Really nice overview, MC - thanks! You included stuff I didn't know,
and I'm always trying to talk -up those FIV kitties, cause mine just
about never get sick.
One thing I noticed too is that the manufacturer of the FIV vaccine
likes to call it AIDS - they have these sensational brochures out
with that written on it - probably thinking that the hysteria that
it causes will get them more sales of vaccines. Downright evil -
especially since their vaccine is worthless.
Gloria
At 02:56 PM 3/1/2008, you wrote:
MaryChristine
<<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
...
FIV has NOTHING WHATSOEVER in common with HIV: FeLV is much closer
in terms of how it's transmitted, it's course, and everything else.
the first investigators to isolate it did so in 1987, at the height
of the HIV/AIDS panic, and gave it a name that has killed far more
cats than the virus ever will. the only people who liken it at all
to HIV/AIDS anymore are the original researchers, who seem to have
an investment in doing so, despite years of research showing them to
be in error. these folks use HIV/AIDS terminology, which is pretty
absurd, since H = human, after all.
the snap test is wrong 40% of the time, even in non-vaccinated cats;
the vaccine has not been proved effective in independent tests
(another fine product of Ft Dodge), and WILL cause any cat to test
positive for life, even on the confirmatory test, which is the western blot.
FIV cats, most of whom are male, mostly turn into, well, pussycats
once neutered--and couldn't bother biting anyone hard enough to
transmit the virus; when we get timid housecats in who actually DO
test positive on the western blot, one of our vets says that the cat
was probably bitten on the butt trying to run away.....
should a cat remain aggressive post-altering, filing down or
removing the canines prevents them from biting deeply enough.
FIVs are more prone to herpes infections and stomatitis than
non-FIVs, it seems, but basically they are VERY VERY healthy:
sanctuary anecdotal info (which, like with FeLV, is all there was
for a long time) shows that FIVs are healthier than any other
population. yes, they get sick, but they respond to treatment as
well as any other cat.
most FIVs die with the virus, not from it, tho, of course, other
things can get them as well.
MC
On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 2:47 PM, Caroline Kaufmann
<<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Does anyone have any direct experience with FIV that they can pass
on to me? I know the gist of course, since I foster cats and have
"met" and lost the battle to- both Felv and FIP in the past year
(ugh). I have heard that cats with FIV can be fairly successful-
live heathly lives barely affected by the disease (is this true?),
and it really is a lot like human HIV? I have also heard this is
the one retroviruses that is transmitted by deep bite wounds and NOT
casual contact?
I am going to help a man who has taken in a alley cat that hung
around his house for about 3 years that tested positive of FIV. He
was clearly neutered by alley cat advocates b/c he has a tipped
ear. He says it's a wonderful, approx. 5 yo tuxie. He has him in
the bedroom for now (his only room with a door in his house) because
his own cat is an extremely aggressive, neutered male and after 3
years of the tuxie hanging around outside, and being in the house
for a while now- they can't sort out their differences and they will
fight. He wishes he could keep the cat but with his cat- being such
an aggressive fighter, and the tuxie being a fighter when need be
(alley cat mentality)-- he just doesn't see it as possible due to
transmission to his cat.
The cat did get outside and got in a fight recently- ended up with
an abcess on his ear- being treated by a vet, stint put in and he
has a f-u next week- but it was at that appointment that the vet
found the FIV and said "segregate!"- as they always do.
I am going to work to get the cat into our adoption program as a
"special needs" cat in the hopes that someone w/o other cats, with a
non-aggressive cat, with a docile female, with other FIV cats, etc.,
would be willing to take him on. In the meantime, this man has
agreed to continue to "foster" him in his home while I work to help
him out with the situation.
In the meantime, I want to build up my knowledge so that I have
"talking points" for potential adoptive parents and I can educate if
someone w/o prior FIV experience is willing to take him. The man
seems to understand that he could have a cat on his hands with
something a lot worse (like Felv or FIP), so he's definitely not an
overreactor and he seems well-educated.
Any info that anyone has will be great! Especially PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE and/or accurate and trustworthy websites I can read and
pass on to others!
thanks,
Caroline
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