Why do cats get feline AIDS? Can cats carry HIV and transmit it to humans?

We all know that AIDS is a very serious infectious disease for humans, mainly transmitted through blood. In fact, cats can also get feline AIDS, but it is still different from human HIV. So why do cats get feline AIDS? Can the HIV virus in cats be transmitted to humans?

Why do cats get feline AIDS?

The full name of feline AIDS is "Feline Immunodeficiency Virus" (FIV), and the AIDS (HIV) we usually talk about is not the same thing. It is generally believed that feline AIDS is transmitted through wounds, that is, cats often get scratched when fighting with each other, and the blood from the scratched wounds is transmitted. Cat breastfeeding is also one of the ways to spread feline AIDS, that is, mother cats with feline AIDS may also transmit feline AIDS to kittens by feeding them. However, normal play, feeding and other ways will not transmit feline AIDS to other cats.

Can cats transmit HIV to humans?

Although the structure of cat HIV is related to that of human HIV, cat HIV cannot be transmitted to humans.

The virus that causes feline AIDS has similar morphological and structural characteristics to the HIV virus that causes human AIDS, and the clinical symptoms it induces are also similar, so it is called feline AIDS, but it has nothing to do with humans. However, it should be noted that since cats' immune capacity is severely reduced after the onset of AIDS, various difficult-to-control infections such as parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc. may affect humans.

How to keep cats infected with AIDS

Feline AIDS is mainly transmitted through bites, and it is generally believed that cat-to-cat bites can spread the virus from the mouth. Studies have also found that feline AIDS can be transmitted to kittens through breastfeeding.

After a cat is infected with AIDS, like humans, there is an incubation period. At the beginning, there will be lymph node lesions, and the symptoms are fever, poor mental state, and inactivity. Pathologically, the leukocytopenia. After a few months, these symptoms of the cat will heal on their own, and the virus will begin to lurk in the cat's body, waiting to erupt several years later.

Cat HIV test is very simple, three drops of blood and ten minutes, you can check whether the cat has feline AIDS. If the cat has HIV and the cat is old, you should add exercise and nutrition to improve the cat's immunity. Because HIV attacks immunity, the cat will eventually die from minor diseases such as viral infection and bacterial infection.

How to prevent AIDS in cats

Take your cat for vaccinations, health checks, and deworming regularly. Pay attention to the health of your cat, and if you keep multiple cats at the same time, try to pay attention to the fights between cats. Especially male cats, they often fight for mating rights during estrus, so you can take your cat for sterilization to prevent fights between cats. This does not mean that sterilized cats will not be infected with feline AIDS, but by reducing the probability of fighting between cats, the transmission of feline AIDS through wounds (blood) is reduced.

Try to prevent cats from going out and reduce contact with aggressive cats. If there are multiple cats at home, it is best to limit the range of activities of aggressive cats to reduce the probability of fighting. If there are cats diagnosed with feline AIDS, try to keep them isolated.