Help against FIV

Dear anyone,
Hello! I wish I could start with a more pleasant subject, but this is quite urgent... I recenlty found out that my cat has FIV : Feline Immunodeficiency Virus... Since then, I'm trying to see what can I do to protect him. His name is Jimmys, I found him on the street 4 years ago and his black and white with a cute pink nose. Do you have any suggestions or informations on any kind of treatment? If you do, please contact me at [email protected].I'm sorry that I'm comming up with such a subject, as it is my first time in the forum, but I need to adress people that would understand my shorrow...I have had cats all my life,I adore them and I need to do my best to save him...
Thank you in advance,
Elisabeth Antapassi

For starters, have you read our article on the subject?

FIV

Yes, I read your article and it was very informing...It's just that I was hopping for something more, I'm desperate... I just came back from the vet actually and I 've been searching the web trying to find something more... It's too soon for me to admit that I cannot do anything but hope. I found this cat on the street, he was only a month's old, he's like a child to me...
Anyway, one more question : what should I do about my dog? Ok, he will not be infected, but it's not so easy to keep the house clean and protect the cat from diseases...

Hi eli-

What exactly are you looking for? Strictly websites that deal with this disease?

http://www.catnetwork.com/health.htm

Perhaps someone online who can guide you to help offline?

http://www.hopeforpets.com/


Interaction with knowledgable vet techs and retired vets as well as animal rescue people who know about health care for cats?

http://www.cathelp-online.com/phpBB2/


Basically this disease is ravaging your cat's immune system and making him susceptible to secondary infections as well as opening him up to the possibility of certain cancers that he would not be at risk for otherwise. Your dog is safe from this, as it is species specific and won't jump ship (so to speak) With the help of a competent vet in your area as well as a competent holistic practioner you can work at beefing up the immune system.

I am sorry this has come your way and I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you for your response and your suggestions. I don't really know what I'm looking for... Just don't want to accept what is going on maybe. It seems that will need all the strenght we have. I'll keep you posted. And I'll visit the forum anyway, now that I've discovered it...
Take care

Originally posted by eli
... I need to adress people that would understand my shorrow...I have had cats all my life,I adore them and I need to do my best to save him...

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Dear Elizabeth,

Very sorrow to hear that your beloved cat has been diagnosed with FIV. As you've been finding out, although there is no cure for it at this time, FIV is not necessarily an immediate death sentence. You're obviously a concerned pet owner, so you probably already give your cat good food and a safe clean indoor environment. Good nutrition lays the foundation of strong physical health for your cat, and the safe environment will protect against colds, fleas, worms, and other things that would sap his strength.

Some cats can live quite long with FIV - some of it is random luck, but your good care, helped by the information that's currently available, can only add to Jimmys' chances. And it sounds like he has a good quality of life, with a loving human and a dog friend. Long or short, a happy life would still be a happy one.

It may help to use the forums search engine to find other people's stories about FIV: www.thecatsite.com/forums/search.php?s=

Here is a direct link to the search results page for "FIV": http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sea...der=descending

"What can you do? You don't have the power of life and death - you live with 'em day to day like always, you love 'em as much as you can, you take as many pictures as you can, you tell everyone the funny stories - sometimes it feels like love's never enough, but it's still alot, 'cause it's all the best parts of you."

Best of luck,
Chewie

I just learned my loved one has fiv some hours ago and I've been crying since... I got on the net as soon as I came back from the vet to get iformation on this virus, as I've never heard about it before. Some hours after, I am a little bit more optimistic, reading about other cats stories and about the possibilities of a long life. Thank you everyone! Best wishes for you and your cats!
PS: It's just stress me a little bit how I will deal with this in every-day life... I work a lot and Jimmys was used in long walks in the neighberhood. He just has to get used staying in the house all the time...

Dear Chewy,
Thank you for your response. Your mail was really comforting, in a time of big stress. I 've been crying since I came back from the vet, but now I feel a little bit more optimistic about it. It just stress me a bit how I will deal with this in every day life, and Jimmys also, as he was used in long walks in the neighberhood... Now he has to stay at home, and the vet suggested that he should be castrated, something I never did to my cats. I hate the idea, but it's for his best. Anyway, thanks again. It's suprising how people responded to my problem, but I guess it's normal comming from people with a deep sense of loving and carrying. Best wishes,
elisabeth

Originally posted by eli
Dear Chewy,
Thank you for your response. Your mail was really comforting, in a time of big stress. I 've been crying since I came back from the vet, but now I feel a little bit more optimistic about it. It just stress me a bit how I will deal with this in every day life, and Jimmys also, as he was used in long walks in the neighberhood... Now he has to stay at home, and the vet suggested that he should be castrated, something I never did to my cats. I hate the idea, but it's for his best. Anyway, thanks again. It's suprising how people responded to my problem, but I guess it's normal comming from people with a deep sense of loving and carrying. Best wishes,
elisabeth

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Hi Elisabeth,

I've found these forums to be very supportive and comforting - there are many people who share your deep affection for companion animals. I hope that you continue to find help, hope, and comfort here.

After you've made the initial adjustments to Jimmys lifestyle and things settle down a bit, you might want to see if he'll take to a harness and a leash? That way he can enjoy the outdoors while still safe under your supervision.

I don't know what reasons your vet outlined for sterilizing your cat, but from what I know, sterilization removes a potential area of stress and as a result can improve the health of a cat.

Let Jimmys know that he's got people from all over the world rooting for him via the Internet - take care,
Chewie