Question about FeLV/FIV test

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

The kittens were spayed on Thursday, and 2 of them have tested positive on the FeLV/FIV test. I have lots of questions.

1) What is the chance that these are false positives? When can I have them retested to verify the first results?

2) Do I also now need to separate these 2 kittens from the other two?

3) How difficult will it be to get these two adopted?

4) Any other advice?

 

[Karen & dB (GA)]

Hi Lisa,

Did the kittens test positive for FIV or FeLV, or both? There is a chance that it is a false positive, as kittens retain maternal antibodies and need to be retested once they are older. Dorje tested FIV positive on a snap test at about 6-8 weeks of age. I was told to retest him at 6 months, to give him time to clear the maternal antibodies, and to have a more comprehensive test. I believe the first one was ELISA and the second was LFA (IFA?). Unfortunately, he tested positive on both, but by then he had me wrapped around his furry paw and he wasn't going anywhere!

FeLV is a different story. My mom's cat tested FeLV positive, and that was much more serious. I had to keep her separated from Bindi and Dorje, both of whom are FeLV-, and both of whom are special-needs (especially Dorje, who is immune-suppressed). In my experience, FIV is just another chronic disease, but FeLV is pretty serious and in Little Girl's case, caused a huge mass in her abdomen which took her from us within a year of dx.

I know others on the board have much more experience than I do, but thought I'd chime in with my perspective. FIV+ kittens may be harder to adopt, but cats can live a reasonably long and healthy life with it. FeLV is much more serious and most people wouldn't knowingly adopt an FeLV+ cat. the FIVhealthscience yahoo group has a lot of really great information (studies, etc.), and I highly recommend it as a starting point for research on the disease. Good luck with the little furries, and keep us posted!

Karen, dB and Little Girl in spirit, Bindi, Dorje

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

Thanks Karen.

I called the vet this morning to find out when they recommend to have them retested. Both my normal vet and the low cost clinic where they were spayed said to have them retested in about 2-3 weeks. Until then, I am going to keep them separated from the other two kittens. Hopefully, their retest results will be negative so I can get them in with a rescue that is helping me get them adopted. Unfortunately, I cannot show the kittens through them if they are positive.

I am not sure what I will do if their retest is positive. My other cats are negative and I can't risk infecting them.

 

[Grayson & Lu]

Hi Lisa -

I have more experience w/ FIV, although I've also had Leuk+ kitties.

I have 2 adult FIV cats. One came to me as starving kitten (Stanley); the other was a neighborhood stray that showed up often w/ large patches of fur missing, as well as a chunk of his ear (looks like pinking shears!) (Moochie Pooch). Moochie is now approx 9 years old. Other than needing multiple (3) rounds of AB when he showed up (around age 2) with acid burns on all four feet, and more recently some peeing issues (now being treated w/ ____), he is doing great. Stanley is a big lump of love. He's one of the 20 pounders in the house, and is happy to have a safe dry warm/cool home, a soft couch to sleep on, and regular food (he was a starving when he arrived about 4 years ago). Neither have issues, and both interact w/ my other cats.

When I rescued the ~2 week old "first five" after their mom was hit by a car, I bottle fed them. Two had a reaction to the formula, and when I took them in, they tested them. Their paws were barely the size of a child's pinkie, and they had a hard time getting blood. The tests came back FIV+ and the vet (who I never saw again!) recommended destroying the entire litter. About 2 -3 months later, I had them retested, and they came back negative. I would imagine that 2-3 weeks is not long enough between tests. I would probably wait at least 2 months.

One of Moochie's litter mates I trapped once, but had to let go, as animal control wouldn't allow me to have him neutered... said he was now "property of the county", but I could go and adopt him! (he'd been eating in my garage for months). When I was FINALLY able to trap him again, he tested Leukemia+. Vet said to either bring inside, or PTS. He came inside, and had his own room. He only lived about a year.

And most recently, I adopted a Humane Society rescue (Hope) who I had taken for treatment for an eye ulcer. She was very fragile, but after a few months had finally begun to thrive. Unfortunately, she took a turn about 1.5 weeks ago. Fluid in her lungs and abdomen, and major difficulties breathing - she had to have oxygen just to get through the x-rays, and the doc said the prognosis doing everything possible, might get me 3 weeks. So after spending only 6 months or so with me, I had her PTS last week.

That being said, would I do it again? Absolutely. The time she was here, she was one of the sweetest, most loving kitties I've ever known.

I did let her interact w/ a couple kitties, including Moochie Pooch. None actively groomed with her, and she always had a separate food bowl and food was taken up after each feeding. Otherwise, she was treated like one of the gang. And there have been no problems with the others.

Caring for a "special needs" kitty is very demanding sometimes, but as you are aware, the rewards are amazing. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Lu-Ann

 

[Karen & dB (GA)]

Both my normal vet and the low cost clinic where they were spayed said to have them retested in about 2-3 weeks.

I am not sure what I will do if their retest is positive. My other cats are negative and I can't risk infecting them.

I agree that 2-3 weeks is probably not long enough. How old are they now? Dorje was about 8 weeks when I got him, vet wouldn't test him until 12 weeks, and when that came back +, retested at 6 months. Did they test positive for both FIV and FeLV? I think it's a good precaution to keep them separated, just in case. If FeLV+, the negatives deserve a chance with the rescue. I totally understand about not risking infection of your other cats. That's why Little Girl had her own room. Good luck, and keep us posted!