FELINE LEUKEMIA & FELINE AIDS INFO
Leukemia positive cats should be retested with the IFA test and FIV positive cats retested with the Western Blot to make sure they actually have the virus and not just exposed to it. Cats should be at least 16 weeks of age when retested as there is no true reading until then. The test kit tests for antibodies and antigens, the mother passes this along through her placenta; therefore a positive test result is not accurate until the kitten is old enough to have developed his/her own antibodies.
Most FeLV+ kittens don't turn negative but there are always a few that do. Many FeLV+ (feline leukemia) moms pass on the leukemia virus to their offspring but not always If friendly, try and place the leukemia+ cat in a single cat home or a home with other leukemia positive cats. See Need To Place Your Cat? on this website.
Most FIV+ kittens will turn negative a few months later. Most FIV+ (feline aids) moms do NOT pass on the FIV virus to their offspring but every so often they do but usually not to the whole litter. The FIV+ kitten usually needs extra care in its lifetime and any health problems treated immediately because of its suppressed immune system but can live a long life such as our Rosie who is now going on ten years of age and is a very active miss.
FIV positive status shouldn't be a problem if the cat is friendly as FIV is not contagious to people nor dogs etc and is transmitted ONLY TO CATS mainly by a deep bite wound. Most FIV+ cats live long lives with a normal diet and care. There is no reason why an FIV+ cat cannot be with other cat/s as long as there is no aggression (fighting). This usually can be accomplished by introducing them properly. See Introducing on this website for instructions on how to introduce your new cat so that there is minimal risk of fighting and therefore no transmission of the virus. I and several of my rescue friends have "normal" kitties mixed with FIV+ kitties for years now without any problems. FIV+ cats can live long healthy lives as long as they have a good diet and are in a home without a large amount of stress. Most of mine have lived to 13 years of age. Most "normal" kittens begin experiencing health problems at this age also. It's just that FIV+ cats may, but not always, be more prone to infection such as an upper respiratory infection or dental disease and may react more severely because of their compromised immune system so the kitty should be treated promptly for any health problems that may arise. Otherwise, there shouldn’t be any problems. And there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to euthanize a tame FIV+ cat as some vets still recommend.
If the cat is feral and retests FIV+, I should think that if the feral cat is going back to its own colony where they are either being spayed/neutered or already are spayed/neutered, no fighting is taking place, are in a safe area, being fed/watered on a daily basis, and have adequate shelter, he/she could go back after being altered and vaccinated. It would also depend upon upon the age and health of the cat. See our Feral Cat Help page on this website.
Links:
Feline Leukemia Misconceptions
Feline Leukemia FAQ"s
ASLANS CATS – Sanctuary for FeLV+ (leukemia) cats in NY
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) FAQ's
Leukemia positive cats should be retested with the IFA test and FIV positive cats retested with the Western Blot to make sure they actually have the virus and not just exposed to it. Cats should be at least 16 weeks of age when retested as there is no true reading until then. The test kit tests for antibodies and antigens, the mother passes this along through her placenta; therefore a positive test result is not accurate until the kitten is old enough to have developed his/her own antibodies.
Most FeLV+ kittens don't turn negative but there are always a few that do. Many FeLV+ (feline leukemia) moms pass on the leukemia virus to their offspring but not always If friendly, try and place the leukemia+ cat in a single cat home or a home with other leukemia positive cats. See Need To Place Your Cat? on this website.
Most FIV+ kittens will turn negative a few months later. Most FIV+ (feline aids) moms do NOT pass on the FIV virus to their offspring but every so often they do but usually not to the whole litter. The FIV+ kitten usually needs extra care in its lifetime and any health problems treated immediately because of its suppressed immune system but can live a long life such as our Rosie who is now going on ten years of age and is a very active miss.
FIV positive status shouldn't be a problem if the cat is friendly as FIV is not contagious to people nor dogs etc and is transmitted ONLY TO CATS mainly by a deep bite wound. Most FIV+ cats live long lives with a normal diet and care. There is no reason why an FIV+ cat cannot be with other cat/s as long as there is no aggression (fighting). This usually can be accomplished by introducing them properly. See Introducing on this website for instructions on how to introduce your new cat so that there is minimal risk of fighting and therefore no transmission of the virus. I and several of my rescue friends have "normal" kitties mixed with FIV+ kitties for years now without any problems. FIV+ cats can live long healthy lives as long as they have a good diet and are in a home without a large amount of stress. Most of mine have lived to 13 years of age. Most "normal" kittens begin experiencing health problems at this age also. It's just that FIV+ cats may, but not always, be more prone to infection such as an upper respiratory infection or dental disease and may react more severely because of their compromised immune system so the kitty should be treated promptly for any health problems that may arise. Otherwise, there shouldn’t be any problems. And there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to euthanize a tame FIV+ cat as some vets still recommend.
If the cat is feral and retests FIV+, I should think that if the feral cat is going back to its own colony where they are either being spayed/neutered or already are spayed/neutered, no fighting is taking place, are in a safe area, being fed/watered on a daily basis, and have adequate shelter, he/she could go back after being altered and vaccinated. It would also depend upon upon the age and health of the cat. See our Feral Cat Help page on this website.
Links:
Feline Leukemia Misconceptions
Feline Leukemia FAQ"s
ASLANS CATS – Sanctuary for FeLV+ (leukemia) cats in NY
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) FAQ's