Sick cat

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Big John - 12 Jul 2004 18:56 GMT

My grand kids have a big old yellow cat that came from the SPCA pound
several years ago (is probably 5 years old now), who is fed a healthy
diet, stays inside most of the time, gets it shots regularly, etc, etc,
was at one time a "heavy weight", wonderful family pet, but has recently
lost a lot of weight, sheds a lot more than usual, eyes are wattery
(sometimes) and is just not a healthy cat. Has been to the vet several
times and diagnosed as "alergies". Several pills, change of diet, etc,
and last week he went to the vet "doc in a box" in the local grocery
store parking lot(local vet does this periodically) for his shots and
was told "I think this cat has AIDS, but don't worry it's not contageous
to humans".

Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?? Don't worry?? With two
youngsters (kids) living in the same house, I think a little worry may
be in order, and maybe its nappy time for this old boy if they can't
cure him up.

How about some thoughts on this "cat AIDS" bit.

BJ

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Agua Girl - 12 Jul 2004 18:33 GMT

> My grand kids have a big old yellow cat that came from the SPCA pound
> several years ago (is probably 5 years old now), who is fed a healthy
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> How about some thoughts on this "cat AIDS" bit.

5 is just a teenager, way too young to be considered "old".
I would try another vet and make sure they are sure of the
diagnosis. Unless that pet clinic did some lab work they can't
possibly know that the animal has "Aids"
BTW...it's actually FIV, some do refer to it as Feline Aids because
it's similar to the aids virus in humans. NOT THE SAME disease,
the effects on the animal are similar to the effects that Aids has in
humans. You can't catch Aids or FIV from cats. There is nothing
to be concerned about as far as your two young children.
You should be concerned for the cat but don't go on that one
diagnosis...seek a more reliable opinion.

AG

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Luvskats00 - 12 Jul 2004 20:03 GMT

Big John jrwatson@att.invalid.net
writes

>My grand kids have a big old yellow cat....(is probably 5 years old now), who

is fed a healthy

>diet, stays inside most of the time, gets it shots regularly, etc, etc,
>was at one time a "heavy weight", wonderful family pet, but has recently
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>to humans"....maybe its nappy time for this old boy if they can't
>cure him up.

It's good that you cared enough to express concern about this. At 5 years of
age, this cat is NOT old....cats live beyond 12...beyond 18 and even beyond 20
years of age. It all depends on a variety of things. Mobile vets are good for
routine visits, but I would put more trust in a vet who has a good reputation
as a healer...and a veterinary office to examine the animals, do lab work, etc.

You did not mention the vet (here) doing any lab work ... While it may be
probable to diagnose without doing lab work, I wouldn't necessarily trust that
diagnosis.

Any other thoughts on this?

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Big John - 12 Jul 2004 20:42 GMT

> Big John jrwatson@att.invalid.net
> writes
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> Any other thoughts on this?

I must agree with what you say on all points,(the "old" in my comments
was a localism - more a term of endearment - and yes, I have had several
that have reached the 18 - 20 year mark) and so far as I know, no lab
work was done recently on this one, but I'm sure it will be.

I was just really just wondering If anyone ever heard of AIDS in cats.

BJ

Signature

To reply, remove "invalid" from my address.

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Luvskats00 - 12 Jul 2004 22:56 GMT

Big John jrwatson@att.invalid.net writes

>I was just really just wondering If >anyone ever heard of AIDS in cats.

Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is a widespread viral infection that
attacks the immune system of cats. It is caused by the same family of viruses
that triggers AIDS in humans and has much the same devastating impact on
infected cats. It is often referred to as “feline AIDS.”

It is estimated that between one percent and 14 percent of the cat population
is infected with FIV. The disease is transmitted from cat to cat by blood and
saliva. This happens primarily through biting so outdoor and male cats that
fight with other cats are at greatest risk. FIV has also been found in milk and
can be transmitted from mother to kitten. Transmission among household cats
through normal contact is thought to be unlikely. Nor can the disease be
transmitted to humans. (Full article from Petplace link below)

http://petplace.netscape.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=3373

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Amy Gray - 12 Jul 2004 22:44 GMT

>It's good that you cared enough to express concern about this. At 5 years of
>age, this cat is NOT old....cats live beyond 12...beyond 18 and even beyond 20
>years of age. It all depends on a variety of things. Mobile vets are good for
>routine visits, but I would put more trust in a vet who has a good reputation
>as a healer...and a veterinary office to examine the animals, do lab work, etc.

Five is not old. My last cat lived to the ripe old age of 19.

