What's better than not being FIV+? Being mis-diagnosed with FIV and not really having it at all.That's right. Nadya is not FIV+. Not.
And how many tests does it take to confirm that? Seven. That's right. Seven.
When Nadya came into Feline Rescue, she had an FIV test performed. That test is the Elisa test and is the one most commonly used. It came back negative.
Fast forward to six weeks later, about two weeks after her kittens were born. Nadya's temp sky-rocketed to 105.5 (normal temp range is 100.4-102.5). She had another Elisa test performed. FIV could certainly be causing her mysterious - and sudden - illness. Test came back negative.
Fast forward to 2 more weeks later. Nadya's temp sky-rocketed yet again to 106! Another Elisa test was administered. Negative. A test called the Western Blot was performed. That test looks for other ailments, too (not just FIV). It came back negative.
Fast forward another 2 weeks, Nadya's temp goes back up to 105. This time, the sleeves have been pushed up. The gloves have been thrown on the floor. It's an all out war on combatting what ails Nadya. The mother oF all blood tests (read: expensive) - the PCR test - was performed. Positive. This is the only test that would come back positive but since this was the most comprehensive, it was deemed to be the supreme diagnosis. Nadya had FIV.
Fast forward six weeks later: Nadya and kittens go in for their spay/neuter surgery. As standard procedure, this is the time when all kittens and momma get tested for FIV. Nadya (and the kittens) had the Elisa snap test performed. Everyone's - including Nadya's - test came back negative. Hooray for the kittens! Huh? For Nadya.
Our vet called the University to discuss the oddness of all these tests. The U was intrigued. They decided to do a case study on Nadya. One more - and final - test for Nadya. This one procedure used all three test types - Elisa, Western Blot, and PCR. All of them came back negative. The verdict: Nadya does not have FIV. I repeat: Nadya does not have FIV!!!!
Of course, never one to be satisfied, I then posed the question: Um, then why did that one test come back negative? Shoulder shrug from the vet. Perhaps that test was performed incorrectly. Perhaps it was tainted. Perhaps Nadya was stressed and threw a false positive. (For anyone who has watched the cam for the past four months, you know that Nadya DOES NOT GET STRESSED! She's one of the most easy going momma cats we've ever had at Feline Rescue. Ever. In the history of FR.) Okay, fine. I'll let that one go. But here's my next question: Um, what was really wrong with her then? Something had to be causing her scary high temps. Shoulder shrug. Perhaps she was stressed. Sigh. I guess we'll never know. She's perfectly fine now.
I have to believe that one of the reasons Nadya has yet to be adopted is because of her FIV+ status listing. I really hope word spreads that she is perfectly fine. A mis-diagnosis. A false positive. She is FIV NEGATIVE. There is nothing wrong with her. Nothing, that is, other than not having a forever home.
Nadya is one of the most easy going cats I have ever encountered. She is also one heck of a mother. She was amazingly protective of them. She was incredibly strict. And now that her kittens are older, she's a laid back momma who loves to play with her babies and even lets them nurse occasionally. She purrs all the time. She gives fabulous kisses. She adores being petted. She has a heart of gold. Surely you know someone who wants such a sweet, loving, and wonderful cat as Nadya, right? Spread the word. Nadya needs a home!
