{"id":38690,"date":"2024-07-22T18:06:14","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T16:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e465a69a-5ef1-4436-9bce-00d2afd4eff2"},"modified":"2024-07-22T19:26:39","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T17:26:39","slug":"my-cat-has-fiv-what-does-this-mean-vet-discusses-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-this-incurable-feline-disease","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/my-cat-has-fiv-what-does-this-mean-vet-discusses-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-this-incurable-feline-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"My cat has FIV \u2013 what does this mean? Vet discusses symptoms, causes and treatment of this incurable feline disease"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding out your cat has FIV can be daunting says veterinary surgeon Sarah Elliott from Cats Protection, but with a bit of TLC they can live a happy and long life <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Monday, 22 July 2024 at 16:06 PM<\/p>

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Whether it\u2019s your own\u00a0cat\u00a0or one which you\u2019re considering adopting, finding out\u00a0a cat has Feline Immunodeficiency Virus\u00a0<\/strong>(FIV) can\u00a0seem daunting.\u00a0But while there is no cure, cats with the virus can lead long and happy lives with the right care, says Sarah Elliott, Central Veterinary Officer for Cats Protection<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>

Cats and dogs living together: how to introduce them to each other<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
What is FIV?<\/strong><\/h2>
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus\u00a0(FIV) is a slow progressing disease which\u00a0is thought to\u00a0infect about four percent of cats in the UK.\u00a0The virus attacks the white blood cells in a cat\u2019s bloodstream, weakening their\u00a0immune system and making\u00a0it harder to fight off common\u00a0illnesses.\u00a0<\/p>
<\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-symptoms-of-fiv\">What are the symptoms of FIV?<\/h2><p>Because FIV has a long incubation period, it can be months or even years before symptoms appear.\u00a0When they begin, initial symptoms include painful gums, chest infections, eye problems and digestive disorders. As the disease progresses,\u00a0infected\u00a0cats may become repeatedly ill with cat flu, take longer to recover from infections, lose weight and develop tumours.\u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-cats-with-fiv-have-to-be-put-to-sleep\">Do cats with FIV have to be put to sleep?<\/h2><p>No. Cats with FIV can lead\u00a0long, happy lives, although\u00a0owners will need to make a few simple adjustments.\u00a0Many\u00a0infected cats will\u00a0live\u00a0normal lives for a long time and die from something else before developing any FIV symptoms.\u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-long-will-a-cat-with-fiv-live\">How long will a cat with FIV live?<\/h2><p>No two cats are the same, and the virus will affect cats differently depending on their overall health.\u00a0But because FIV has a long incubation period, it can be many years before cats show any symptoms. This means many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/how-long-do-cats-live\">cats can live long lives<\/a> and die from other causes before\u00a0becoming ill with FIV.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-is-fiv-the-same-as-hiv\">Is FIV the same as HIV?<\/h2><p>No, FIV and HIV are not the same. FIV is a virus which is\u00a0similar to\u00a0the Human\u00a0Immunodeficiency\u00a0Virus (HIV), although FIV cannot infect humans and HIV cannot infect cats.\u00a0\u00a0FIV only affects cats\u00a0so it cannot be passed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/tags\/dogs\">dogs<\/a> or other animal species.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-is-fiv-spread\">How is FIV spread?\u00a0<\/h2><p>The virus is present in blood, saliva and other bodily fluids and is\u00a0most commonly spread\u00a0through fighting or mating.\u00a0It can also be passed from a mother to\u00a0her kittens, either during pregnancy or through her milk.\u00a0As a fragile virus which can\u2019t survive long outside the body, FIV cannot\u00a0easily\u00a0be spread on your hands, surfaces,\u00a0clothing or bedding.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-is-there-a-vaccine-for-fiv\">Is there a vaccine for FIV?<\/h2><p>There is no vaccine\u00a0available in the UK and there is no\u00a0cure for FIV. However, you can help prevent your cat from catching it by ensuring they\u2019re neutered. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/cat-neutering\">Neutered cats <\/a>are less likely to fight, roam far from home or engage in mating behaviours, all of which increase the risk of them becoming infected with FIV or other illnesses.\u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-i-look-after-a-cat-with-fiv\">How do I\u00a0look after a cat with FIV?\u00a0<\/h2><p>Cats with FIV will need to be kept\u00a0as\u00a0indoor pets\u00a0to reduce the risk of them picking up infections and prevent them from spreading the virus\u00a0to other cats.\u00a0This means they should\u00a0not be introduced to a\u00a0household where there are other cats.