Feline immunodeficiency virus attacks and weakens the immune system, making cats more susceptible to infections and diseases. There is no cure for FIV. Fortunately, few cats in this country carry the disease.
A personal story from CAT supporter Jolynn Winter.
A vaccine is available, yet not widely used. And there is one glitch: the vaccine interferes with testing for FIV, which checks antibodies for the virus. Once a cat is vaccinated, the cat has antibodies and testing can produce a false-positive result. Therefore, any cat who receives the vaccine will test positive for the disease even if that cat is not infected. This creates a problem when unidentified cats who have been vaccinated against FIV get lost. It also creates confusion for cat owners who aren’t told about the test’s false-positive tendency. I was one of those uninformed cat owners.
Thirteen years ago, I adopted a stray kitten and named him Deejay. As Deejay grew older, he always looked sickly; his coat was greasy, he was skinny, and his energy level was low. I took Deejay from one vet to the next. They poked and prodded my cat with hopes of finding a cause for his disheveled appearance. Several veterinarians thought he had FIV while others thought he suffered from feline leukemia, a virus that’s responsible for certain types of cancer in cats. Numerous tests always came back negative. One vet finally concluded it was simply Deejay’s genetic makeup. He likened it to a teenager who has greasy skin and a slender build. This same vet told me about a vaccine against FIV and advised that Deejay get inoculated as he was an indoor/outdoor cat. I obliged, and Deejay received the shot.
Several years later, Deejay injured his hip. When I found blood in his urine, I took him to an emergency vet who had no knowledge of his medical history. The veterinarian took one look at my cat and predicted he had FIV or feline leukemia. When I explained that Deejay had been tested for both and vaccinated against FIV, the vet convinced me that the tests should be run again. He soon came back with good and bad news. He told me Deejay did not appear to have feline leukemia, but tested positive for FIV. I was told that Deejay would surely die given his bloody urine. As a result, I was advised to euthanize him. The news was devastating to me. I loved my cat, yet I did not want Deejay to experience a painful death. As a result, I put Deejay down and buried him in my backyard.
A few weeks later, I decided it was time to look for a new kitty. The first place I searched was the Cat Adoption Team. As I was looking over the huge selection of homeless cats, I explained to the volunteer what happened to Deejay. I told her that he was vaccinated against FIV but developed the disease nonetheless. That’s when she then explained that once a cat receives the FIV vaccine, that cat will always test positive. I was told the FIV vaccine creates problems for shelters because it’s difficult to determine whether those cats actually suffer from the disease or have been inoculated against it. She explained that microchipping will not only help reunite a family with their lost cat, it will help prevent their lost (FIV vaccinated) cat from being accidently euthanized at a shelter.
While FIV is not curable, it is treatable. Many cats who are diagnosed with the disease can live long and happy lives. For more information on FIV and the risks involved with the vaccine, consult your veterinarian.
If you have your cat vaccinated against FIV, please also get a microchip and put identification on your cat. Even if he is an indoor only cat, there is always that slight chance he might get out. Identification and a microchip will help ensure he finds his way home.