FIV: What is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus?

We need to safeguard our favourite furry friends from Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) because, like the human equivalent HIV, it’s a serious condition and there’s no cure. Some infected cats can still live a relatively happy life but, like all health ailments, it’s best to avoid it altogether.

Did you know us Kiwis own 4.6 million pets? That’s more pets than people! Of these, almost half are cats – making cats the most popular pets in NZ. With a whopping 1.1 million pet cats in the neighbourhood and even more when you count strays we need to understand this disease that affects up to one in four of them.

Let’s dive into what Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is, how it’s transmitted and what the symptoms are. 

Understanding the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a viral infection found only in cats. It belongs to the same family of viruses as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and can affect cats in a similar way. Because of this it’s often referred to as cat AIDS or cat HIV.

Just as the human equivalent affects us, cats may become infected long before any symptoms begin to emerge. And just like with HIV, the virus works by weakening the immune system so eventually it’s unable to fight off other illnesses.

As a result, infections and sickness that would otherwise be a passing event can rapidly become medical emergencies.

The symptoms

Cats suffering from FIV aren’t able to effectively guard off infection. Because of this they’ll often fall victim to recurring and prolonged illness with chronic feelings of sickness. We associate Feline Immunodeficiency Virus symptoms with other infections that easily take hold.

Common symptoms of FIV are:

• Behavioural changes
• Chronic conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membrane around the eyes)
• Diarrhoea
• Fever (especially fever of unknown origin)
• Gingivitis (gum disease affecting cat teeth)
• Poor appetite
• Poor coat condition
• Seizures
• Stomatitis (inflamed sore mouth)
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

If your cat is exhibiting these symptoms, is often unwell, or has a recurrent illness you should have them tested for FIV. A cat with FIV may still be able to live a good life provided they’re not exposed to pathogens.

As mentioned, it’s possible for cats with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus not to show any symptoms for years. Yet there’s still no guarantee that a seemingly healthy cat isn’t carrying the virus.

It’s important to read about pet vaccinations right from first adopting a cat. If you haven’t already, ask your vet whether they recommend vaccinating against the virus.

How is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus transmitted?

The most common FIV transmission is through cat fights. When these result in deep bite wounds (and bite wounds are something we see claims for all the time), FIV infected cats spread the virus in their saliva. Pregnant FIV infected cats can sometimes transmit the virus to their unborn kittens too, though this is less common than transmission through bite wounds. 

One way to reduce the prevalence of such incidents is to spay or neuter your cat. This reduces the chances of rivalrous confrontations around mating and of a mumma cat passing it on to her kittens. Win-win.

It’s important to note that mutual grooming, mating or sharing of food or water bowls typically doesn’t spread the virus. However, these may still pose a risk.

Can my FIV positive cat infect other cats?

If one of your cats tests FIV positive your asymptomatic cats could already be infected and you should test all your cats. If they test negative ask your vet if they recommend vaccinating. Provided your cats get on well and don’t fight the risk of transmission is rather low, but still possible. 

It may be advisable to keep apart the household’s infected and non-infected cats. Not possible? Then steer clear of your cats sharing feeding bowls or litter trays and regularly disinfect these.

Also do please consider the fact that it would be unfair to bring home any new cats due to the risk of them becoming infected.

Prevention of FIV

The FIV vaccination is considered to be non-core. This means it’s not routinely administered in pet vaccine schedules unless vet recommended. Free roaming cats (especially males) are most at risk of transmitting FIV so consider inoculation if your cat is one.

Other preventative measures can include:

• Regular vet visits
• Desexing cats
• Diet (remove raw food that could carry harmful bacteria)
• Keeping an indoor cat
• Vaccinations (ask your vet for more information)
• Separation from FIV positive cats

Watch this video for vet advice on FIV from Dr Cath Watson:

Treating FIV positive cats

As mentioned earlier, there’s no cure for FIV yet. However, medications and lifestyle changes can help. 

Here are some ways you can manage the condition:

• Diet. A quality diet that’s easy to digest can help keep your FIV cat healthy, so speak to your vet for some recommendations.
• Routine vet check-ups. Regular vet visits every six months can help root out any potential health concerns.
• Hygiene. Good hygiene will help prevent infections, so clean your cat’s food and water bowls, bedding and toys often. You could also consider a water fountain to ensure clean drinking water.
• Treating infections. Prompt and aggressive treatment of infections (with your vet’s guidance) can help to combat them.
• Minimise exposure. Keep FIV-infected cats indoors because that will minimize their exposure to infectious diseases from other cats.
• Medication. Your vet may prescribe a number of medications. These range from anti-inflammatories and immune system boosters to antiviral therapy and fluid/electrolyte replacement.
• Parasite control. Flea and tick treatment is an important part of limiting stress on your cat’s immunity.

Cat insurance for a happy, healthy kitty

Non-routine vet visits, prescription medicine and hospitalisation can quickly add up. Having a reliable (and affordable) cat insurance plan can give you peace of mind but remember: pet insurance doesn’t cover treatment costs for pre-existing conditions.

That’s why it’s important to get a pet plan when your pet is healthy. Contact us today to discuss or click below to get a quote.