Two-year-old Venom arrived at Ten Lives after being surrendered to the Centre.
It was clear that during his initial vet examination this boy had not been desexed, and scans for a microchip proved unsuccessful. He was given his vaccinations, deworming, and flea treatment, and booked in for surgery the next day.
Venom was placed under anaesthetic for his desexing which is a quick and simple procedure. Whilst under, the vets took the opportunity to microchip him using the specialised implanter device.
But there was one last thing to do.
For male cats that are left to roam the streets, it’s common for them to encounter and potentially fight another cat who has the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). FIV is transmitted via bite wounds or contact with blood.
Due to the additional cost, not all cats that pass through the Centre are tested for FIV. But given his history, Venom ticks all the boxes for having potentially been exposed to the virus. For this reason a test was completed.
The fur on his foreleg was shaved to expose the skin so that a small amount of blood could be taken. This was then dropped into the two sample wells on a test kit, followed by drops of reagent.
This particular test kit is capable of testing for both FIV antibodies and also FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) antigens, though FeLV isn’t particularly prevalent in Australia.
After 10 minutes, two solid red control lines appeared indicating that the test has functioned correctly. Another faint line appears on the FIV test indicating that Venom is, in fact, FIV+.
But, what does this mean for a cat like Venom?
Cats with FIV are likely to experience a number of healthy years before displaying any symptoms. This is known as the latent period and can last upwards of 5 years. As symptoms do appear it will start to supress their immune system, and can cause Feline AIDS. At this point the cats ability to fight off secondary infections is reduced.
This means that it’s important to keep their flea and worming treatments up-to-date, and keep them generally healthy. It is rare that any further treatment is required, though in some cases antiviral drugs are prescribed.
To reduce the spread of the virus it is important to note that FIV+ cats should not be left to roam. They should only be brought into homes with cats that aren’t prone to fighting or with other FIV+ cats.
You cannot catch FIV from your cat.
Venom recovered from his surgery and was placed in the Ten Lives adoption rooms. His gentle and sweet nature meant that it wasn’t long before he found his new family. A family that understood that FIV+ wasn’t a big deal, and that he would have countless happy years ahead of him.
Just like Venom’s new family, people’s attitudes towards FIV have changed. People are realising that the virus isn’t a death sentence and cats like Venom have many, many years of love to give.
As a V.E.T.S. Club member it is your subscription that allows the Ten Lives vet team to provide the much needed care that Venom received – and for cats just like him. So, Thank you.
Words and images by: Rich East, Ten Lives Creative Team