Living with a Cat with FIV

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

04 Jun 2008 10:38 AM

FIV stands for feline immunodeficiency virus -- it is a virus related to feline leukemia (FeLV) and HIV in humans that can impair a cat's ability to fight off infections. Once, a diagnosis of FIV was considered a death sentence.

These days, cats with FIV can live long and happy lives. Many FIV positive cats live a decade or more with the disease! Here are some tips to help you if your share your home with a cat who is FIV positive.

• Take care that your FIV positive cat does not spread the disease to others. The best way to do this is to keep your cat indoors at all times. If you have a multi-cat household, you'll need to keep your FIV positive cat separated from the others, unless they are also FIV positive. The disease is most commonly spread via a bite wound from an infected cat.
• FIV positive cats can be more susceptible to infection. The most common forms of infection seen in cats with feline immunodeficiency virus are upper respiratory, dental, and skin. If you see signs of infection, you should try to get to your veterinarian as soon as possible -- early intervention can prevent secondary infections.
• You'll want to be vigilant about vaccinations for your FIV positive cat. Keeping your cat current can prevent many illnesses that can turn life-threatening in a cat with an immune deficiency.

A cat who is FIV positive can be a loving companion for many years -- you may never realize that your pet is sick! One of our regular visitors at the cats-only boarding facility is FIV positive, and if it weren't for the note in his file, I'd never notice that he was any different from the other cats. He's loving and sweet and wonderful (and never misses a meal).

Interested in adopting a cat with FIV? Talk to your local shelter -- many shelters have "special needs" pets looking for loving homes.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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