Cats Diseases and The Truth About Animal Shelters

A friend called me this morning with a dilemma. She has a new kitten, about 6 months old, who has tested positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). She was seeking my advice and some education on what to do for the cat and had many questions regarding his expected lifespan and quality of life. We talked for quite awhile and it has inspired my blog for the day (Thanks Terri ;-)
First of all, I want you all to know that there are only 3 things you can catch from your cat. First is rabies. Because of vaccination protocols, the last time a human being in the United States contracted rabies from a cat was in 1970...40 years ago. So vaccinate your cats and forget about ever getting rabies. You are way more likely to contract it from a bat, a raccoon or a fox than a cat.
Secondly, is toxoplasmosis. Toxo is the reason that pregnant women should not clean litter boxes and it is specific only to cats. No other animal on the planet can foster toxoplasmosis. Toxo is a parasitic infection that most cats carry but rarely show symptoms. Other immuno-suppressive conditions may bring out the Toxoplasmosis, but cats otherwise carry it and we never know it. It is not transmissible through touching, licking, biting or scratching so owning a cat does not mean you are exposed to Toxoplasmosis. In fact, you are more likely to contract Toxo by eating undercooked meat, drinking unpasteurized milk or eating unwashed vegetables than you are from owning a cat. If you are pregnant or otherwise immuno-compromised (ex. have AIDS or are undergoing chemotherapy), have someone else clean your cat's litter box. Problem solved.
The third thing you can get from your cat is ringworm. Ringworm is NOT A WORM! It is a fungus, very much like athlete's foot. In fact, it is treated with the same cream (Lotrimin and the like). If you get it (and again you are more likely if you are immuno-suppressed) it will itch and drive you nuts, but it is benign and will go away. Think of it like a big mosquito bite. If your cat has ringworm, wash your hands thoroughly after handing him/her. Wash bedding thoroughly and often and you should be fine. If you get ringworm from your cat, don't panic. Just deal with it and get through it.
Now, let's talk about The Big Three: Feline Leukemia (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). Let me start by talking about animal shelters and rescues and the concept of "no-kill." The general public thinks that "no-kill" actually means that these facilities do not euthanize animals. WRONG!!! All it means it that the facility does not euthanize FOR SPACE. In other words, they cannot euthanize because they have too many animals. However, they CAN euthanize for 1) behavioral issues and 2) medical issues and still call themselves "no-kill." This concept is exactly the reason that I no longer sit on the board of directors for the humane society. I should have been clued in when, in my first board meeting, the shelter director asked how I felt about euthanasia. I should have walked out the door right then and there. But, we live and we learn. Anyway, "behavioral issues" are your bite cases and feral cats. Feral cats are deemed "unadoptable" and a "danger to the staff" and are euthanized. Yes, you heard me right. They take a WILD animal, stick it in a cage in an unfamiliar environment, trapped in a place it has never been in before and then, after a 7 day waiting period, they kill it because it is "scary" and "dangerous." Worse, they give it a name like "Shredder" or "Evil" and laugh about it. Even if the cat was adoptable, I don't know many people that would adopt a cat named "Evil."
Medical issues is a broad category and they want it to be. It allows euthanasia without violation of the "no-kill" image. Think about it...they can't euthanize for space so they HAVE to find a reason or they will be grossly overpopulated. The concept of "no-kill" is nothing more than a political term designed to make people feel better about surrendering their animals and to make the people who work there receive kudos they don't necessarily deserve. That is not to say that there aren't good people working there. A lot of what they do is difficult and they deserve respect for those issues. I am just saying that the shelters as a whole are projecting false images of what they do, sugar-coating things to make people feel better. People pat them on the back for being "humane" and "no-kill" when the reality is that they are killing animals (especially cats in the case of Columbia and Sauk Counties) right and left. I have sat in the monthly meetings and heard the shelter director laugh as she reads the monthly euthanasia report. It's sickening. And I don't know of a single humane society that doesn't euthanize for FeLV and FIV, even though the cat's life expectancy is not necessarily affected by these viruses. If the shelter is overcrowded and a cat tests positive for FeLV, it's "luck" for the shelter because they now have an excuse to euthanize and feel they can justify it because it is not about space. It's one less cat to deal with and it makes me insanely angry. Shelters that look for excuses and reasons to euthanize cats should not be allowed to call themselves "no-kill." And guess what folks...they also euthanize for RINGWORM...a curable, benign fungal infection. Yes, they are killing cats for athlete's foot. Remember, it's a "medical issue" that is transmissible to humans. It is so much easier for them to kill the cat than to deal with the infection.
