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What should I be on the lookout for with FIV+ cat?

post #1 of 6
3/3/07 at 8:10pm
Thread Starter 
Now that I"ve taken on an FIV+ cat for fostering, I'm just wondering what (if anything) I should be on the lookout for. I don't know much about the disease, but I do know how hard it is to pass along and what is required to infect another cat.
This big boy is 7 years old and was just seen by the vet 2 days ago and got a clean bill of health (Vet did a western blot too just to make sure he was FIV+ - we haven't heard back yet). So I know he's healthy now, but while he is in my care is there anything special I should be looking for? From what I understand FIV is basically kind like human AIDS. Is that right? And he's suseptible moreso to sickness and such if exposed to it right?
I may be way off, but I just want to make sure I know what to keep an eye out for on this big guy.
Thanks!
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post #2 of 6
3/4/07 at 12:03am
I would get him on L-lysine to help boost his immune system. The important thing is to not let your other cats get sick or pick up anything that may get back to him. I would not let your cats outside much either just because of the risk of your FIV+ kitty catching something, but that is up to you. I am glad you are caring for an FIV+ cat. Many people are quick to have them PTS because they are afraid they will pass it along. But you are right, it is very hard to pass along and the only likely way is through mating (just neuter the cat) and fighting (again neuter so they are less likely, and unless your cat routinely tear each other to shreads, then you have nothing to worry about!)

Good luck!
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post #3 of 6
3/4/07 at 12:31am
Good on you for taking it on. You will have to make sure that your cats are kept up to date with flea and worm treatment, if you can keep them in to reduce things being brought in, then that is good too. The main thing that FIV+ can have more problems with is their teeth, so you could do with trying to introduce some thing like Logic Gel or Plaque Off in to help that. FIV+ shouldn't be given raw meat cos of their compromised immune system.
FIV is actually the equivalent of HIV, and like HIV, it doesn't always develop into full blown AIDS, and some of the studies show that they end up dieing of completely unrelated things.
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post #4 of 6
3/4/07 at 7:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by booktigger View Post
FIV is actually the equivalent of HIV, and like HIV, it doesn't always develop into full blown AIDS, and some of the studies show that they end up dieing of completely unrelated things.
Yes you are right, same with FeLV. They won't die from it directly, just from secondary illness because their immune systems are compromised.
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post #5 of 6
3/4/07 at 8:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jen View Post
I would get him on L-lysine to help boost his immune system. The important thing is to not let your other cats get sick or pick up anything that may get back to him. I would not let your cats outside much either just because of the risk of your FIV+ kitty catching something, but that is up to you. I am glad you are caring for an FIV+ cat. Many people are quick to have them PTS because they are afraid they will pass it along. But you are right, it is very hard to pass along and the only likely way is through mating (just neuter the cat) and fighting (again neuter so they are less likely, and unless your cat routinely tear each other to shreads, then you have nothing to worry about!)

Good luck!
Quote:
Originally Posted by booktigger View Post
Good on you for taking it on. You will have to make sure that your cats are kept up to date with flea and worm treatment, if you can keep them in to reduce things being brought in, then that is good too. The main thing that FIV+ can have more problems with is their teeth, so you could do with trying to introduce some thing like Logic Gel or Plaque Off in to help that. FIV+ shouldn't be given raw meat cos of their compromised immune system.
FIV is actually the equivalent of HIV, and like HIV, it doesn't always develop into full blown AIDS, and some of the studies show that they end up dieing of completely unrelated things.
Thanks for the advice guys! None of my cats go out at all, so picking up anything shouldn't be a problem. All 5 of mine also just had their annuals in February and they are 100% healthy. Simon was also at the vet 2 days ago and got a good checkup too with all his shots and stuff. So right now then we should be set. I'll keep an eye on his teeth, but vet didn't say anything at his visit so they should be fine now. Vet also didn't mention anything to suppliment his immune system. Should he have? I didn't bring him to the vet, his current owner did and has had Simon long enough where he is pretty well educated on FIV so I hope he would have asked if there was anything Simon needed.
My cats are also all fixed and so is Simon so mating isn't a problem and Simon is very submissive and non confrontational as are all my cats (with the exception of the occasional territorial Hiss. ) So I don't think fighting will be a problem either. They won't be introduced for a while though so Simon can settle in.
You should see this cat though! As soon as he's comfortable I will take some pictures, but he is HUGE! Not fat huge - just a big big boy. He's got to top 20lbs and his thick gray fur make him so fuzzy! I wish I had the room for him. He's gorgeous.
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post #6 of 6
3/4/07 at 6:08pm
The only thing that I would recommend is to get him to the vet for antibiotics as soon as you notice a sniffle or any sign of a cold, they really don't have the immune system to fight off infection, so taking care of it quickly will prevent it developing into something life threatening to you for taking this big guy in
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