Also known as feline aids fiv weakens the immune system and makes a cat more susceptible to infections in various parts of the body skin digestive system respiratory system.
Best food for fiv positive cats.
Are there any natural immune boosters supplements or holistic treatments that can support cats with fiv.
It is very rare for cats to get fiv just from being around infected cats sharing food bowls or from a person touching an fiv positive cat and then touching an fiv negative cat.
Feline immunodeficiency virus fiv infects a cat when infected body fluids most commonly saliva but potentially via semen or blood come into contact with the blood of an uninfected cat.
What is feline leukemia virus.
Since it is possible for an infected mother cat to transfer fiv antibodies to her kittens these kittens may test positive from their mother s antibodies until they have cleared them from their systems which happens by six months of age.
Once a cat is determined to be fiv positive that cat is capable of transmitting the disease to other cats.
Fortunately with proper care an fiv cat can live a long and happy life.
This as lead to many referring to the condition as feline aids.
Fiv positive cats can live to a wonderful old age without living in a bubble.
Both of these viruses are fairly new cat diseases.
Felv was first documented in the 1960 s and fiv.
Therefore the owner of an fiv positive cat must walk a fine line to protect the kitty.
Many fiv positive cats and fiv negative cats live together in the same home for years without spreading the virus to the non infected cats.
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.
Fiv weakens a cat s immune system making it harder for them to fight infections and will most likely be fatal unless the fiv cat is properly cared for.
If your cat is fiv positive it means they have tested positive for the feline immunodeficiency virus.
Feline immunodeficiency virus or fiv is in the same family as the human immunodeficiency virus hiv that causes aids but it only appears in cats.
With a high protein diet and aggressive treatment of secondary infections an fiv positive cat can lead a reasonably normal life.
Feline leukemia virus felv and feline immunodeficiency virus fiv also called feline aids are dangerous contagious diseases of cats.
Similarly exposure to fleas mold and any other environmental allergen can attack the immune system and be equally hazardous.