??'s about FIV+ stray cat

Thanks for the info. Every shelter I contact is full however. It's
just so discouraging.

Karen, you are right. A household with 9 cats is not a stress-free
environment. The FIV cat is very laid-back however, and I think he
could handle some of the more high strung ones. The reason my parents
and I feel we can't take him is our 2 big male cats that like to play
so rough. Both are biters, and I just feel they'd end up contracting
it and maybe spreading it throughout the household.

If anyone else out there has any ideas, please let me know.

Thanks,

Sheri

Charles M wrote:

As far as I know, FIV tests are pretty sure-fire once the cat is beyond 6
months. It's always a good idea to get it done a second time, just to be
sure (as false positives do happen).

Huh, is this what you meant to say? Do you mean, test are "sure-fire" or
"false positves do happen"? Can't be both.

snip

The snap test that vets do in office is pretty accurate, but a positive
(especially a weak positive) should be confirmed by an IFA test (sent out to a
lab). Some cats do fight off the infection; the shelter I'm involved with tests
all FIV positive cats every six months to make sure they are still positive.

Charles M wrote:

As far as I know, FIV tests are pretty sure-fire once the cat is beyond 6
months. It's always a good idea to get it done a second time, just to be
sure (as false positives do happen).

Huh, is this what you meant to say? Do you mean, test are "sure-fire" or
"false positves do happen"? Can't be both.

snip

The snap test that vets do in office is pretty accurate, but a positive
(especially a weak positive) should be confirmed by an IFA test (sent out to a
lab). Some cats do fight off the infection; the shelter I'm involved with tests
all FIV positive cats every six months to make sure they are still positive.

"Sheri" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the info. Every shelter I contact is full however. It's
just so discouraging.

Karen, you are right. A household with 9 cats is not a stress-free
environment. The FIV cat is very laid-back however, and I think he
could handle some of the more high strung ones. The reason my parents
and I feel we can't take him is our 2 big male cats that like to play
so rough. Both are biters, and I just feel they'd end up contracting
it and maybe spreading it throughout the household.

If anyone else out there has any ideas, please let me know.

Thanks,

Sheri

Hi Sheri,
I sent you a private email yesterday re this; if you didn't receive it let
me know.
Christine Burel

"Sheri" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the info. Every shelter I contact is full however. It's
just so discouraging.

Karen, you are right. A household with 9 cats is not a stress-free
environment. The FIV cat is very laid-back however, and I think he
could handle some of the more high strung ones. The reason my parents
and I feel we can't take him is our 2 big male cats that like to play
so rough. Both are biters, and I just feel they'd end up contracting
it and maybe spreading it throughout the household.

If anyone else out there has any ideas, please let me know.

Thanks,

Sheri

Hi Sheri,
I sent you a private email yesterday re this; if you didn't receive it let
me know.
Christine Burel

"Charles M" wrote in message
...
In article , Kalyahna wrote:
As far as I know, FIV tests are pretty sure-fire once the cat is beyond
6
months. It's always a good idea to get it done a second time, just to be
sure (as false positives do happen).

Huh, is this what you meant to say? Do you mean, test are "sure-fire" or
"false positves do happen"? Can't be both.

Actually, I meant what I wrote. The tests are "pretty" sure-fire. Which
leaves room for the false positives that do happen.

"Charles M" wrote in message
...
In article , Kalyahna wrote:
As far as I know, FIV tests are pretty sure-fire once the cat is beyond
6
months. It's always a good idea to get it done a second time, just to be
sure (as false positives do happen).

Huh, is this what you meant to say? Do you mean, test are "sure-fire" or
"false positves do happen"? Can't be both.

Actually, I meant what I wrote. The tests are "pretty" sure-fire. Which
leaves room for the false positives that do happen.

"Sheri" wrote in message
...

Also, is there a chance that the test was wrong? It was a
quick test (ELISA ??) ... could it have given a false positive?

Yes -- False-positive results are always more common when you're testing for
antibodies to a virus than when you're testing for the antigens. ELISAs FIV
tests aren't 100% specific -- Up to 35% of ELISA positives - both - the
in-house Snap FIV tests *and* the commercial plate ELISA format -are found
to be false when they're retested with the Western blot(immunoblot).

A false-positive is also possible if your vet used whole blood instead of
serum. False-positives can also result from improper processing (especially
inadequate washing), and/or from reactions to one or more components in some
feline vaccines.

You should have your cat retested, *ideally* by the Western blot
(immunoblot). In-house Snaps should be used as screening tests *only*.

Many FIV cats live normal or nearly normal life spans - providing they're
well cared for and protected from other diseases. I can't tell you what to
do in your situation, but I would definitely *not* euthanize an otherwise
healthy cat under *any* circumstances.

Good luck.

Phil.

"Sheri" wrote in message
...

Also, is there a chance that the test was wrong? It was a
quick test (ELISA ??) ... could it have given a false positive?

Yes -- False-positive results are always more common when you're testing for
antibodies to a virus than when you're testing for the antigens. ELISAs FIV
tests aren't 100% specific -- Up to 35% of ELISA positives - both - the
in-house Snap FIV tests *and* the commercial plate ELISA format -are found
to be false when they're retested with the Western blot(immunoblot).

A false-positive is also possible if your vet used whole blood instead of
serum. False-positives can also result from improper processing (especially
inadequate washing), and/or from reactions to one or more components in some
feline vaccines.

You should have your cat retested, *ideally* by the Western blot
(immunoblot). In-house Snaps should be used as screening tests *only*.

Many FIV cats live normal or nearly normal life spans - providing they're
well cared for and protected from other diseases. I can't tell you what to
do in your situation, but I would definitely *not* euthanize an otherwise
healthy cat under *any* circumstances.

Good luck.

Phil.

Don't worry, Phil. I definitely will not have him euthanized. He's
been a stray (or I guess I should say part of the trap-neuter-return
program) for at least 2 years and he could probably live many more. He
looks healthier than most cats I've seen in pet shops. A woman who is
a permanent resident here feeds him every night.

He's kind of cautious around me now (he didn't like that cat carrier
much) but I'll do my best to catch him in the next week or so and get
the Western Blot test done. One vet quoted me a price of $75, but it's
worth it to get a more definitive answer on this.

Thanks,

Sheri