I am helping trap a colony of ferrel cats that are coming up HIV positive. Some are negative and some are positive. The older ones seem to be positive.I worry about them infecting the neighborhood cats. We have been told they will be fine and get them fixed and release them. I personally think they should be euthanized but the doctors at 3 different hospitals have stated let them back out after fixing and vaccinating them. Help..What are your opinions?
Answers:
I have done the same you are doing. Here is the sad, bad, truth, if an animal has hiv, usually, euthanization is the most humane. Now, I realize that this sounds cruel, but isn't letting them die a cruel, slow, painful death more cruel? Do we want to infect the healthy animals? Personally, I believe it is the fault of the irresponsible pet owner who never got their 'beloved' pet fixed. Good luck. You are doing a hard, but kind thing for the animals.
I think they should be put down, other animals could get infeccted, wow!
My brother had a male outdoor cat about 15 years ago that he was told that it had the feline AID's. I think it is rampant already. I do think that you have a good point in trying to help prevent the spread of an infectious disease.
Cats can CARRY HIV, but they do NOT develop AIDS. In other words, cats carrying HIV can infect other cats, but they will not get sick and die from it.
However, you can call your local Humane Society, as they will euthanize any feral cats. If a cat is truly feral, it can NOT become a companion animal, and the Humane Society will take care of rounding them up and having them put down. Don't put yourself in danger, as feral cats can be very aggressive - and cat scratches and bites can easily get infected. And you don't want to mess around with HIV infected cats - let people trained in the matter handle it. Call Animal Control or your local Humane Society.
If you go to www.littlebigcat.com you can read Dr. Jean Hovfe's article, "Living with FIV". The first part of the article gives some statistical information on its incidence in felines, transmission, etc.
The FIV is specific to felines and is not the same as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus.)
I think the vet's assessment of the situation is probably true and that these infected cats are not a real threat to the housecat population in the area.
Put them down.
Why spend funds on Ferrel cats that can infect others when you could be helping ones that can be placed in homes?
I disagree with some of the other responders here. I think you should indeed trust the opinion of the doctors at the three different hospitals who have stated that the threat to other cats will be minimal once the animals have been fixed and/or vaccinated (as stands to reason, since the animals obviously won't be attempting to mate). I say give these feral cats a chance (in the spirit of TNR programs, which I applaud you for being part of). Again, highly unlikely that so many professionals w. an interest in animal welfare are making a grievous mistake here.
Its called FIV and is highly contagious to other cats. Unfortunately cats that have FIV need to be put down. There is no cure.
euthanize them, feral cats are bad for the environment and take a large toll on native wildlife populations. Stop thinking with your heart and think with your head.
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