<\/p><p>It\u2019s important to keep\u00a0cats with FIV\u00a0as healthy as possible \u2013 by feeding a good diet and keeping up to date with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/cat-vaccinations-which-vaccinations-cats-need-and-when-kittens-should-receive-their-first-jab\">vaccinations,<\/a>\u00a0worm\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/apple-news\/how-to-get-rid-of-fleas-on-dogs\">flea treatment<\/a>. Remember, cats living an indoor-only lifestyle will need plenty of activities,\u00a0games\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/homemade-cat-toys-how-to-make-cat-toys\">toys<\/a> to encourage exercise\u00a0to keep them in shape.\u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-treatment-is-there-for-fiv\">What treatment is there for FIV?<\/h2><p>While there is no cure or reliable treatment for FIV itself, your cat may need treatment\u00a0if and when\u00a0symptoms begin to show. This can include antibiotics and\/or anti-inflammatory drugs for secondary infections or anti-viral drugs. Speak to your vet to come up with the best plan on how to look after your cat.\u00a0<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/how-to-give-cats-medicine\">How to give cats medicine – liquid or tablets – without getting scratched or bitten from the experts at Cats Protection<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-i-know-if-my-cat-has-fiv-how-is-fiv-diagnosed\">How do I know\u00a0if my cat has FIV? How is FIV diagnosed?<\/h2><p>If your vet suspects your cat has FIV they can perform a\u00a0blood\u00a0test\u00a0to detect if there are antibodies to the virus in the blood.\u00a0In some\u00a0cases\u00a0the test may need\u00a0to be repeated, as false positives can occur. Should your cat test positive for FIV, your vet will give you advice on how to care for them and\u00a0any treatment they may need. \u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-should-i-adopt-a-cat-with-fiv\">Why should I adopt a cat with FIV?<\/h2><p>As they need to be kept indoors, cats with FIV make ideal pets for people living in flats, or without suitable outdoor access.\u00a0<\/p><p>Some people also find it hugely rewarding to take on a cat with a health condition, which may otherwise struggle to attract a new owner. If you\u2019re thinking of adopting a cat with a health condition, get as much information as you can from the rehoming charity or previous owner and\u00a0obtain quotes for suitable pet insurance to cover your cat.\u00a0<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/why-rescue-cats-make-great-pets\">Why rescue cats make great pets and how to choose the right one for you, from the experts at the RSPCA<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-my-fiv-positive-cat-go-to-a-cattery\">Can my FIV positive cat go to a cattery?<\/h2><p>As the virus can only be spread by bodily fluids, most catteries are happy to look after FIV cats. However, you should make sure your cat is up to date with their vaccinations before their stay and inform cattery staff of your cat\u2019s condition.\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Love cats? Check out our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\">pets<\/a>\u00a0section for advice on cat care from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/apple-news\/how-to-get-rid-of-fleas-on-dogs\">How to take your cat to the vet without stress<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/animals\/pets\/how-to-stop-cats-scratching-furniture\">how to stop them scratching furniture<\/a><\/strong><\/p><hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/><p><strong>Cats Protection is the UK\u2019s largest cat charity – to find more tips from the charity about humane ways of keeping cats out of your garden, visit\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cats.org.uk\/help-and-advice\/home-and-environment\/keeping-cats-out\">cats.org.uk<\/a><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Finding out your cat has FIV can be daunting says veterinary surgeon Sarah Elliott from Cats Protection, but with a bit of TLC they can live a happy and long life <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":38691,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/07\/my-cat-has-fiv-what-does-this-mean-vet-discusses-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-this-incurable-feline-disease.jpg",2121,1414,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/07\/my-cat-has-fiv-what-does-this-mean-vet-discusses-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-this-incurable-feline-disease-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/07\/my-cat-has-fiv-what-does-this-mean-vet-discusses-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-this-incurable-feline-disease-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/07\/my-cat-has-fiv-what-does-this-mean-vet-discusses-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-this-incurable-feline-disease-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/07\/my-cat-has-fiv-what-does-this-mean-vet-discusses-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-this-incurable-feline-disease-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/07\/my-cat-has-fiv-what-does-this-mean-vet-discusses-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-this-incurable-feline-disease-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/07\/my-cat-has-fiv-what-does-this-mean-vet-discusses-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-of-this-incurable-feline-disease-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Finding out your cat has FIV can be daunting says veterinary surgeon Sarah Elliott from Cats Protection, but with a bit of TLC they can live a happy and long life","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/38690"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}