FIV curiosity

sylorna

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While I was at the vet today, we spoke about how I'd need to bring Chester in for some blood tests after he's cleared up his URI and before we introduce him to the other cats.
She made me very nervous about the situation. Even said that every year she diagnoses a few cats with FIV or lukemia and often recomends that they get put down immediately unless they are only cats, and then makes sure that the owners know not to add another cat to the house and know that it's a "ticking time bomb".
Needless to say, waiting the next 10-11 days before I can take him in to get the blood tests makes me rather upset.
I just did some reading about FIV and the websites claim that there should be no problem integrating a cat without making the other ones sick, but somehow I don't believe it....especially since the one infected is a new one coming in to a very established household.
ICK! I don't like to even think about it...there's something deep inside of me that makes me say "it'd just be my luck"....I suppose it's been a pretty bad year.
I guess I'm looking for some reassurance....what is the likelihood that my kitten from the humane society has these deadly diseases?

ppffft...maybe I'm just being a new mom, afterall, I've been known to be a little anxious with new pets.

10 days and counting. I think I'll make the appointment tomorrow for the first day he's off of his meds.
 

zanniesmom

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First of all, if the test for FIP is negative you are home free. If it is positive, it might just be because his mom was positive and he has her antibodies still circulating. So you would wait until he is about six months old to retest. If he is positive you will have to be especially careful introducing him so that there are no opportunities for biting or scratching. Deep bites or scratches. But other than that, he is not infectious to your cats and you would just need to be really careful if he got sick to get him good vet care. Have you called the shelter to see if they tested him already? Postive for FELV is a different story. Becky
 
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sylorna

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Thanks Becky,
I get the feeling that these folks didn't do that sort of testing, or that they would have told me at adoption time, I was quite clear about wanting to know about shots and wormings and the such.
I'm feeling much better today about it, and decided that it's pretty unlikely that he has it, becides that worrying about it for 2 weeks will only make my stomach upset. I'll have to deal with it when the time comes.
If it is positive, I will do some research before making up my mind. It seems that my vet is a bit over reactive about the situation.
Thanks again!
Jess
 

petnurse2265

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How old is chester? I would call the humane society on Monday and ask if they test for Felv/FIV, alot of humane society's do test because it is a simple in house test. FIV is not as bad as Felv and FIP, with Felv or FIP he would die from it and it is contagious through simple contact with your other cats. FIV is transmitted only through bite wounds and many cats who are positive for FIV never show any signs if they are well taken care of and avoid stress. Was the shelter able to tell you any backround on Chester?
 
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sylorna

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He's 5 months. The background they gave me was that he was found walking down the side of the road and hadden't been claimed. He had been there about a week, week and a half when I adopted him and stayed in his own cage (unfortunately said cage was still close enough to some cats with URI's that he came down with one the day after I brought him home). They said that they have wormed him, and given him his first set of shots, with a booster due Feb 5th.
They didn't mention anything about blood tests, and I would think that they would. However, it would be nice to not have to pay my vet to do it over again if they already have.
I'll give them a call tomorrow, I guess it can't hurt anything but my phone bill.
 

jcat

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Here's some info about FIV: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/owning_an_fiv__cat.html
Our cat was born to an abandoned cat that was out on the streets for weeks, if not months, so we got all the relevant tests done. Your vet seems to be cautious, which is a good thing. Many shelters don't have the money to get the cats in their care tested; vets are aware of that, so they suggest that adopters have the tests done. That's more or less routine, so don't worry about it too much. If any of the tests do turn out to be positive, there are ways of dealing with the problems.
 
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sylorna

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Thank you for the information. I will certianly keep that in mind if the time comes where I need to use it. I'm cautious because we have 3 other cats in the house, all of whom are definately seniors (our pride is getting very old, with the youngest at about 12 years). I'd hate to bring something contagious into the house at this stage (even though I did, with the URI). I'll see it through, and will call to make an apointment for the tests tomorrow (for the 1st of Febuary, right after he's finished his antibiotics).
I'm so looking forward to getting this innitial bought of vet runs out of the way, so I can let him settle in normally with the house.
 
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