Shelter works to prevent spread of cat viruses

By TOM LAVENTURE

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Ironwood - Although not as prominent here, the concern for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia in this area is real and increasing, according to H.O.P.E. Animal Shelter in Ironwood.

There are currently two cats at H.O.P.E. with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and the numbers of cats with feline leukemia average one to two cases annually for each disease, said Kathy Zumbrock, assistant manager of H.O.P.E. The shelter policy now requires all incoming cats to have a blood test to look for various diseases including FIV and feline leukemia.

"If the cat tests positive for either one of them the they are brought to the veterinarian for more testing to confirm," Zumbrock said.

Feline leukemia and FIV are similar as viruses that spread through fluid transfer, with the most common methods of breeding, fighting and biting, she said. The diseases weaken the cat's immune system so that any "kitty cold" or a minor illness becomes life-threatening, she said.

Feline Leukemia can also lead to secondary illnesses such as cancer, blood disorders and immune deficiencies that become fatal for cats, she said.

"The only way to find out if your cat has it is to go to the veterinarian to have a blood test done," Zumbrock said. "There are no outward signs of them having it and the only way they transmit it from cat to cat is a bodily fluid."

With FIV there is no medicinal prevention but there is a feline leukemia vaccination, she said. For either disease, once it's diagnosed the cat can live a normal life by staying indoors and having no contact with other cats, she said.

Having the cat spayed and neutered makes it less likely the cat will want to run off to try and breed with other cats, Zumbrock said.

If a cat gets loose or appears to be wounded from fighting, it's best to wait about three to six months after the injury to test for FIV or feline leukemia, she said. The disease will take some time show up in the bloodstream, she said.

Foster, a seven-year-old neutered male cat who was surrendered to H.O.P.E. after its owner moved out of state, tested positive for FIV upon intake, she said. The owner was never aware because there were no symptoms, she said.

"We test all of the cats when they come in whether they are strays or surrenders," she said. "Sadly, when Foster was tested it came up positive for FIV."

Dexter, a younger cat who was brought in recently, also tested FIV positive, she said.

Both cats can be adopted as the disease cannot spread to humans or other animals. Over time the health of either cat may progressively deteriorate and hinder the ability to protect against other infections.

The diseases are fairly rare to the Upper Peninsula as compared to the larger cities with large feral cat populations, she said. The animal control officer of the Gogebic County Sheriff's Office will leave traps around unoccupied homes when residents report sightings of the loose cats.

"Sadly, some of those areas will get a disease like that in the community and then it wipes out the whole community where they are all fighting and breeding," Zumbrock said. "Luckily, we don't have a lot of those feral population groups so we don't have them gathering together."

For more information visit myhopeanimalshelter.org.