I certainly agree with that. Fiv is easy - I have several FIV cats,
that never get sick. Well, I have 1 that's just turned diabetic, but
other than that, no problem. I mix them with my non-FIV cats, no
problem.
FIP, another question, like she said. They can test for FIV/FELV in-
house, so I'm wondering why they didnt do that. The FIP test is
really for the corona virus, which, like she said, is pretty common
among cats, especially shelter cats, it's just that in some cats it
mutates and causes FIP.
Gloria
On Dec 25, 2007, at 2:22 PM, Kelley Saveika wrote:
Hi Caroline,
I can't tell you about the archives, but I can tell you about FIP
and FIV.
FIP is a rare mutation of a coronavirus that almost all cats that
have been around other cats, shelter cats, etc have been exposed
to. One of my vets puts the exposure rate to coronavirus at 95% at
our local pound. So please DO NOT worry about contagion if the cat
has FIP. It is a mutation. In the past it was thought that there
wasn't a way to diagnose FIP without necropsy, but there are a
couple of tests - these do not include the coronavirus titer test,
which in and of itself means basically nothing. There is a good
webinar about FIP on the Petsmart charities site, if you really want
to spend your Christmas listening to a webinar on FIP. But in and
of itself it IS NOT contagious. Coronavirus is contagious and it is
likely that every cat in your house has been exposed to coronavirus.
FIV is much harder to transmit than FELV. It is mostly transmitted
through tomcats fighting and/or cats mating. If this is a tomcat
and he has been fighting, he may have it, but unless he were to bite
another cat in your household I would absolutely not worry. THe
other thing about FIV is that there is an FIV vaccine, which once
you have your cat vaccinated with he will always test + for FIV.
There's a seperate test that purports to determine if the + result
is from but you have to send the blood to a well-renowned university
- I want to say it is UC Davis, but not quite sure. You don't say
how old this cat is, but kittens can test FIV+ from maternal
antibodies until about 6 months.
IF you can send me a picture of the spay site I might be able to
help you there. A little ooziness is normal. I may actually have
follow up instructions on my computer I can send you, I will check.
Feel free to call me if you like.
On Dec 25, 2007 2:02 PM, Caroline Kaufmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
I can't access the Archives. I keep trying and I keep getting an
error message. It's not my internet service, obviously, or I
wouldn't be able to send this email. Anyone else tried?
I'd really like to get to the Archives because I took a cat into my
home that I took from the store on Sat. because he looked horrible
and no one else is doing anything about it (of course). Took him to
the doctor yesterday (had to fight to get approval to even do that
and the cat is obviously sickly looking- I'm so frustrated), and the
vet is very concerned about "infectious disease." Thank god- but I
think he was shocked that the cat hasn't been treated yet, so I made
it very very clear that I just got my hands on this cat and have
been playing "clean-up duty" since the end of Aug. on these orphaned
Metro AC June babies and that the group I VOLUNTEER FOR has made my
self-appointed task of cleaning up their neglected messes, very very
difficult. I didn't mince words. It was Christmas Eve and I spent
2 hours and 15 mins at the vets and NOT being able to work and I
just cracked I guess.
The vet is suspecting- based only on the physical exam b/c we won't
get the blood tests (full panel) back on Wed. (hopefully)-- FIP,
FIV, and/or Felv in that order. I am not so worried about Felv b/c
I have dealt with that before and I just don't think it's
transmitted that easily in non-fighting cats (my own opinion). But
I have never dealt with FIP and FIV and this cat was mingled with my
other fosters by the adoption agency I volunteer for before I ever
even took in any cats. So basically I am freaking out that I may
have FIP cats on my hands and not have known it b/c of course I am
now wondering if that is what has been wrong with my weak little
Possum cat all this time. I'm mad and scared and feel like I was
asked to take in cats yet not given the resources to deal with them
fully and protect them from each other; not to mention the caring
for them with 2 hands tied behind my back b/c to get approval to
take them to a vet (for the agency to pay for it) takes more arguing
and hoop jumping-- the cat has to be practically dying to be able to
get approval without being told things like "well, if it would make
YOU feel better...but I think you are overreacting." And I spent
literally hundreds of dollars premium food and litter that I just
don't have any money left over to rush cats out to vets and pay for
it myself. I'm just sick over this. I'm trying to care for this
little guy until we get the results back. I have to give him
fluids- which I have never done and he's a fighter. He got fluids
yesterday at the clinic, but he was still somewhat sedated from when
they took his blood, so I am sure my attempt today will not go half
as smooth. He's not happy about being in a crate in a room by
himself either and it breaks my heart.
So I wanted to look through the archives because I know FIP and FIV
have been discussed before.
Also, of my 3 barn kittens (totally separated from the other
fosters- so don't worry about that), I have one now who's little
spay site seems a tad oozy. Nothing scary scary like blood or a lot
of fluid, but it just doesn't look totally right. Not that I know
what totally right looks like tho because I've never had a kitten
this young spayed and I wasn't really given any follow-up care
instructions- just been using my own common sense. But of course, I
am worried. And of course, it's Christmas and that makes it very
hard to call and ask anyone!
Caroline
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