Can a cat live a long life with FIV?
FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other animals. FIV is a slow virus that affects a cat’s immune system over a period of years. FIV cats most often live long, happy and healthy lives with few or no symptoms.
Can cats with feline AIDS live with other cats?
And as with people living with HIV, cats infected with FIV can live long, healthy lives. FIV is not easily transmitted between cats. Therefore, other than ensuring that there is no fighting and biting, most cats with FIV can live happily with one or two other cats and never spread their virus. Q.
Do cats with feline AIDS suffer?
Although cats infected with FIV may appear normal for years, they eventually suffer from immune deficiency, which allows normally harmless bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi found in the everyday environment to potentially cause severe illnesses.
Can a cat survive with AIDS?
FIV is relatively uncommon, but it can have serious impacts on a cat’s health and well-being. With proper care, cats with FIV can live many years and usually can share a household with other, FIV-negative cats. Medications and good nutrition can help greatly increase the lifespan of a cat with this disease.
Is FIV in cats fatal?
FIV is the only non-primate lentivirus to cause an AIDS-like syndrome, but FIV is not typically fatal for cats, as they can live relatively healthily as carriers and transmitters of the disease for many years. A vaccine is available, although its efficacy remains uncertain.
Do FIV cats have to live alone?
The answer is no. Just as HIV affects only people, FIV is contractible by cats alone.
Can FIV positive cats live with other cats?
(FIV-positive cats can live with other cats who don’t have FIV as long as they get along and don’t fight, causing bite wounds.)
Can FIV positive cats go outside?
Cats primarily pick up the virus through fighting via bite wounds or through mating behaviour. Cats Protection recommends that FIV-positive cats are kept indoors and only allowed outside in an impenetrable garden or safe run. They should not be allowed direct contact with FIV-negative cats.
Can you tell if a cat has FIV?
FIV is diagnosed through blood tests that detect antibodies to the virus. The most common screening test is called an ELISA test (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). A positive test result means that the cat has produced antibodies to the virus, and it is likely that it has been and still is infected by the virus.