Can kittens have feline AIDS?
Can kittens have feline AIDS?
FIV does not survive well outside the body; it is mostly transmitted through bite wounds and blood transfusions, or is passed to kittens during birth. It is also spread through breeding, so cats that are spayed or neutered have a much lower chance of contracting the disease.
How do I know if my kitten has FIV?
Some of the most common signs seen in FIV infected cats are:
- Weight loss.
- Recurrent fever.
- Lethargy.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Gingivitis and stomatitis (inflammation of the gums and mouth)
- Chronic or recurrent respiratory, ocular and intestinal disease.
- Chronic skin disease.
How long do kittens with FIV live?
Cats infected with FIV may live for months or years. On average, life expectancy is 5 years from the time of diagnosis depending on how active the infection is.
How contagious is FIV in cats?
Dr. Woyma explains, “Unlike HIV, FIV is not typically spread through sexual contact and also very rarely transmitted from a mother cat to her kittens.” FIV is also rarely transmitted through casual contact, like sharing food bowls and litter boxes, social grooming, and sneezing.
How do you test a cat for 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.
Should kittens be tested for FIV?
When should a cat or kitten be tested for FIV or FeLV? A shelter or community cat or kitten should only be tested if she is showing signs and symptoms of illness that may be related to a compromised immune system caused by FIV and FeLV. If cats are not ill, we do not recommend testing.
At what age should kittens be tested for FIV?
The antibodies of these retroviruses can be passed from infected mothers through nursing and will pass through the kitten in time. Kittens should only be tested if they are above 8 months of age.
Can kittens fight off FIV?
On rare occasions the virus can be transmitted from mother to kittens. Sexual transmission is unusual although the semen of infected cats frequently contains the virus. Cats living together are unlikely to contract the virus from casual contact provided the cats get along and do not fight.
When should kittens be tested for FeLV FIV?
How long does it take for FIV to show up?
An adult cat can test positive as early as two to four weeks after exposure, but Best Friends Animal Society reports that it can take up to eight weeks in some cases. According to the ASPCA, once a cat is determined to be FIV positive, that cat is capable of transmitting the virus to other cats.