I would take the cat to another vet. Especially if this
vet did not do blood tests.

I would not trust a mobile vet. I only use vets
who hae a permanent office and
have been established for a number of years.

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Agua Girl - 12 Jul 2004 21:46 GMT

> >It's good that you cared enough to express concern about this. At 5 years of
> >age, this cat is NOT old....cats live beyond 12...beyond 18 and even beyond 20
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> who hae a permanent office and
> have been established for a number of years.

I agree with luvskats, those mobile clinics are great for
standard "maintenance" care, they just aren't set up for
diagnosing disease. Mentioning the possibility of a cat
having FIV isn't the problem. Ideally they would have
followed it up with a little info and directions to take the
cat to it's normal vet to have it checked. I don't want
people to get the idea that mobile clinics are unreliable.
They are very good (and much needed) for what they
were intended to do.

AG

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Amy Gray - 13 Jul 2004 00:44 GMT

>I agree with luvskats, those mobile clinics are great for
>standard "maintenance" care, they just aren't set up for
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>They are very good (and much needed) for what they
>were intended to do.

The problem with a mobile vet....how do you contact the
vet? Oops you can't.....the mobile vet is gone. Moved
left no forwarding address.

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Agua Girl - 13 Jul 2004 01:19 GMT

> >I agree with luvskats, those mobile clinics are great for
> >standard "maintenance" care, they just aren't set up for
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> vet? Oops you can't.....the mobile vet is gone. Moved
> left no forwarding address.

They aren't a replacement for vets. If your cat becomes
ill or you have concerns you take it to a vet or animal
clinic. The whole premise of the mobile vet is to make
it easy for people to give their animals a yearly exam, shots
and most of all.....have them altered. My vet is actually
close by and quite convenient but I still send money to
a group that sponsors one of those mobile vets. If it helps
spay one animal that would otherwise breed....it's worth it.

AG

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Gene Royer - 13 Jul 2004 20:42 GMT

> > >I agree with luvskats, those mobile clinics are great for
> > >standard "maintenance" care, they just aren't set up for
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> AG

I agree. The fact that a veterinarian is on wheels does not label him/her
as unreliable. Some vets simply enjoy doing that grassroots kind of work,
and they have the odds of being as well trained as a vet who is working in a
stationary structure.

Besides, every mobile vet I know of has a stationary address. The one who
visits my subdivision every three months has a billing address and telephone
number plus a cell phone. I use her to get shots and for neutering the
feral toms if I can catch one of them at that time.

As for "Feline AIDS" or FIV, I have a few inside my house who are affected.
They can conceivably pass the virus on to the other cats, and I did have one
*clean* cat who contracted the virus and succumbed.

There is a recent inoculation available. and *some* vets are dispensing it.
However, once a clean cat is inoculated, it will then test positive for FIV
because of the serum. So, before getting the cat inoculated it is paramount
to first test to see for sure that it does not have the virus.

An FIV affected cat is more prone to many diseases (upper respiratory,
kidney, stomatitis, even cancer, etc). The ones I have--who are known to be
affected--are watched carefully, and I give them an especially nutritious
supplement to boost their immune systems.

Geno<Prolly more than you wanted to know about FIV>Royer

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Amy Gray - 12 Jul 2004 22:36 GMT

>How about some thoughts on this "cat AIDS" bit.

The first thing I would do is find another Vet and get a second
opinion.

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Rhonda - 13 Jul 2004 02:50 GMT

Hi BJ,

Has your cat been drinking more lately? Using the litter box more?
Diabetes is not unusual in cats, especially those who are (or were)
overweight. We had one of those and early diagnosis does help.

I agree with everyone -- your cat needs more testing from a good vet, a
blood test at least.

I would keep him inside in the meantime to monitor him, and in case he
does have something contagious to other cats.

Let us know what happens.

Rhonda

> My grand kids have a big old yellow cat that came from the SPCA pound
> several years ago (is probably 5 years old now), who is fed a healthy
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> BJ

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Gene Royer - 13 Jul 2004 20:48 GMT

> Hi BJ,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Rhonda

Diabetes in cats is common, and I have one who gets Human N insulin twice a
day. We stabilized his weight at about 12 pounds, which is neither lanky
nor chubby for him. We feed him Hills w/d canned mixed with anything low
cal that will tempt his taster. Purina D/M is a good one, or even Hills
a/d. For fiber he gets w/d dry and/or Purina Cat Chow?.

We test his glucose every six weeks or so and just watch his water
consumption, etc., to see if he's being a normal cat. At 17, we cut him a
lot of slack.

--Geno

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