha test (the quickie blood test at the vets) was used and said FIV then don't believe it. That test has a known failure rate of 20% (meaning 20 cats out of 100 will be perfectly healthy yet show up as being positive for FIV). If you got a 'yes' on the Elisha test, do a Western Blot test, that's the difinitive test as it looks at the factors in the blood. Vets send that test out to a lab, it comes back in about 3 days. If that says yes, then you have a FIV cat.

(Provided you didn't vaccinate against FIV, ALL cats who receive the vaccine for that will test positive for FIV even though they don't have it).

Kittens who have FIV from birth and don't shake it off when their immune system kicks in usually don't survive past 2 years. Their immune system is usualy so low that anything can take them out--so I don't think yours was born with it if she's 11 years old now.

Answer 3

FIV is definitely surpassed from mom to kitten (and 3/4 of the kittens won't have it as rapidly as their very own immune device kicks in) or by utilising utilising bite wounds. each and all the optimal cutting-side learn says it isn't any longer unfold by utilising utilising casual touch or shared water/food/muddle. She might have been bitten earlier you bought her. An FIV cat can stay over 15 years, so it would not shorten their lifespan till finally you hit upon a vet who recommends computerized euthenization. on the different hand, if in concern-unfastened words the Elisha attempt (the quickie blood attempt on the vets) replaced into used and reported FIV then have not have been given faith it. That attempt has a properly-typical failure fee of 20% (meaning 20 cats out of one hundred may be thoroughly wholesome yet look as being efficient for FIV). if you bought a 'specific' on the Elisha attempt, do a Western Blot attempt, it somewhat is the difinitive attempt as apparently on the factors interior the blood. Vets furnish that attempt to a lab, it comes back in approximately 3 days. If that broadcasts specific, then you've a FIV cat. (provided you likely did no longer vaccinate against FIV, ALL cats who obtain the vaccine for which will attempt efficient for FIV even nonetheless they have not have been given it). Kittens who've FIV from beginning up and don't shake it off at an identical time as their immune device kicks in often do no longer stay to tell the story previous 2 years. Their immune device is usualy so low that something can take them out--so i do no longer think of of yours replaced into born with it if she's 11 years old now.

Answer 4

I had a cat who was bitten in the tail by another cat - outside. Years later, I found out he had FIV when he got really sick. I would never let another cat go outside again, too dangerous.

Answer 5

Fiv is usually transmitted by a deep puncture wound. Like HIV, it the virus has to have contact with the blood, although it is carried in the saliva. Also, like HIV, an animal can live several years with the virus before it becomes "full-blown AIDS", so often what triggers it is ill health, or old age. Chances are she was bitten, either before you got her, or recently. Cats do better if they remain indoors. However, it is not believed that they can transmit the disease by grooming or sharing litter pans, unlike FeLV.

Answer 6

cats can live long healthy lives and be infected with FIV.
It could have happened before you got her, or recently as she went outside.

there is no effective vaccine for FIV..

I'm sorry for the diagnosis..