I really doubt that simply hanging around with an old guy next door would transfer any of those. FIP is now considered to be a mutation of a common coronavirus and nearly all cats have been exposed to coronaviruses. They are still working on figuring out the triggers that cause the mutation, but stress is surely among them. FIV is usually passed through mating or DEEP penetrating bite wounds. FeLV is usually passed through the mom or through prolonged intimate contact.



With your kitty having had surgery recently and with the weather going all hot and icky, I would be much more inclined to think that his recovery is slow, not that you would notice it, our felines being the way they are and hiding everything and that the heat is affecting him more now when he's not 100% than it has in the past.



It would not be a bad idea to have the tests run (FeLV/FIV, FIP is just a coronavirus titer and won't really tell you much) if only for your peace of mind. And if kitty IS positive for either of those, NEITHER IS A DEATH SENTENCE. There are great resources available to educate yourself and your vet. A good diet, appropriate supplements and a low stress environment are the basics. I had a FeLV kitty and it is usually something secondary that ends up killing them, in Ninja's case, it was intestinal lymphoma. FeLV is actually closer to human HIV than FIV is. The vast majority of FIV kitties die WITH it, not FROM it.

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Show Entire Thread ]