2 weeks ago I managed to catch a black stray tom that had been hanging around the street begging for food for a few months. At first we assumed he was just new to the area then he started to lose weight so we (neighbours and I) realised that he was actually stray, hence why he was around for so long. It took a little while but I managed to get him to the Cats Protection league, a no kill organisation. I called about him today to see how he was doing, and they told me he's tested postive for FIV. They're very calm about it all, just saying that he'll be rehomed as an indoor only cat, and his neuter today went fine.
But what really worries me is everyone else's cats in the street. Is this the disease where the vaccine isn't 100%, if they even had it? I'm going to tell the other two neighbours who were feeding the stray too tonight, but there is another neighbour with two cats who didn't like the stray and didn't want him hanging round, presumably for just this reason. Don't much like his attitude, but I'm scared to tell him in case he shouts at me or blames me. Also there is the problem of the semi stray who comes into us sometimes - I saw the black cat chase her a few times and I'm worried she might have got it. She doesn't have a permanent home and she won't stay in with people. What do I do?!
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs
Advice and hugs please
(15 posts)-
-
Metsa, call your vet today with these questions! I wish i knew the answers for you and I'm sure others here know far more than I do, but your vet could answer these questions for sure!!! Bless you for doing all you could for this poor boy and making sure he (even with FIV) will have a chance at a good life!
-
Hi, Metsa, FIV is only communicated thru blood or saliva. If the black cat got into a bad fight with one of the others it's possible, or if it was really friendly and shared washing each other it's possible. Also, if they shared food and water where saliva might get transferred. It's actually harder to spread than generally thought.
Posted 2 years ago by DancingCatHill #
-
Please do not panic. It is very true that the FIV vaccine is not 100% effective in protection. Sox was just like your stray. I got him at about 7-8 weeks of age. He was a mess. I had him at the vet and cleaned him up. He was my greatest joy. At age 9 months we found out when he got sick that he was FeLV+. He was so far gone his blood was like rusty water. I was heart broken--he will always be my angel. I thought what about my other cats. The vet said bring them in. I looked at him and said they are okay they have always been vaccinated. He said vaccinations are not 100% bring them in. Basil had contracted the virus from Sox. Teaser did not. The next question was what to do about Basil. My vet said put him down. I refused he was not sick. Basil lived almost 2 more years and died last August from kidney failure due to the virus. They are coming out with better vaccines and treatments all the time. Just because this stray had the virus does not mean your cats will catch it. It is passed through saliva and fecies. It is very contagious, but were the cats actually housed together? Did they share a litterbox or mutually groom each other? These are the common ways that the virus is passed. If you suspect your cat may have contracted the virus have a snap test done. The virus is wicked, I know, but please do not think that it means all the cats are affected. There are many cases of cats actually surviving normal lives with the virus.
-
((((Metsa)))) I'm sorry for the nasty neighbor but feel like he should probably be told anyway. Kudos to you and the neighbors who care enough to look after this poor wandering lost one. Hopefully all your kits are safe and not infected w/FIV. I'll keep them all in my prayers. Sending a big cyber hug out to you! =)
-
Thanks everyone. I don't have any cats of my own at the moment - not allowed them in the flat, or else I'd probably be trying to take the black cat. I do kind of regard the semi-stray as ours, as much as she's anyone's, but she only comes to us when she wants to. Gonna have to get her to the vet asap and if she tests positive take it from there.
-
DCH the food thing might be a worry. The other neighbours and us put food out for the stray, us when we saw it and the neighbours when their cats refused something. Since the bowls were outside, any cat might have gone up and licked the plate or whatever. It wasn't friendly with any other cats, it was an intact male, some of them I think it tolerated better than others though.
-
-
-
-
I repeat what I have said. With the experience I have had with feline viruses it isn't as bad as it used to be. I think if there are other strayes that are breeding they may pass the virus to kittens. I know many people are very worried, and it can be bad, but it isn't the automatic death sentence that it used to be. Prayers to you and your neighborhood.
-
-
-
FIV cats can live happy, healthy lives. Their immune system is compromised, but they can do surprisingly well. As DCH says, the virus is passed on the same way as it is in humans, exchange of body fluids, but it doesn't seem to be easily passed in saliva. It is thought that cats who live together for a long time might be able to catch it from each other if they share unwashed food and drinking bowls but they're not even sure about that.
-
Metsa, my Sam was FIV+ when we took him in as a two-year old and we had 14 great years with him. Of course, we watched his health, had him neutered and made sure he had regular checkups and dental scaling. And, although he and Lady Coco sometimes ate from the same bowl and drank from the same water dish, they did not groom each other and she remains FIV free today at the age of 14. I have heard that FelV is contagious as h**l, FIV not so much. As noted above, it's usually passed from cat to cat by fighting or biting. I'm sure that's how Sam got it; he was a free-range, intact male when we first met him.
Posted 2 years ago by GizzysAuntie #
Reply
You must log in to post.