By Omer Ashraf 

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a viral disease-causing agent that is often recorded in domestic cats around the world. The pathology that it causes is known as Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, a long-term disease marked by lowered resistance of the animal’s defense system, leading to various opportunistic infections.

This virus, also known as FIV, is often recorded in free roaming outdoor cats. Once the virus enters the victim’s body it spreads to the lymphatic system. Next it may lead to feverish condition and other relatively mild symptoms before becoming dormant, just like the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, for a long time. After a period of several months or years, the virus may finally reemerge and attack the body’s protective white blood cells – lowering their numbers and as a result weakening the diseased animal’s defensive capability to a degree that makes it quite exposed to opportunistic illnesses.

Even with the illness and risk of death associated with FIV, exposure to it is not always lethal. Often the cats act as carriers and with a nutritious diet and good veterinary care, they can live a normal and healthy life for some time. Alongside the added care it is important that the feline be sterilized and not go outdoors where it may infect other cats or acquire other illnesses. If there are other felids in the vicinity, they may be separated. Usually though the risk of transmission to other house cats is low in a normal household. The virus does not infect other animals and people. Therefore there is no need to euthanize a cat that has been diagnosed with FIV. The Association of Feline Practitioners recommends against it and advises routine checkup and care.

In order to prevent your pet from contracting this disease, make sure that it doesn’t go outdoors unsupervised for long periods of time. Spayed or neutered cats and the ones that stay indoors are the ones least likely to come into contact with the virus. A vaccine is available that is said to protect against FIV but its efficacy is not firmly established at the moment. Therefore, at the moment, prevention is better than cure! 

Are there hypoallergenic cats to help with you with your cat allergies?

There is a common misconception that hypoallergenic cats or dogs mean allergy free but there are no allergy free cats or dogs. Hypoallergenic means less allergenic not allergy free. Cat allergies are caused by a protein in cat saliva and skin. As cats are constantly grooming themselves the protein gets on cat fur. The microscopic particles are easily airborne and can migrate quickly through out a house. Common cat allergy symptoms are itchy eyes, wheezing, runny nose, and coughing. The protein causes a allergic reaction when the immune system over reacts which leads to excess histamines.

Some people find they have less allergic reactions around Siberian cats and they are often referred to as being hypoallergenic cats. Siberian cats are a distinct breed, long haired and known for their jumping ability. The Siberian cat is relatively new to North America and there is little scientific evidence as to whether they are hypoallergenic or not. They are however intelligent and have the loyalty of dogs which is perhaps responsible for their popularity.

There are hypoallergenic cats which seem to cause fewer allergies even though they are the same breed as cats that seem to cause allergic reactions. This is do to the fact that some cats are born with a genetic rarity and they have far lower levels of the fel D1 protein that is responsible for cat allergies. A company called Allerca breed these cats that are genetically rare to produce hypoallergenic cats. Though testing and finding these rare cats is not easy since only around 1 in 50,000 cats are born with this genetic rarity. The initial cost for each kitten was $4,000. Science is also working on better ways to block histamines so that those who love cats but have allergies will be able to live in harmony with their pets.