Facts about FIV:
• FIV is a highly species-specific virus. It cannot be spread from cats to humans (or from cat to any other non-feline species).
• FIV cats can lead long, healthy lives with few or no symptoms.
• FIV is not easily passed between cats through normal day-to-day activities.
• A spayed or neutered cat is extremely unlikely to spread the disease to other healthy cats if introduced properly.
• Aggressive, free-roaming male cats are more likely to become infected with FIV than any other type of domesticated cat.
• Male cats are two times more likely to be FIV-positive than female cats.
• The average age of FIV-infected cats is 3 to 5 years old.
• FIV-positive cats should be kept as healthy as you can possibly keep them.
• FIV-positive cats must remain indoors, free from stress, kept on a high-quality diet, and be treated by a vet as soon as any secondary infection occurs.
The Origin of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
FIV was discovered in a California cat rescue in 1986. Some of the cats there appeared to have an illness similar to AIDS. It is probable that those cats contracted FIV a number of years before showing any symptoms. Since 1986, FIV has been found in every country that does FIV testing.
How Common is FIV?
The prevalence of FIV varies from 1% to 15% (with the American Association of Feline Practitioners suggesting that 1 in every 12 cats tested is FIV+). In the United States, approximately 1.5 to 3 percent of all healthy cats have been infected with FIV.
Aggressive, free-roaming male cats are more likely to become infected with FIV than any other type of domesticated cat. In fact, male cats are twice as likely to be FIV+ than female cats. The average age of infected cats is between 3-5 years old. Furthermore, FIV has the lowest number of occurrences in rural areas where the cat population is low or in areas where most or all cats are kept indoors.
How is FIV Spread?
Although the virus is present in a cat’s blood, saliva and cerebrospinal fluid, it is extremely fragile. Therefore, FIV does not survive outside of the infected cat’s body for very long.
FIV is shed through a cat’s saliva. The most common mode of transmission is through bite wounds that occur during cat fights. FIV is not spread by the casual day-to-day contact between cats that reside in households with stable social structures.
FIV may also be transmitted from a mother cat to her kittens. This type of transmission usually occurs when the kitten passes through the birth canal or by ingesting infected milk. Sexual contact between cats is not a primary means of spreading FIV.
FIV+ cats are able to share food bowls, litter boxes and toys without transmitting the virus to other cats in the household. FIV+ cats can even sleep and play with other cats in the household without infecting them.
What Does FIV Do to a Cat?
A cat may appear normal for years after the initial FIV infection. However, within 4-6 weeks of being infected, white blood cell counts will start to decline. Additionally, some cats may also have swollen lymph nodes, fever, diarrhea and/or anemia.
Over time, FIV hinders the cat’s immune system, which then leads to chronic health problems and allows opportunistic infections to run rampant through the cat’s body. For instance, FIV+ cats chronically have gum and mouth inflammation.
There are 3 stages an FIV+ cat will go through. The first stage is called the acute stage. It generally occurs 4-6 weeks after the initial infection. Some common symptoms of this stage are fever, swollen lymph nodes, and skin or intestinal infections.
The second stage is called the latent or subclinical stage. This stage can last for years. There may be no signs of FIV, although the immune system may be slowly destroyed during this time.
The third stage is the final or chronic stage. During this stage, the cat’s immune system is not functioning correctly, which makes it nearly impossible for the cat to fight off infection. Infections during this stage are usually chronic. Some chronic infections FIV-positive cats develop are upper respiratory infections, skin & ear diseases, abscesses, chronic sinusitis, and intestinal infections. Rarely, an FIV+ cat will develop a neurological dysfunction or tumors.
How is FIV Treated and Managed?
It is most important that you inform your veterinarian that your cat is FIV-positive to ensure that your vet will treat your cat with the best of care, such as proper vaccinations and aggressive treatment when infections occur.
Try to keep your cat’s stress level low. A common stressor for cats is any type of change, small or large. Try to keep as stable and unchanging an environment for your FIV-positive cat as possible. Also avoid allowing your FIV-positive cat to have contact with other ill animals.
FIV-positive cats should be indoor-only cats (no exceptions) to help prevent secondary infections and to help prevent the spread of FIV to other cats.
Feed your cat a nutritional diet, avoiding uncooked foods like raw meat, eggs and unpastueurized dairy products.
Visit the vet regularly—at least every six months. Your veterinarian should do a complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis, and a urine analysis annually.
Don’t forget to love and cherish your cat every day!
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