June is Adopt a Cat Month at the Hospital and as we get ready for what we hope will be a month filled with recently adopted cats, we want to talk about the importance of FIV/FELV testing. So What is FIV and FELV?
FIV stands for feline immunodeficiency virus and FELV stands for Feline leukemia virus. Together these viruses make up the leading causes of illness and death in cats. Infection with either one of these viruses if undetected is capable of causing a cat's premature death. FELV is usually spread when an uninfected cat comes in contact with the saliva or urine of an infected cat. For example during grooming, sharing litter boxes and or food bowels. the virus can also be spread to kittens in utero or through an infected mother’s milk. FIV on the other hand is most often contracted when a health cat is bitten by an uninfected cat. 31 million cats are at risk for FIV each year. Only 11% of cats at risk for FIV/FELV are being tested!
How do we test for FIV/FELV?
This is the really easy part. We just need 3 drops of blood from the patient. We then run the blood through an idexx snap test. The photo below shows the test and what positive results would look like
What are the clinical signs for an infected cat?
Remember an infected cat or kitten may show no signs at all, but clinical signs may often include: Vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, non-healing bite wounds, other infected wounds, weakness, fever, loss of appetite, not drinking, pale gums, bleeding gums, grooming changes, behavior changes, dull or matted coat, swollen lymph nodes, and mouth sores to name a few.
Early detection of the infection will enable you to manage the disease, maintain the healthy of your cat, and will also help prevent the spread of infection to other cats
Which cats should be tested?
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) strongly urges all cat owners to have their cats tested for FIV and FELV, especially at- risk cats, sick cats and kittens. Since kittens can be infected we strongly encourage all new kittens to be tested during their first visit. For older cats if your cat has had a recent bite wound, been outside for even a brief period of time or has been exposed to another cats whose status is unknown we will also recommended a test. A great way to routinely test your cats at our hospital is through the Preventative lab work we offer with every annual. These packages provide your cat with a complete blood count, chemistry panel, thyroid and FIV/FELV test for a fraction of the price compared to in house lab work. These are highly recommended during annuals since the patient is "well" at the time of the visit. Testing is an important step towards keeping your cat healthy and helping stop the spread of these viruses - especially in multi cat households.
If you have any questions about your cat or kitten's status or would like to have your pet tested, please give us a call and we will be more than happy to test your cat. The FIV/ FELV snap test only takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. If you adopt any new cats, we strongly encourage you to come see us before introducing them to your other furry family members. We can make sure your new pet is healthy and happy!
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