Mary Allen
FeLV, FIV, and FIP – are the most dangerous viruses for cats. Their worst thing in common is that they cause incurable and fatal diseases in cats. But there are also important differences.
Infection Does Not Mean Illness
FeLV is the abbreviation for Feline Leukemia Virus. The FeL virus is mainly transmitted from cat to cat. Cats’ saliva in particular is highly infectious. Indirect infections, for example via shared eating utensils, are possible but extremely rare. Because FeLV can only survive outside the cat’s body for a very short time. In principle, cleaning with normal household cleaners is sufficient to effectively disinfect against FeLV. Incidentally, an infection with FeLV does not mean that the cat will also become ill. Most adult cats can cope with the virus. The virus becomes dangerous in very young and immunocompromised cats. Animals that live in groups of cats are also at a higher risk of becoming ill. After an infection, months and sometimes years can pass before the cat becomes ill.
Often Many Years Without Symptoms
FeLV can be behind a wide variety of diseases: poorly healing wounds, stubborn gingivitis, anemia, chronic intestinal inflammation, kidney damage, eye problems, and cancers such as leukemia and classic leukemia, which are malignant tumors of the lymph nodes. FIV, the feline immunodeficiency virus, is the cause of feline AIDS. This virus is closely related to the human HI virus, but it cannot endanger humans! The main risk group for an FIV infection is unneutered free-roaming tomcats because the virus is usually transmitted through bite injuries during hangover fights. About three to six weeks after infection, most cats develop a fever and swollen lymph nodes. However, this phase of the disease will pass. Feline AIDS only breaks out months to years after infection. As with FeLV, the clinical picture is diverse. These include weight loss, diarrhea, mouth sores, skin, and respiratory and bladder infections. In the final stages of the disease, cats are emaciated, anemic, and suffer from many different infections. Attempts have been made to treat cats with human-grade AIDS drugs, but they are too toxic for cats. FIP, feline infectious peritonitis, has nothing to do with the other diseases except for its fatal consequences. It is caused by a virus that belongs to the coronavirus family (abbreviation FCoV). Coronaviruses are widespread and usually only cause mild illnesses such as diarrhea or a cold. Almost every cat has already had a coronavirus infection and survived it well. It is believed that the virus that causes FIP first develops in the cat’s body from an actually harmless representative of the coronavirus. This also makes the diagnosis of FIP so difficult – because with the usual laboratory methods it is not possible to distinguish between harmless coronavirus and dangerous FIP virus.
No Healing After The Outbreak
How and why these coronaviruses become FIP viruses in the body of one cat while the other cat remains completely healthy is not yet known. However, stress, illness, and a weak immune system can favor the development of FIP. Another risk factor for the development of FIP is keeping cats in large groups. A distinction is made between a wet and a dry form of FIP. In the wet form, fluid builds up in the abdomen or chest cavity. However, over 60% of cats suffer from the dry form, which lacks this hallmark. All forms of the disease are based on severe inflammation of the blood vessels, which can affect all organs, bodily functions, and also the brain and sensory organs. Fever, fatigue, and emaciation occur in most FIP sufferers. Dehydration, anemia, jaundice, changes in the eyes, breathing difficulties, nerve damage, and inflammation of the lymph nodes can also occur. Diseases caused by FeLV, FIV, and FIP viruses are usually not curable. Usually, only the symptoms can be treated. Recently, special interferon has been used in many viral diseases. This is an endogenous substance that fights viruses. In many cases, the vet can provide the animal with relief for a certain period of time and thus give it a few more weeks’ worths of living. However, if the cat’s suffering is greater than its zest for life, you should consider putting it to sleep and allowing it to say goodbye with dignity.
Prevent
The lowest risk of infection exists for cats that have little or no contact with other cats. This is because FeLV and FIV are usually only transmitted from cat to cat when they come into contact. Just keeping the cat in an apartment does not protect the cat 100% from an illness, because it can have been infected as a young animal by its mother/siblings. An infection with FIV is very unlikely in adolescence, with FeLV at least possible and with coronaviruses even probable. To protect against FIV, free-roaming cats should be neutered – this reduces the risk of infection during territorial fights. A balanced diet and good housing conditions strengthen the cat’s immune system and may not protect it from infection, but it can protect it from an outbreak of the disease. It is also possible to vaccinate against FeLV and FIP.