Comments on: Should Cats With FIV/Feline AIDS be Euthanized?

By: 3 Fabulous Felines

3 Fabulous Felines — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:25:33 +0000

I have to agree with Melody.

The issue there isn’t the fact that some of the cats are FIV+, but the fact that the woman in question (though her heart may be in the right place) is unable to care properly for so many of them.

Life with FIV does not have to be an abysmal existence.

One of my three, a former feral, tested positive for FIV when we trapped him in 2004. (He was also diagnosed with diabetes shortly afterward, and HCM last spring.) He is eight now, and to look at him, you would have no idea that he has multiple chronic conditions. He’s active, playful, affectionate, and aside from the occasional complication and a little extra monitoring, his life is really no different from that of any other cat his age.

In the interest of complete and total honesty, we probably do spend a little more time and money on veterinary care than most (though mainly for the diabetes and HCM, not the FIV), but it’s not an obscene amount… and realistically, I don’t expect him to set any records for longevity. But, for now, he’s a remarkably happy, healthy (all things considered) little guy, and we’re very glad we didn’t elect to euthanize him.

And, frankly, I suspect he is, too. :)

By: Megan

Megan — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:26:38 +0000

We have a one year old kitty in the advanced stages of dry FIP. It just creeped up on us. She was always small and a bit wobbly, and now she can barely stand up. Although she drags herself to the food bowl, she does still eat all we give her and show interest in playing and following us around:) I do not know whether or if to euthanize though. My boyfriend is willing to keep her until she just can;t move at all anymore. infear that she is suffering. Is she in pain? Will prolonging her life endanger our other kitty (same age, cohabitating w/ sick kitty for 8 months) who still appears healthy?

By: v

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:20:48 +0000

the problem is adoptability, especially in shelters. when there are 50+ cats available for adoption, why would anyone choose to adopt the FIV cat when there is a healthy cat sitting right next to him?
as shelters fill up, what are the chances of those FIV cats getting adopted? pretty low.

By: TITO

TITO — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:57:59 +0000

LAST YEAR MY CAT HAD A ABSECE ON THE BASE OFF HIS PAW IN AUGUST ALL NEEDED OK BY SEPTEMBER I NOTICED ON THE SAME LEG A LITTLE HIGHER THAN HIS ANKLE WAS DISCOULOURED IT TOOK UNTIL FEBUARY THAT I COULD LEAVE THE DRESSING OFF EVERYTHINK OK UNTIL THIS JANUARY GOT ANOTHER ABSECE BUT THIS TIME ON HIS CHEEK TOOK HIM TO VET WITHIN 3 WEEKS I NOTICE BLOOD ON HIS CHEEK GOT SOME MORE ANTIBIOTICS ALL SEEMED OK THEN BUT THIS TUESDAY EVENING WHEN HE CAME IN THERE WAS BLOOD AGAIN I CLEANED IT UP & TOOK HIM FIRST THING YESTERDAY TO THE VETS, SHE ASKED ME TO DO A BLOOD TEST FOR LUKIMIA OR AIDES IT CAME BACK POSSITIVE FOR FIV.
I HAVE ANOTHER CAT I’M TAKING TO THE VETS FOR THE BLOOD TEST THIS MORNING TO SEE IF SHE HAS IT TO, THE VET HAS TOLD ME ITS OK BUT THEY DO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE SOMTIMES, BUT THATS OK THATS NOT THEM FIGHTING IS IT, THEY SHOULD BE OK TOGHTER I AM VERY SCARED BUT AFTER SPENDING MOST OFF THE NIGHT LOOKING UP FIV MY SON HUSBAND & I PLUS OUR 2 DOGS CANNOT CATCH THIS FROM OUR GENTLE GIANT.
BUT IS IT A SURE THING THAT HUMANS CAN NOT AS I HAVE BEEN CLEANING HIS BLOODY FACE WITH OXYGEN WATER BEFOR KNOWING HE HAS FIV I WAS NOT WEARING GLOVES WILL I BE OK.?
I HAVE SEEN AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT ? WHAT DOES THIS MEEN IE: CLEANING THE AREA OF THE ABSECE DEEPER?

By: Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM

Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:11:19 +0000

Davs, the combination test that you mention is only a screening test. It is designed to have high sensitivity and low specificity. In other words, almost every FIV positive cat will test positive. However, some FIV negative cats will mistakenly test positive as well.

