Also, Caroline, treatment of FIV is a walk in the park compared with treatment of FeLV. Generally FIV+ cats have a much better prognosis than FeLV+ ones, and are less sickly. An FIV+ cat has a good chance at a normal lifespan with the routine good food and vet care. Sorry you're so stressed. Hopefully the excellent advice so far has lessened your fears. Diane R.
_____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of MaryChristine Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2007 2:23 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: Archives here's the short answer: FIV is almost always transmitted through DEEP, PENETRATING BITES (the kind that boy cats inflict in testosterone-fueled rages when fighting over girl cats--which is why almost all FIV are boys.....) it's NOT air-borne, water-borne, feces-borner. ie, it's not really a problem once a cat is neutered; considering this cat is ill and probably not mingling much, i expect he's not off taking bites out of people. FIP is not contagious, it's a MUTATION of one of the strains of FeCoV--corona virus, which, in most species, is the common cold. no way to predict in which cat the virus will mutate, tho there is evidence of a genetic predisposition, something that doesn't often come into consideration in rescue/situations. the information on what FIP is, and the value of what tests exist (and the very fact that there IS a highly effective, CHEAP test out there), has generally NOT reached the veterinary population--the lack of knowledge is very similar to that with FeLV, except that many cats are killed because they've been exposed to corona itself, in most cases a completely harmless virus. (human SARS is thought, last i heard, to be the people equivalent of FIP--a mutation that was deadly.) _____ Get the power of Windows + Web with the new Windows Live. Get it now! <http://www.windowslive.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_powerofwindows_122007> -- Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! Maybe That'll Make The Difference.... MaryChristine AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ: 289856892
