By Spencer Sterritt

Disease spreading among outdoor Nanaimo cats

Apr 12, 2017 | 5:11 PM

NANAIMO — Cats in a South Nanaimo neighbourhood are becoming afflicted with a disease similar to HIV in humans.

Carley Colclough, the pound and adoption coordinator with Nanaimo Animal Control, said four unneutered male cats were found in the Harewood neighbourhood with the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). It leaves cats extremely vulnerable to other diseases and infections, much like HIV.

Colclough said the cats, which all seemed to have been owned at one point, were perfect candidates for the virus because they’re more aggressive and fight more, which leads to cuts and blood transfers.

“In all likelihood, if those cats had been neutered when they were owned, it would have been much less likely for them to contract FIV,” she said.

Though FIV is not a rare disease, Leon Davis, branch manager of the Nanaimo SPCA, said this is a big problem.

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“To have a sampling of four random cats from one neighbourhood, that are all outside living cats, suggests it’s pretty spread out in that neighbourhood,” he said.

He said pet owners should be aware and concerned if their outdoor cat returns with scratches or cuts, because a FIV transfer is possible and it’s difficult to spot.

The diagnosis isn’t a death sentence though.

“Cats can live with FIV for quite a long time, just like people can with HIV,” Davis said. “They can (also) live a very short time. You never know when that cat’s going to contract something that’s going to end up killing it…All you can do is support your cat and keep it inside.”

If anyone does think their cat has been attacked and contracted the virus, they’re urged to take their cats to the vet as soon as possible.

According to both Colclough and Davis, FIV can’t be spread to other animals.

spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit