All new breeding cats are health tested prior to entering the group, including FELV/FIV tested. For new pet parents, Even though kittens parents are FELV/FIV negative and the entire cattery is negative, I test kittens prior to them going to their new home so you are assured and comfortable that you are receiving a very healthy companion!

ABOUT FELV

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats, affecting between 2 and 3% of all cats in the United States. The virus is shed in saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk of infected cats. Cat-to-cat transfer of the virus may occur from a bite wound, during mutual grooming, and (rarely) through the shared use of litter boxes and feeding dishes. Transmission can also take place from an infected mother cat to her kittens, either before they are born or while they are nursing. FeLV adversely affects a cat's body in many ways. It is the most common cause of cancer in cats, may cause various blood disorders, and may lead to a state of immune deficiency that hinders a cat's ability to protect itself against other infections. Because of this, common bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi that usually do not affect healthy cats can cause severe illness in FeLV-infected cats.

ABOUT FIV

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is one of the most common and consequential infectious diseases of cats around the world. In infected cats, FIV attacks the immune system, leaving the cat vulnerable to many other infections. Although cats infected with FIV may appear normal for years, they eventually suffer from immune deficiency, which allows normally harmless bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi found in the everyday environment to potentially cause severe illnesses. The primary mode of transmission for FIV is through bite wounds from an infected cat. Casual, non-aggressive contact, such as sharing water bowls or mutual grooming, does not appear to be an efficient route of spreading the virus. The only sure way to protect cats is to prevent their exposure to the virus. Cat bites are the major means by which infection is transmitted, so keeping cats indoors, away from potentially infected cats that might bite them, markedly reduces their likelihood of contracting FIV infection.

The brainstem auditory evoked response or BAER tests the cat’s ability to respond to an auditory stimulus. The test is completed by using a specialized computer to record the auditory responses in each ear of a kitten and can also be performed on an older cat. A BAER test gauges the complexities of the external ear canal, middle/inner ear cavities, cranial nerve, and some areas of the brainstem.

Unfortunately, Veterinary Care Services of Milford has stopped providing BAER screening at their clinic. I will have to find a new resource for BAER testing in my area.