Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 08/06/2015 16:50:02
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Carrie Beatt asked the Naked Scientists:
What is FIV(Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and FELV(Feline LeukaemiaVirus)? Is it contagious?
Hope you can help me and answer these following questions:
I just recently lost my 14 year old pet cat, and 2 ½ yearsago I lost another cat to FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and FeLV (Feline LeukaemiaVirus). I have had many cats in the past and none of them died of this disease. Please can you explain to me what exactly it does to their little bodies? Why do these two diseases often come together? I was also told to burn all blankets, litter trays and feeding bowls, Why is this? Is it very contagious? This last cat of mine was 14 years old, so was she a carrier? And Whydoes it just suddenly flare up? I cant understand it. These questions I know I could of asked my veterinarian but I was so emotional at the time and totally shocked to lose her 2 ½ years after my other cat. Please help me try and understand this dreadful kitty disease.
Keep up the good work! Thanking You Regards
Paula
What do you think?
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Paula,
I am sorry to hear of your loss. Those two diseases are 99.9999% transmitted by cat bites during gladitorial disputes outside the house.
I had a treasured cat die of FIV and I know how that is, especially because I wouldn't put her down.
Now my cats all live indoors. Since they sleep 23 hours per day and are spayed this is no hardship at all. If you wanted to get Tanya outside you would have to catch her and literally throw her out the door. The critters around my bird feeder are grateful for this.
I hope you have gotten a rescue kitten from a shelter. Moonbeam (my Tonkinese overmistress) lived happily inside an apartment and a house trailer for twenty two years. She had a stroke. It beat the hell out of wasting away from FIV.