FIV & FeLV

FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and FeLV (Feline Leukaemia Virus) are not Sphynx-specific diseases, but they are something I would expect to see checked in any breeding cattery.

Unlike genetic testing, this is a blood test looking for infection. FIV testing usually detects antibodies to the virus, while routine FeLV screening looks for FeLV antigen.

For breeding cats the important part is quite simple: both parents should have documented negative FIV and FeLV results before mating.

This matters particularly when a cat is brought in from another cattery or an outside stud is used. AAFP guidelines recommend that breeding cats are tested and that queens sent elsewhere for mating are only exposed to cats with documented negative FeLV antigen and FIV antibody results.

A negative result is not something that should automatically be treated as permanent. If there has been a possible exposure since the test, or a new cat has entered the cattery, repeat testing may be needed because very recent infection may not be detected immediately.

For a buyer, simply ask to see the FIV/FeLV blood results for both parents rather than accepting “our cats are negative” without documentation.

References:

Little S, Levy J, Hartmann K, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Hosie M, Olah G, Denis KS. (2020). 2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 22(1), 5–30.

Hartmann K, et al. — ABCD FIV Guidelines. European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases.

Hofmann-Lehmann R, et al. — ABCD FeLV Guidelines. European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases.

ABCD - Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) https://www.abcdcatsvets.org/guideline-for-feline-immunodeficiency-virus/

ABCD - Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) https://www.abcdcatsvets.org/guideline-for-feline-leukaemia-virus-infection/