What happens if a cat goes untreated with FIV?
What Can Happen if FIV Goes Untreated? Cats who are infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may not show symptoms until years after the initial infection occurred. Although the virus is slow-acting, a cat’s immune system is severely weakened once the disease takes hold. This makes the cat susceptible to various secondary infections.
How long does it take a cat to show symptoms of FIV?
In this Article. Cats who are infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may not show symptoms until years after the initial infection occurred. Although the virus is slow-acting, a cat’s immune system is severely weakened once the disease takes hold. This makes the cat susceptible to various secondary infections.
How are blood tests used to diagnose FIV?
The most common type of test looks for the presence of antibodies to the virus in the blood. No test is 100-percent accurate all of the time, and your veterinarian will interpret the test result and determine whether further testing is needed to confirm either a positive or negative test result.
How does FIV get from mother to Kitten?
Another, less common mode of transmission is from an FIV-infected mother cat to her kitten. FIV does not seem to be commonly spread through sharing food bowls and litter boxes, social grooming, sneezing and other casual modes of contact. Which Cats Are Most Prone to FIV?
How does the FIV virus affect a cat?
The virus is often referred to as cat HIV or cat AIDS because it has a similar effect on felines. FIV-positive cats may have the virus in their system for years before showing signs of illness. The virus works by killing or damaging cells in a cat’s immune system, often targeting white blood cells.
Is there any evidence of FIV in humans?
There is absolutely no evidence that any person has ever been infected with FIV.
Can a negative FIV positive cat be neutered?
There seems no reason, therefore, not to have FIV positive and negative cats in the same household, provided they are neutered, and not fighters. If two cats in one household fight, they should be kept apart, given behavioural therapy or one re-homed, regardless of their FIV status.
How long does it take for FIV antibodies to develop?
Testing: The FIV test routinely carried out in veterinary practices detects antibodies, which develop four to six weeks after infection, but this test is often unreliable as to whether the cat has the virus.