Although FIV is similar to HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus) and causes a disease in cats similar to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) in humans, it is a highly species-specific virus that infects only felines.
Because biting is the most efficient means of viral transmission, free-roaming, aggressive male cats are the most frequently infected, while cats housed exclusively indoors are much less likely to be infected.
How is FIV spread?
Mainly through bite wounds though on rare occasions from an infected mother cat to her kittens, usually during passage through the birth canal or when the newborn kittens ingest infected milk. Sexual contact is not a major means of spreading FIV.
What does FIV do to a cat?
Infected cats may appear normal for years. However, infection eventually leads to immune deficiency that hinders the cat’s ability to protect itself against other infections. An infected cat’s health may deteriorate progressively or is characterised by recurrent illness interspersed with periods of relative health. Signs include:
- Poor coat condition and persistent fever with a loss of appetite
- Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and mouth (stomatitis) and chronic or recurrent infections of the skin, urinary bladder, and upper respiratory tract
- Persistent diarrhoea and eye problems
- Slow but progressive weight loss, followed by severe wasting late in the disease process
- Cancer and blood diseases are much more common in cats infected with FIV
- Unspayed female cats may abort if pregnant
Some infected cats experience seizures, behaviour changes, and other neurological diseases.
How is infection diagnosed?
Antibody tests detect the presence of antibody in the blood of infected cats. This test is available from your vet. Infected mother cats transfer FIV antibodies to nursing kittens, so kittens born to infected mothers may receive positive test results for several months after birth. However, few of these kittens actually are or will become infected.
Testing, vaccination, good food and love will make for a healthy kitten
How can I protect my cat?
The only sure way to protect cats is to prevent their exposure to the virus and therefore to fights with aggressive male cats that may stray onto your property. Only infection-free cats should be adopted into a household with uninfected cats.
You can have your cat vaccinated against FIV but not all vaccinated cats will be protected by the vaccine, so preventing exposure is important even for vaccinated pets. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of vaccination with your veterinarian.
What if my cat already has FIV?
- FIV-infected cats should be confined indoors to prevent spread infection to other cats in the neighborhood and to reduce their exposure to other infections
- FIV-infected cats should be spayed or neutered
- They should be fed nutritionally complete and balanced diets
- Uncooked food, such as raw meat and eggs, and unpasteurised dairy products should not be fed to FIV-infected cats because the risk of food-borne bacterial and parasitic infections is much higher in immunosuppressed cats.
- Wellness visits for FIV-infected cats should be scheduled with your veterinarian at least every six months.
- Vigilance and close monitoring of the health and behaviour of FIV-infected cats is even more important than it is for uninfected cats. Alert your veterinarian to any changes in your cat’s health as soon as possible.
How long can I expect my FIV-infected cat to live?
With proper care and under ideal conditions, many infected cats will remain in apparent good health for many months or years. If your cat has already had one or more severe illnesses as a result of FIV infection, or if persistent fever and weight loss are present, a much shorter survival time can be expected.
Should I have my cat tested?
Early detection will help you maintain the health of your own cat and also allow you to prevent spreading infection to other cats.
