Inflammation of the gums and severe dental disease, known as gingivostomatitis, is common in cats infected with FIV, and they are significantly more likely to develop cancer and immune-mediated blood disorders than healthy cats. Weight loss, seizures, behavioral changes and neurological disorders are all possible.
FIV has three stages: acute, asymptomatic, and clinical. In the acute phase, generally one to three months after exposure, the cat may have enlarged lymph nodes and run a fever as the virus establishes itself. Some cats may also have a poor appetite during this time. Most cat owners never notice that anything is amiss.
A healthy FIV positive cat can live for many years, and indeed can often outlive non-infected cats, but please be aware that this is not always the case. Due to their impaired immune system, the cat may succumb to illness earlier, and not reach their normal life expectancy.
FIV initially results in a short-lived illness that's often not even noticed by a cat's owner. Cats then enter a stage of progressive immune system decline, but many remain without symptoms for many years. In fact, research shows that FIV cats may have a similar life expectancy to uninfected cats.
Accordingly, results indicated that parameters associated with FIV disease progression are directly linked to aggression. The possible impact of FIV on the behavioral pattern of naturally infected cats should not be underestimated.
As far as we know, once a cat is infected with the FIV virus, it will remain infected for the rest of its life. However, it is not clear if all infected cats will become clinically ill. It may be weeks, months, or even years after initial infection with FIV before a cat will develop clinical signs of illness.
FIV-positive cats that become clinical for the disease usually succumb to secondary infection, cancer, or immune-mediated disease.
Many shelters would euthanize cats that tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus, because they were considered unadoptable. However, new research proves that cats with FIV can live long, healthy lives and can even cohabit with FIV-negative cats.
Average Cost of Treatment
The cost can also vary depending on the size and age of your cat, veterinary bills, and the stage of FIV. With the soaring cost of veterinary care, you can expect high veterinarian bills if your cat contracts feline HIV.
Historically, FIV- positive cats have often been considered un-adoptable, and are euthanized in many shelters. However, new research has shown that FIV-positive cats are in fact very adoptable, and can live the same lifespan as an FIV-negative cat.
Question: Can FIV be spread through casual contact, such as cats sharing the same food or water bowls, or cats grooming each other? NO! FIV is transmitted to other felines primarily through deep, penetrating bite wounds.
Yes, as long as the cats get along and do not fight. The risk that a FIV-positive cat could spread the virus to a FIV-negative cat can be minimized by having them live in separate rooms until you are confident that they will not fight with each other.
FIV is only contagious among cats and difficult to transmit. It is also slow-acting, so cats generally do not show any symptoms until years after being infected.
The FIV Vaccine Offered Limited Protection
The vaccine contained certain strains of inactivated virus, which offered protection against some (but not all) FIV infections. In other words, vaccinated cats that were exposed to any of the strains not included in the vaccine were at full risk of getting infected.
For this reason - and just to be on the safe side - I suggest that people who fit into any of these categories avoid close contact with FIV infected cats (like kissing on the nose or mouth), wash any areas of their body licked by the kitty, and avoid being bitten.
Though there is no known cure, FIV is far from a death sentence. They have weaker immune systems, but cats who test positive for FIV can live fulfilling and happy lives like any other cats, and can live for many years, often without harmful symptoms.
FIV is most common in outdoor, aggressive, male cats
Outdoor cats fight more frequently over territory, and male cats in particular can be very aggressive. If you have a male cat who likes to go outside, consider neutering your cat: This tends to reduce aggression.
Street Paws opposes euthanizing any feral/street cat simply because he or she tests positive for FIV (feline immuno-deficiency virus) or FeLV (feline leukemia virus). If the cat shows no active signs of ill health, we believe he/she should be released back into his colony regardless of the test results.
But the bottom line, she says, is that the vast majority of FIV infections occur among "outdoor, unneutered male cats that fight and bite." Diagnosis of infection is based on a cat's history, clinical signs, and the results of a blood test for FIV antibodies.
At Essentials PetCare, we offer affordable FeLV and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) testing. A FeLV/FIV test is just $40 for both cats and kittens at any of our locations. The test can be given on its own, or added on to any of our other services.
Although the ability of FIV or HIV to establish a latent infection in the CNS is controversial, several studies have reported a sustained proviral burden in FIV-infected cats in the brain [72,89] even in the absence of significant viral RNA.
Blood tests detect the disease in many cats, but for other cats, the bone marrow must be examined to confirm infection. In contrast, FIV infection is usually diagnosed through blood testing alone. Many veterinarians use a rapid-result test called a SNAP test to diagnose FeLV or FIV infection.
Cats with FIV will need to live in an environment that is relatively stress-free. A stress-free environment for a cat includes minimal extra pets in the household. A home with only one cat and no other pets is best, but if there are other cats or dogs, it is best to restrict the numbers and avoid taking in new pets.
Firstly the virus is very fragile, and does not live for long once outside the body - it is destroyed by drying, light, heat and basic detergents - normally the virus will be long-dead before any surfaces come to be cleaned, it is the initial drying that sees off the vast majority of the virus, and this will normally ...