Ok, so let's look at Feline Leukemia. Unlike in humans, FeLV is a virus, not a cancer. Yes, it is transmissible from cat to cat. It is NOT transmissible to humans or dogs or other animals. Remember, it is FELINE leukemia. It can be transmitted through bodily fluids, including saliva, urine, feces, semen, etc. However, it is NOT as highly transmissible as shelters want you to believe. (Again, remember they want you to think it is a horrible disease that renders the cat unhealthy and, therefore, justifies euthanasia.) The truth is that a cat with FeLV can live a very long and prductive life without ever being sick. Yes, it makes the cat more susceptible to illnesses and infections, but it doesn't have to mean death. If you have a cat that tests positive for FeLV, I recommend the following:
1) Keep the cat indoors at all times.
2) Make the cat the only cat in the house, unless the other cats are also FeLV positive.
3) Consult your vet about vitamin supplements and immuno-boosting treatments to keep your cat healthy.
FIV - Feline Immunodefficiency Virus. This is the equivalent of HIV in humans and, again, is specific to cats. As with humans and HIV, cats can live a very long and productive life without ever being "sick" from this virus. And, unlike FeLV, FIV is transmitted only through deep, penetrating bite wounds. So, when the question arises as to whether or not your FIV+ cat can safely live with other cats, the answer is yes. As long as the cats don't fight, they are fine. And I don't mean playing. Remember, I am talking about deep, penetrating bite wounds. And even if that occurs, there is no guarantee that the virus has been transmitted. Your cats can peacefully co-exist without a problem. And again, just like with FeLV, the FIV virus will make your cat more susceptible to infections so I highly recommend keeping him/her indoors at all times. Also, consult your vet about vitamin supplements and immuno-boosting treatments.
FIP - Feline Infectious Peritonitis. I HATE this disease and it is easily the very last thing I ever want to hear the vet say. You see, FIP is 100% fatal and there is no treatment. It comes in two forms, wet and dry. In the wet form, the cat's chest cavity fills with fluid and basically squeezes off the heart and lungs. Your cat will have profound difficulty breathing. You can drain the fluid, but it will come right back. The most humane thing you can do for the cat is euthanize and end its suffering. In the dry form, the cat may have a wide variety of symptoms, from weight loss to ataxia (difficulty walking) to seizures. Often FIP is the diagnosis for lack of a different diagnosis. Again, the most humane thing you can do is euthanize.
Here is the thing about FIP. It is a coronavirus. There are literally more than 300 coronaviruses in the environment and only one of them carries the FIP strain. If your cat has ever set a single toe outdoors or has ever been exposed to another cat, chances are he/she has been exposed to one of the 300+ coronaviruses. And if, by chance, it is the FIP strain, there is no guarantee your cat will ever get sick. If your vet suggests testing the cat for FIP, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! There is NO DEFINITIVE TEST FOR FIP. The test that they run will only tell you that the cat has been exposed to one of the 300+ coronaviruses. It will not tell you for sure that it is the FIP strain. If the cat is not deathly ill and in need of immediate euthanasia, the only thing you can do is treat the symptoms. If the cat gets better, you are not dealing with FIP and should keep doing what you are doing. If the cat continues to get sick, it is most likely FIP and you should end its suffering humanely.
I am getting off my cat-care soapbox now with two final pieces of advice. First and foremost, ALWAYS work in conjunction with your veterinarian on any health issues involving your cat. Secondly, DO NOT GIVE COW'S MILK TO YOUR CAT. CATS ARE LACTOSE INTOLERANT. 'Nuff said.