 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / March 2008Question about Feline Leukemia and FIV test
As I posted earlier, I am taking in a stray cat that we found. I had the cat tested for leukemia and FIV and she is negative. She was tested one week after we caught her and brought her inside. My question is, should I have her tested again? Meaning, how quickly does something show up in a cat's system to be detected by the test? If she had come in contact with an infected cat the day before I caught her, would that show up in a test done a week later? Thanks. S. **visit me and my cats at www.island-cats.com** > As I posted earlier, I am taking in a stray cat that we found. I had > the cat tested for leukemia and FIV and she is negative. She was > tested one week after we caught her and brought her inside. My > question is, should I have her tested again? I would. And I have done so on more than one occasion when I was fostering cats, even when the shelter already had the cat tested. >Meaning, how quickly > does something show up in a cat's system to be detected by the test? I can't remember the window. It's at least a few weeks, but I think it might be up to three months (someone else might know better than I do). > If she had come in contact with an infected cat the day before I > caught her, would that show up in a test done a week later? Probably not. Best regards, --Cindy S. Cindy, Did you ever have a cat that tested negative and then later tested positive? Guess I need to keep my other cats away from this new one...but for how long? I can't keep them separate for 3 months. S.  Signature**Visit me and my cats at http://www.island-cats.com/ ** --- > >> As I posted earlier, I am taking in a stray cat that we found. I had [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Best regards, > --Cindy S. Sorry about the double post... They generally say it is, like human aides, most usually transmitted sexually. If that is a female cat, and your two boys are vaccinated... If the female is not pregnant, there is a pretty good chance that the original test is good to go on. Do double check with your vet. Feline Aids can be spread in other ways... through bites and so forth... saliva... But usually it is associated with sexual contact just human AIDS is. It is better to have the test done again... but if that kitty that you have there isn't pregnant or anything... chances are good you are safe. BUT, better to go with caution. That is just my feeling. Thanks, Melissa The stray was not pregnant...she is spayed now. What about leukemia? My other 2 cats have not been vaccinated for leukemia since they are strictly indoor cats. I just brought the stray home today....she is separated from my other 2 but now I'm concerned about introducing all of them. > Sorry about the double post... > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Thanks, > Melissa > Cindy, > Did you ever have a cat that tested negative and then later tested > positive? No. > Guess I need to keep my other cats away from this new one...but for how > long? I can't keep them separate for 3 months. I understand. I think you should ask your vet to advise you. Best regards, ---Cindy S. Thanks, Cindy. I will talk with my vet. S. Signature**Visit me and my cats at http://www.island-cats.com/ ** --- > >> Cindy, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Best regards, > ---Cindy S. > Thanks, Cindy. I will talk with my vet. -------- Good luck. You sound like a great cat mom :-) Best regards, ---Cindy S. > S. >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >> Best regards, >> ---Cindy S. >>> Guess I need to keep my other cats away from this new one...but for how >>> long? I can't keep them separate for 3 months. >> >> I understand. I think you should ask your vet to advise you. >> Best regards, >> ---Cindy S. ----- I was just thinking... A few minutes ago, in the "distemper question" thread, I responded to Jane that I never have my cats vaccinated against rabies or distemper because the cats are strictly indoors, never get out, and never come in contact with other cats. However, when Molly passed away two years ago, and we decided to take in a new foster cat, I absolutely made sure that all of my other cats were vaccinated against feline leukemia (even though the foster cat had tested negative). Nothing is a guarantee, but the vaccination sure lowers the risk. I wasn't worried about rabies or distemper because I knew the shelter had vaccinated the foster cat against those things (and he had been with them for a while, so the vaccinations had had sufficient time to render protection). But my worst fear is feline leukemia as I once lost a cat to this horrible contagious disease (30 years ago - before there were tests and vaccines available.). Best regards, ---Cindy S. Hi, I am going through the whole thing with a stray cat we are taking in. The waiting period is about two months. Double check with the vet though to be sure. Thanks, Melissa Melissa, what are you doing in the meantime...just keeping the stray separate from your other cats for 2 months? That isn't going to be easy to do... S. