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With more than 80 million cats as pets in North America, it would seem that our cats are really the “top dog” and living a great life. But many cat owners are unaware of two significant and deadly feline diseases.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) belong to the retrovirus family. Other retroviruses include HIV, the cause of human AIDS. Like the AIDS virus, FeLV and FIV hinder the host’s immune system, making the cat more susceptible to common infections.
Feline Leukemia is not actually a cancer, but the virus can cause several types of cancer in the cat. This disease is associated with more illnesses and deaths of cats than any other infectious agent. Studies in the US estimate more than 2 million cats are carrying and spreading the virus. The FIV virus is less prevalent but still may infect almost 1 million cats in North America.
Cats carrying either of these viruses may not show any signs of illness. In fact, due to the ability of the viruses to hide in the cat’s cells, many cats can go years without any apparent symptoms. This is a problem when new cats are introduced to the household. FeLV is considered to be a “social contact” disease. It is generally spread through intimate contact between cats, such as grooming or sharing water bowls.
FIV, on the other hand, is a disease typically spread by sexual contact and fighting. Bite wounds between unfriendly cats is a common method of transmission. It should be noted that neither disease can be spread from cats to people…it is not possible to catch AIDS from your cat.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends testing all cats routinely to help prevent transmission of both diseases. Any sick cat should be tested, regardless of any negative results from previous testing.
Likewise, anyone considering adopting a cat should have the pet tested. Even if this is your first cat, testing is imperative. If you are like most of the cat owners, you will end up with at least two cats and either FeLV or FIV could be a problem.
Fortunately, there is some good news in all of this. First, both of these viruses cannot survive outside the body for long periods of time, making transmission from the environment unlikely. Second, it is possible for cats with either disease to live for many years. Finally, in some cases, vaccinations can limit the spread of these diseases.
Vaccinations for FeLV are available and there is a vaccine for FIV but it is extremely controversial due to the risk of secondary disease and the fact that the cat will always test positive and thus if ended up in a shelter could be euthanized. The AAFP highly recommends testing cats for both diseases prior to vaccination and FELV vaccines should only be used in cats that are at risk for FeLV; please discuss carefully with your vet all the pros and cons.
Despite all the doom and gloom of retroviruses, the outlook for cats is promising. Your veterinarian will help you make the right decision about the need to vaccinate your feline friend. You can see all the guidelines at www.aafponline.org or visit www.MyVNN.com to see a video detailing these diseases.
Dr. Sara Lash with Healthy Pets Mobile Vet and can be reached at www.drsaralash.com or 919-329-7387(PETS)
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