Another test, called western blot, should be run to confirm the diagnosis. A positive western blot will confirm the diagnosis. A negative test, on the other hand, will re-open the case.

By: Davs

Davs — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:38:50 +0000

hi, i just read your article.. my cat just got tested yesterday at the vet and he tested positive for FIV. reading your article has given me hope though that he may still be FIV free. I wanted to know what are the rigorous methods in testing a cat for FIV? The vet tested him for both FLeV and FIV through an Anigen Rapid FIV Ab/FeLV Ag Test Kit. Is that sufficient? Please do reply and let me know.

By: Carol M

Carol M — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:44:56 +0000

Off main topic but to Andie . . .

I don’t know where you live or what services are available near you, but you might consider TNR for those neglected kitties if there is a no cost/low cost spay/neuter clinic anywhere nearby.

I would not apologize for sterilizing an animal allegedly belonging to such a negligent person. Being owned by a cat is a privilege that must be earned.

Of course, I am not in your shoes, and you have to coexist with this neighbor. I’m just thinking of the cats and all they suffer.

By: Melody Stanlin

Melody Stanlin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:12:47 +0000

With all due respect, you’re straying a bit from the subject of should cats with FIV be euthanized, and you’ve also introduced some misinformation.

Caring for a cat with FIV does NOT have to cost a fortune, and there are many things that can be done for these cats. Natural treatments, for example, have proven remarkably effective for cats in all stages of the disease. The cat you depicted who was taken to the vet was a NEGLECTED animal who’d been allowed to reach a point of crisis.

Furthermore, the household you describe in not representative of all cats with FIV. This is an irresponsible woman who has far too many animals and doesn’t neuter them. That has NOTHING to do with the issue of whether or not cats with FIV should be euthanized.

As for your dogs, FIV is species specific… it only affects cats. Your dogs cannot get FIV from these cats, and therefore it makes no sense to suggested euthanizing all cats with FIV because your dogs vomit or get loose stools on their dally walk. That could be caused by everything from a bowel disorder to food issues to lawn chemicals in your neighbor’s yards. This has nothing to do with FIV.

Cats with FIV can make wonderful pets, and it doesn’t have to break your bankbook to care for them. Please visit the wonderful resource Stephanie referred to in her post and read about natural treatments. Above all else, don’t leap to conclusions. Get the facts about FIV.

By: Andie

Andie — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:28:12 +0000

I’m sorry but somebody has to be the bad guy…so here I go. Every spring it seems our subdivision gets inundated with unwanted, dumped critters. We also know of one homeowner who refuses to spay or neuter her cats, yet lets them run free. We now have a feline explosion of ferrel cats running wild through the neighborhood, crapping in our flowerbeds and spraying our front doors. My neighbor caught one of the little guys and took it to her vet–seeing as how it was very sick. They tested the kitten and it was FIV positive. She has spend an ungodly amount of money saving this kitten. His other siblings are still too scared to come near, but have been living in and out of her garage for months now. THey are all ill and I’m sure, spreading the virus to the other cats roaming the hood. At last count, there were 15 strays living in my neighbors garage. This is pathetic. She knows if she takes them to a shelter they will be euthanized, so therefore, she allows them to stay. Our county will not get involved, either. THey suggest you trap them yourself and then they will come pick them up.

These cats are wormy, have nasty eyes and every known parasite known to the feline kingdom. They need to be euthanized. This is much more humane than watching them slowly deteriorate and MATE with every other loose cat on the street.

And maybe this is just a coincidence, but now all our dogs are having diarrhea and vomiting issues after taking walks. Perhaps they are eating the feces left from the cats…I don’t know…but something is making them very ill. Our dogs are confined to our homes or on a leash when taken outside. It’s a few hours after a walk that the vomiting happens. !@#$%

By: Stephanie Polglaize

Stephanie Polglaize — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:51:26 +0000

Thanks for posting this wonderful article. A diagnosis of FIV, by itself, is not a valid reason to euthanize a cat. And there are many treatment options available, including natural treatments. When my own cat was diagnosed with FIV, the vets at the local clinic wanted to put him to sleep. I searched for alternative and found a book – “Feline AIDS: A Pet Owner’s Guide” – and a web site – felineaids.org – that proved invaluable to us. My boy, Max, is still with me to this day, and I’m so thankful that I didn’t jump the gun and put him to sleep just because of an FIV+ test result.