Can you get a false positive feline leukemia test?
An FeLV-positive cat can live a long and healthy life, often without any veterinary intervention. So make sure owners understand that this is not a death sentence. All PoC tests have been shown to yield false positive results.
When should I retest FeLV-positive kitten?
Because the test detects antibodies to the disease, a kitten may test as positive for the disease due to circulating maternal antibodies. These antibodies have generally dissipated by 5 to 6 months of age, so if a kitten tests positive, it is recommended that the kitten should be retested after 6 months old.
Can a FeLV positive Cat live with other FIV positive cats?
As mentioned previously, FIV positive cats can still live together with other non-infected cats but not with FeLV positive cats, as long as the cats live in a non-fighting co-existence. FeLV positive cats however can only live isolated from other non-infected cats, in single cat households or with other FeLV positive cats.
Can you test a FeLV positive Kitten after birth?
Newborn kittens infected via FeLV-positive queens may not test positive for weeks to months after birth. While it may be tempting to test only a queen and not her kittens in an attempt to conserve resources, it is inappropriate to test one cat as a representative for others.
When to do a repeat FIV / FeLV test?
If your cat has been tested negative for FIV or FeLV but recent exposure to the virus cannot be ruled out, your vet will need to do a repeat test at least 60 days after the last potential exposure. 4. Management & Prevention of FIV/FeLV in cats
How old do kittens have to be to test for FIV?
A small number of cats will fail to produce detectable levels of antibodies after infection and these cats will have false negative results with both ELISA and Western blot testing. Positive FIV antibody tests in kittens under 6 months of age must be interpreted carefully.
Can a FeLV positive Cat live with a FIV negative cat?
Depending on where one lives, the rate of FIV-positive cats ranges from four to 24 percent. An FIV-positive cat can live with an FIV-negative cat as long as neither cat is a fighter, or if the FIV-positive cat has no teeth.
What to do if your cat tests positive for FeLV?
One is a false positive ELISA test and the other is a stage of the disease is present at which the IFA test doesn’t detect infection. Therefore the suspect cat or kitten should be isolated and retested in at least 6 weeks.
Can a FeLV positive Cat live in a socialized home?
The symptoms are similar to those for FeLV. Miracle, the feral cat rescued from the highway, was tested for FeLV because a veterinarian who was planning to foster her has other cats at home. For socialized, owned cats, it is generally recommended that FeLV-positive cats only live in homes with other FeLV-positive cats.
Can a PCR test tell if a cat has FIV?
PCR testing is generally not used for screening but is able to detect viral DNA. It can be used to distinguish an FIV infected cat from an FIV vaccinated cat.
