Do cats with FIV need special care?
Due to the lack of proven effectiveness, and their toxicity, antiviral drugs are indicated only in exceptional cases of FIV infection. FIV-infected cats need special care and management, as described above. If they receive this management and care, they can live for many years in good health.
How do you care for a cat with FIV?
General and supportive treatment should include:
- Neutering all FIV-infected cats to reduce the risk of fighting and spreading infection.
- Confining FIV-positive cats indoors where possible, and keeping them away from non-infected cats.
What is the life expectancy of a cat with FIV?
Cats infected with FIV may live for months or years. On average, life expectancy is 5 years from the time of diagnosis depending on how active the infection is. There is a FIV vaccination given twice initially, then yearly thereafter for outside cats or cats exposed to outside cats due to the potential of cat bites.
Can cats live a normal life with FIV?
Cats with FIV can live long and healthy lives. In fact, studies over the last 10 years or so have shown that cats with FIV often live as long as otherwise healthy cats that do not have this virus. Many of these cats age normally and never show signs of FIV-related illness.
Is it expensive to have a cat with FIV?
According to estimates, the cost range from $150 to $2,000 per treatment. This cost varies depending on the medications your veterinarian prescribes, whether or not you have pet insurance, whether or not your cat needs surgery, and the time in which your cat undergoes treatment.
What are the stages of FIV?
What are the stages of FIV? Cats infected with FIV often experience three stages of infection: acute, subclinical and chronic.
Is it expensive to care for a cat with FIV?
Treatment for the feline immunodeficiency virus is quite expensive. According to estimates, the cost range from $150 to $2,000 per treatment.
What happens if an FIV cat scratches you?
Risks associated with cat scratches These wounds can sometimes sting, bleed, and even become infected. Both feral and domesticated cats may also transmit certain viruses and bacteria when they scratch human skin. Some of the possible health complications include: cat-scratch fever (also called cat-scratch disease)
Is FIV a death sentence?
Although it can be fatal if left untreated, a positive test for FIV is not a mandatory death sentence for your pet. With a high-protein diet and aggressive treatment of secondary infections, an FIV-positive cat can lead a reasonably normal life for a number of years after diagnosis.
What should I feed my cat with FIV?
For cats, these diets should be 80 to 90% meat. The remainder of the diet being a mixture of whole grains and fruits and vegetables. Other things to consider for the FIV positive cat: minimal vaccines, minimal use of chemicals, and avoid heavy cleaning products in the house.
When to put down a cat with FIV?
– Pet Loss: A Disenfranchised Grief – Grief and The Burden of Guilt – Is Anger One Of The Stages of Grief? – Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), via Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine – Cats For Adoption: FIV Is No Barrier , via The Creative Cat
What are the stages of FIV in cats?
What Are The Stages Of Fiv In Cats? Acute, subclinical, and chronic stages of infection are common in cats who have been infected with FIV. The virus spreads to other lymph nodes throughout the body when it is in the early or acute stages, lasting 3 to 6 months.
What does it mean if your cat is FIV positive?
If your cat is FIV positive, it means they have tested positive for the feline immunodeficiency virus. It is one of the many parallels between FIV and HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). both are retroviruses which suppress the immune system. This as lead to many referring to the condition as feline AIDS.
How long do FIV-infected cats live?
One study found that FIV-positive cats live for an average of 5 years after their diagnosis, but their prognosis can vary greatly. If FIV symptoms start to show up, they treat any secondary illnesses that result from the virus.