Dog Community

FIV Positive

Posted : 8/3/2008 11:09:47 AM

I am considering adopting a FIV positive cat. I am waiting for a return call to obtain additional info on him, but I have several questions/concerns that I'm hoping someone can help me with here:

- Is FIV transferrable to humans or dogs?

- I'm guessing that this illness requires daily medication, if so, is it very expensive and is there more than one med to be given daily?

- How long can infected cats live with this?

- Do I need to do anything special in terms of living environment?

- Would another cat be able to live in our household with him if they were vaccinated against FIV?

- Is there anything special in terms of diet?

Any additional info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

tia2

Posted : 8/3/2008 11:29:37 AM

This is just my experience. I had an FIV positive cat. He was diagnosed at 4 when he reacted severely to the fiv vaccine. Dr. told me it wasn't necessary to test for it....just start the series. That almost killed him!

He had no symptoms once he recovered from the shot so there was no meds to give him. Apparently, he was just a carrier. I had 2 other cats at the time also and they were negative and vaccinated. They remained negative and healthy and never contracted the disease. I never did much more than clean litter boxes and each cat's dish with a mild solution of bleach and soapy water every other day or so (rinsed VERY well) Baby was my very first cat. He lived to be 14. I'm sure his immune system was a bit more compromised once the older age issues occured. He went from 13lbs down to 6. His lymph nodes were huge and it was time to let him go. He had a great long life. So did my other cats that lived with him.

I did supplement him with immune supporting vitamins and herbs for my own peace of mind and I'd like to think it helped.

HTH

grab01

Posted : 8/3/2008 1:02:48 PM

They don't require meds unless they have some sort of health issue..just like any other cat.

The disease is only able to be transferred to other cats..not humans or dogs. Thus they need to be kept strictly indoors.

A high quality diet is important, as I think anything that can support their immune system is key.

They can live a normal life..we have a great FIV + cat at work (was found as a stray) that another tech is adopting when she moves. She's a very sweet cat and I think most of us were smitten with her, but we all have cats already tht are FIV negative. I know of another FIV + cat who is in his teens age wise, with no health issues.

If you have no other cats, i think it would be a wonderful thing to adopt one. They're so hard to place out, since they need to either be the only cat, or live with other cats with FIV

erica1989

Posted : 8/3/2008 3:46:53 PM

In my expierence, they can lead long lives - but when they do crash (and they will) it comes fast and hard.

There is no cure, think of it like AIDS in humans.

This kitty must stay inside, as to not infect other cats. There is no sure-fire vaccine to prevent FIV, which is why people in general are incouraged to keep their cats indoors - to protect them from infection. My cats have not, nor will they every be, vaccinated against it, but they also stay indoors (with the occasional escape that lasts no more than 3 minutes).

this website gives some good medical info http://www.2ndchance.info/fiv.htm

GypsyNBeau

Posted : 8/6/2008 1:24:57 AM

Sent you a PM. :-)

Sunshinegirl

Posted : 8/6/2008 10:06:21 PM

Would it be wrong to adopt another cat, in addition to the FIV positive cat, who is NOT FIV positive, if she was vaccinated against FIV?

erica1989

Posted : 8/6/2008 10:34:08 PM

I wouldn't say it would be 'wrong', I think that's a decision that only the adopter can make.

that said - I will never, ever vaccinate my cats against FIV. The vaccine has a ton of reactions, and many cats become very ill after the vaccine injection.

I think that is something you shoud talk over with your vet, honestly.