The Ultimate Guide To Fiv In Cats

Cats who're infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) would possibly not show symptoms until years following your initial infection occurred. Although the herpes virus is slow-acting, a cat’s body's defense mechanisms is severely weakened in the event the disease begins.

This makes the actual susceptible to various secondary infections. Infected cats who receive supportive health care and are residing in a stress-free, indoor environment can live relatively comfortable lives for months to years prior to disease reaches its chronic stages.

Many people confuse FIV with feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Although these diseases come in the same retrovirus family and cause many similar secondary conditions FeLV and FIV will vary diseases.


What Are the Symptoms of FIV?


An FIV-infected cat might not exactly show any symptoms for several years. Once symptoms do develop, however, they will often continually progress -or a cat may show signs and symptoms of sickness interspersed with health for decades. If your cat is demonstrating the following symptoms, please have examined because of your veterinarian:

  • Enlarged lymph nodes

  • Fever

  • Anemia

  • Weight loss

  • Disheveled coat

  • Poor appetite

  • Diarrhea

  • Abnormal appearance or inflammation in the eye (conjunctivitis)

  • Inflammation from the gums (gingivitis)

  • Inflammation with the mouth (stomatitis)

  • Dental disease

  • Skin redness or thinning hair

  • Wounds that don’t heal

  • Sneezing

  • Discharge from eyes or nose

  • Frequent urination, straining to urinate or urinating away from litter box

  • Behavior change

How Is FIV Transmitted?


FIV is primarily passed from cat to cat through deep bite wounds, the type that usually occur outdoors during aggressive fights and territorial disputes-the perfect reason and also hardwearing . cat inside.
Another, more uncommon mode of transmission originates from an FIV-infected mother cat to her kitten. FIV will not seem for being commonly spread through sharing food bowls and cat litter boxes, social grooming sneezing along with casual modes of contact.

Which Cats Are Most Prone to FIV?


Although any feline is susceptible, free-roaming, outdoor intact male cats who fight normally contract the sickness. Cats who live indoors will be the least likely to end up infected.

Can a Person Catch FIV from the Cat?


No. FIV are not transmitted from cat to human, only from cat to cat.

What Should I Do If I Think My Cat Has FIV?


If you think your cat has FIV, get him to examined and tested because of your veterinarian without delay. During your visit, expect to describe any symptoms you have detected, regardless of how minute they seem. Also make sure a cat indoors, clear of other felines who might possibly be infected or whom he could infect, til you have a diagnosis.

How Is FIV Diagnosed?


FIV infection is routinely diagnosed by blood testing. The FIV status of each and every cat needs to be known. The most common style of test actively seeks the presence of antibodies for the virus within the blood. No test is 100-percent accurate all in the time, as well as your veterinarian will interpret examination result and find out whether further exams are needed to confirm whether positive or negative test result. Once a cat is decided to be FIV-positive, that cat can perform transmitting the sickness to other cats.

Since it is also possible for an infected mother cat to transfer FIV antibodies to her kittens, these kittens may test positive off their mother’s antibodies until they've cleared them using their company systems, which happens by half a year of age. Therefore, kittens who test positive for FIV antibodies when they’re younger than half a year should undergo antibody tests again afterwards to see if they may be infected.

How Is FIV Treated?


Unfortunately, there isn't any specific antiviral strategy to FIV. Cats can conduct the virus for an extended time before symptoms appear. Therefore, treatment focuses mainly on extending the asymptomatic period or, if symptoms have placed in, on easing the secondary effects with the virus. Your veterinarian may prescribe some in the following treatments:

  • Medication for secondary infections

  • Healthy, palatable diet to encourage good nutrition

  • Fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy

  • Anti-inflammatory drugs

  • Immune-enhancing drugs

  • Parasite control

How Do I Care for My FIV-Infected Cat?



  • Keep your cat indoors. This will protect him from experience of disease-causing agents this agreement he could be susceptible. By bringing your cat indoors, you’re also protecting the uninfected cats as part of your community.

  • Watch for changes-even seemingly minor-with your cat’s health insurance behavior. Immediately report any medical problems to your vet.

  • Bring your cat in your vet twice per year for the wellness checkup, blood count and urine analysis.

  • Feed your cat a nutritionally balanced food-no raw food diets, please, as bacteria and parasites in uncooked meat and eggs could be dangerous to immunocompromised pets.

  • Be sure your cat is spayed or neutered.

How Can FIV Be Prevented?


FIV vaccines can be obtained but would possibly not protect all cats. In addition, these vaccines can affect testing for herpes. It is best to use your cat’s veterinarian to find out if FIV vaccination is the foremost option for your cat. Whether or not your cat is vaccinated, it's always important to prevent contact with FIV.

The best way to prevent your cat from contracting the herpes virus is to keep him indoors, avoiding any chance of hitting the ground with infected felines. If you walk your cat, keep him using a leash when outdoors. And if your cat is going being spending any moment in a cattery or in a very home along with other felines, be sure all cats have tested negative for FIV. Also, any recently adopted cat needs to be tested for FIV before entering your house.

What Can Happen if FIV Goes Untreated?


Without medicine, the secondary infections that could occur as a result of FIV can progress to life-threatening conditions. Additionally, cats with FIV can be cultivated various forms of cancer blood diseases or kidney failure that can ultimately claim the actual’s life.