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Thanks, > Melissa > As I posted earlier, I am taking in a stray cat that we found. I had > the cat tested for leukemia and FIV and she is negative. She was > tested one week after we caught her and brought her inside. My > question is, should I have her tested again? Meaning, how quickly > does something show up in a cat's system to be detected by the test? Depends on which test was run. The in-house ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) Snap test can detect *circulating* FeLV antigen in about 2-4 weeks- possibly less in some cats- after infection. The IFA (immunofluorescent antibody) assay- which can only be run buy a diagnostic lab- can take ~4 weeks, and sometimes up to 12 weeks to detect an infection. The IFA takes longer to produce a postive result because it tests for FeLV in the leukocytes and platelets which usually means virus has to reach the bone marrow before it can be detected. For FIV- it usually takes about 8 -12 weeks for antibodies to develop after the initial infection. Kittens <6-8 months old can test positive for FIV from receiving FIV antibodies from their mother through colostrum *without* being infected. An FIV-vaccinated cat will also test postive as well as her kittens. . > If she had come in contact with an infected cat the day before I > caught her, would that show up in a test done a week later? Probably not-- *but* given her age and the length of time she has lived outdoors, its very unlikely the results were false negatives. False postives are common because the ELISA Snaps are very, very sensitive- which also makes them very unlikely to produce false negatives.. Phil > Thanks. > > S. > **visit me and my cats at www.island-cats.com** Thanks, Phil. The cat was tested at my vet's office...I assume it would be the ELISA test because they were able to get immediate results. So do you think I'm safe with introducing the new cat to my other ones? I don't plan on doing it immediately, probably in a week or two. My current cats have not been vaccinated for leukemia (well, one was initally but I haven't updated his vaccination in at least 3 years). I can have the new cat retested....how soon should I do so? >> As I posted earlier, I am taking in a stray cat that we found. I had >> the cat tested for leukemia and FIV and she is negative. She was [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] >> S. >> **visit me and my cats at www.island-cats.com** I dare not advise. But I do have the cat I am taking in seperate from my two boys. I just don't dare to risk it. He is in a large caged area in my warm barn. I know... I feel really badly about it, but he is safe and warm and dry and well fed and I spend a good amount of time there with him. I cannot wait to bring him inside. I was told, with another stray we brought in that it is usually sexually transmitted - not 100 % of the time, but the risks are greater for sexually active cats. So if your cat has been neutered and showed no signs of pregnancy... I think you are pretty safe. BUT, I would consult the vet. I am not an expert by any stretch. Good luck :-) You are doing the right thing :-) You will find that is probably going to be one of the nicest cats you have ever had ;-) LOL Let us know how it goes ;-) > Thanks, Phil. The cat was tested at my vet's office...I assume it would be > the ELISA test because they were able to get immediate results. Snap negatives are very reliable- its the positives that aren't. > So do you think I'm safe with introducing the new cat to my other ones? I > don't plan on doing it immediately, probably in a week or two. My current > cats have not been vaccinated for leukemia (well, one was initially but I > haven't updated his vaccination in at least 3 years). > > I can have the new cat retested....how soon should I do so? If you do the introduction the right way (see my other post to you), it should take about 2-3 weeks before you allow the cats to mingle. That would be about 3-4 weeks after the new cat was initially tested. If you want peace of mind, that would be a good time to have her retested. If she tests negative again for FeLV after a month- she's probably negative. If you want to retest her for FIV, you should wait at least 3 months from her last test- although I think an FIV retest is unnecessary. Good luck with your cat! She's a lucky a cat because she has you. Phil > > <blkcatgal@gmail.com> wrote in message news:4e16e57e-4b00-47da-a362-eeafa1ed61a2@y77g2000hsy.googlegroups.com... > >> As I posted earlier, I am taking in a stray cat that we found. I had > >> the cat tested for leukemia and FIV and she is negative. She was [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > >> S. > >> **visit me and my cats at www.island-cats.com** Thanks, Phil. You can see that my paranoia is setting in! :-) I wasn't planning on having the cats "meet" each other for at least a couple of weeks. I'm sure the new cat is fine but I'll probably have her retested in a couple of weeks just for my own peace of mind. S. >> Thanks, Phil. The cat was tested at my vet's office...I assume it would > be [quoted text clipped - 75 lines] >> >> S. >> >> **visit me and my cats at www.island-cats.com** > Thanks, Phil. You can see that my paranoia is setting in! :-) Don't ever think you're crazy for being paranoid about your cats. Just remember: You only have to be right *once* to make all the precautions and worrying worthwhile! ;-) I wasn't > planning on having the cats "meet" each other for at least a couple of > weeks. That's the way to do it! If you rush the introduction you run the risk of the cats getting into a fight which can have permanent adverse effects on their relationship. Once a cat is attacked, she might take a defensive posture whenever she see the attacker. This could trigger attacks even if the attacker had no intentions of attacking. I know you know how to handle it- but here's a refresher: http://maxshouse.com/introducing_cats.htm I'm sure the new cat is fine but I'll probably have her retested in > a couple of weeks just for my own peace of mind. I'm sure she's fine, too. I'll be looking forward to seeing some pictures of her. Phil > S. > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > > >> > <blkcatgal@gmail.com> wrote in message news:4e16e57e-4b00-47da-a362-eeafa1ed61a2@y77g2000hsy.googlegroups.com... > >> >> As I posted earlier, I am taking in a stray cat that we found. I had > >> >> the cat tested for leukemia and FIV and she is negative. She was [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > >> >> S. > >> >> **visit me and my cats at www.island-cats.com**
|
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.