(NAPSA)—If any of the estimated 59.1 million American house cats are yours, there’s something you should know. Explains James Richards, DVM, director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell Univer- sity, “Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), the feline version of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), causes a chronic infection cat owners need to know more about. FIV suppresses a cat’s immune system, so it cannot protect against other infections. So, whether healthy or sick, every cat should be tested for FIV. The infection can be devastating, not only to the health of the infected cat, but to othercats. “Since FIV is highly specific to cats,” Dr. Richards adds, “owners don’t need to worry about contracting AIDsfrom their pet.” The condition is, however, a leading cause of disease and death in cats, with as many as onein 12 USS. felines testing positive. Fortunately, there are steps cat owners can taketo protect their pets. First, ask a veterinarian to test the cat for FIV. Early diagnosis can make a hugedifference in a cat’s longterm health. Since the early signs of FIV are non-existent or common All cats should be tested for feline immunodeficiency virus, veterinarians Say. to many other diseases, the only way to tell a cat is infected is by testing. “Early detection is an important part of caring for cats, particularly cats infected with otherdiseases,” explains Lynn Buzhardt, DVM, a companion animal veteri- narian. “By knowing the FIV infection status of a cat, the cat’s owner and veterinarian can work together to makecritical decisions about medical care and protect the health of other cats. Knowing your cat’s health status can pro- vide peace of mind.” Although there’s no cure for FIV, a positive test result is not an automatic death sentence. FIV infected cats may live for years with nosignsofclinical disease. Caring for a cat with FIV doesn’t have to be expensive, either, according to Dr. Buzhardt, but does require teamwork by the cat’s ownerand veterinarian. “One of the most important things a cat owner can do for an infected cat is to protect its health,” she explains. “FIV positive cats need a stress-free indoor environment to reduce their risk of exposure to other infections, good nutrition that supports the immune system and possibly more frequent veterinary examinations.” It is also important for a cat owner to recognize the signs of other diseases and discuss these with a veterinarian as soon as they’re noticed. e These facts come from the experts at the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), a professional organization of veterinarians who share an interest in providing excellent care and treatment of cats. For more information on testing your cat for FIV, go to wuww.fivtest.com.
