What happens if a cat is FIV positive?

Can CATS test negative for FIV and still have it?

On very rare occasions, cats in the later stages of FIV infection may test negative on FIV antibody tests because their immune systems are so compromised that they no longer produce detectable levels of antibody. Because few, if any, cats ever eliminate infection, the presence of antibodies indicates that a cat is infected with FIV.

Can A FIV positive cat get FIV from another cat?

It is very rare for cats to get FIV just from being around infected cats, sharing food bowls, or from a person touching an FIV-positive cat and then touching an FIV-negative cat. Many FIV-positive cats and FIV-negative cats live together in the same home for years without spreading the virus to the non-infected cats.

How long does it take to test positive for FIV in cats?

It takes at least 30 days from the time of infection with FeLV to test positive on a SNAP test and it can take at least 60 days for a cat infected with FIV to develop enough antibodies to cause a positive result on a SNAP test.

How common are false positive tests for FeLV in cats?

If you test 1000 cats you will see that 17 out of the 47 cats that test positive do not actually have FeLV. That means that over 36% of positive results are actually false positives. In areas with a prevalence lower than 3% the number of false positives increases.

How long does it take for FIV test results to come back?

Infected mother cats transfer FIV antibodies to nursing kittens, so kittens born to infected mothers may receive positive test results for several months after birth. However, few of these kittens actually are or will become infected.

Why is it important to test for FIV?

The disease is caused by a contagious virus that can be passed from one cat to another. The contagious nature of the disease makes testing for FIV important. Identifying the signs and which cats test positive for FIV allows cat owners to take precautions to help these cats lead longer, healthier lives.

Should I get my Cat tested for FIV?

If your cat is exposed to another cat with FIV, a test should be given 60 days after contact. If your cat is sick in general, your veterinarian should test for FIV. If you plan on vaccinating your cat for FIV, it should be tested for the virus first.

Can a Queen Cat test positive for FeLV without her kittens?

Newborn kittens infected via FeLV-positive queens may not test positive for weeks to months after birth. While it may be tempting to test only a queen and not her kittens in an attempt to conserve resources, it is inappropriate to test one cat as a representative for others.

What are the odds of a false negative test on kittens?

It’s hard to say what the odds of a false negative test on the kittens are. I have actually spent a fair amount of time researching this for you and have found a few cases similar to yours but they are not common. In one case the mom was positive and the kittens were negative, but then 4 weeks later the kittens came up positive.

Can a cat be tested negative for FIV and FeLV?

If your cat has been tested negative for FIV or FeLV but recent exposure to the virus cannot be ruled out, your vet will need to do a repeat test at least 60 days after the last potential exposure. 4. Management & Prevention of FIV/FeLV in cats There is no treatment for FIV and FeLV once a cat has been infected.

How long does it take for FIV symptoms to show up?

Between six and eight weeks after infection occurs, the acute phase of the disease usually occurs. However, symptoms may not appear for several weeks or maybe not even at all (as stated above). Diagnosing FIV in cats is not always easy.

What causes false positive test results for FIV in cats?

False positive results may occur if a cat has been vaccinated against FIV, since the antibody test does not differentiate between antibodies produced by the disease and vaccine-induced antibodies.

Do you have to euthanize a FIV positive cat?

An FIV-positive test does not require euthanasia unless the cat is already ill and suffering beyond treatment. If the initial ELISA test is negative but you believe the cat was exposed to FIV, you can have the test redone after 60 days for a more accurate result.

Can cats with FIV live with FIV-negative cats?

Therefore, cats who test positive for FIV CAN live with FIV-negative cats with minimal risk of transmission as long as they do not fight to the point of biting. A positive FIV test in a cat is not necessarily a diagnosis.

Do cats in shelters get tested for FIV?

Alley Cat Allies recommends that adoptable cats in shelters be tested for FIV in-house only if they will be placed for adoption regardless of the result rather than “euthanized.” Shelters can also simply advise adopters to have their new cat tested for FIV at a veterinary clinic and not test in their facilities at all.

What does a positive FIV test in a cat Mean?

A positive FIV test in a cat is not necessarily a diagnosis. Further testing is often needed. An FIV-positive test does not require euthanasia unless the cat is already ill and suffering beyond treatment.

Can a kitten show a false positive test for FIV?

Kittens may show false positives because of antibodies gained from the mother cat through nursing ( if the mother cat had an actual active FIV virus ) This last point is double the tragedy, because so many healthy kittens have been put down just because they showed a positive test.

When should I Test my Cat for FIV?

If your cat is exposed to another cat with FIV, a test should be given 60 days after contact. If your cat is sick in general, your veterinarian should test for FIV. If you plan on vaccinating your cat for FIV, it should be tested for the virus first. Is It AIDS? The terminology can be confusing.

Can a kitten get FIV from its Queen?

Kittens born to infected queens may acquire FIV antibodies in colostrum (MacDonald, Levy et al. 2004). Since it is uncommon for kittens to acquire infection from the queen, most kittens that test positive are not truly infected and will test negative when re-evaluated at 6 months of age or older.

Can a kitten born to a FeLV positive mother test negative?

Siouxsie: Some kittens born to FeLV-positive mothers will test positive for the virus at birth but later on will test negative. However, some FeLV-positive kittens never stop carrying the virus. It sounds like this is the case with Ashie and Smokie.

Do kittens have false negatives more often than adults?

I’ve read that very young kittens can have false negatives more frequently than adult cats do. What are the odds that these are false negatives on the kittens?

What are the chances of a false positive on a test?

That means that over 36% of positive results are actually false positives. In areas with a prevalence lower than 3% the number of false positives increases. On the flip side, a negative test is very reliable – however, see the next point.

How do I know if my cat has FeLV positive?

The only way to know if your cat is FeLV-positive is to have your veterinarian run an ELISA test. Cats can test positive within a few weeks after exposure, but almost all cats positive for the virus will test positive within 28 days; however, testing positive just means that the virus is circulating in the cat’s blood.

When to take a FIV test for a cat with FeLV?

If your cat has been tested negative for FIV or FeLV but recent exposure to the virus cannot be ruled out, your vet will need to do a repeat test at least 60 days after the last potential exposure. 4. Management & Prevention of FIV/FeLV in cats

How do I know if my cat has FIV?

Since FIV affects a cat’s immune system, symptoms will only appear once the cat has contracted a secondary infection. Here are a few signs that FIV might be an underlying issue: Chronic or recurrent infections (respiratory, skin, bladder, eye)

How long does FIV last in cats?

Once infected, a cat will remain infected with the virus for life, and after a period that may last several years, the virus may damage the cat’s immune response and lead to signs of disease. What is FIV and how is it spread? Feline immunodeficiency virus belongs to the retrovirus family of viruses in a group called lentiviruses.

Can a cat test negative for FIV and still have FeLV?

For the cats that do test negative, we can only say that they are negative at the time they were tested. It takes at least 30 days from the time of infection with FeLV to test positive on a SNAP test and it can take at least 60 days for a cat infected with FIV to develop enough antibodies to cause a positive result on a SNAP test.