Cats testing positive for the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are, in most cases, infected with the virus. The disease resulting from infection with FIV is often called feline AIDS. However, assuming that a cat with a positive test for FIV is healthy and asymptomatic, the positive test need not be a death sentence for the cat. When properly cared for, FIV-positive cats can lead long, healthy lives.
How Long can a Cat Infected with the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Live?
There is currently no way to be able to predict how long a cat infected with FIV, or feline AIDS, will live. Cats infected with the feline immunodeficiency virus have been known to live for many months to many years with no major health problems. However, those cats which have experienced previous episodes of illness caused by the FIV virus may be expected to have a shorter lifespan than those cats that have remained healthy and asymptomatic. In a similar fashion, cats that are actively showing symptoms of disease, such as a persistently elevated temperature or weight loss, are likely to experience a shorter life span as well.
Managing a Cat Infected with FIV
Cats testing positive for the feline immunodeficiency virus should live indoors. These infected cats are a threat to other cats living outdoors, particularly if they participate in fighting activity. In addition, a cat infected with the feline AIDS virus may also be susceptible to secondary infections due to a depressed immune system. Living indoors protects these cats from exposure to agents that could cause secondary infections.
The diet for a FIV-positive cat should be complete and balanced but should not contain raw meat, raw eggs or unpasteurized dairy products. These products pose too great a risk for parasitic or bacterial infections which are food-borne to justify offering them to an animal that is immunocompromised.
Monitoring the health of a cat that is infected with FIV is extremely important and the cat should be examined by a veterinarian at the first sign of abnormal symptoms or behavior. In addition, infected cats should be routinely examined by a veterinarian every six months, with an extensive and thorough physical examination being performed during these visits. A complete blood count, blood chemistry profile and urinalysis is recommended at least once yearly.
Cats testing positive for the feline immunodeficiency virus should also be spayed or neutered, be kept free of parasites such as fleas, ticks and intestinal worms, and be properly vaccinated.
Are There Medications that can Keep a FIV-Positive Cat Healthy?
There are a number of medications that have been used in an attempt to keep cats infected with the feline AIDS virus healthy. Most of these medications have not been definitively proven to be effective. However, because they are unlikely to cause harm to the cat and may provide some benefit, they are widely used. Medications used in treating FIV-infected cats include:
- immunomodulators, such as Acemannan, levamisole, Immunoregulin®, interferon alpha and Imulan®
- antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase
In addition, AZT (an anti-viral drug used in people with HIV infection) has been used to treat FIV-positive cats and may be particularly beneficial to cats suffering from neurological disease or stomatitis as a result of the feline AIDS virus. This drug can have side effects and must be monitored when administered to an infected cat. Other anti-viral medications used in people have proven to be too toxic for common use in cats.
Can a FIV-Infected Cat Live with Another Cat that is Not Infected?
Ideally, FIV-infected cats would be isolated from other non-infected cats. However, there may be situations where this is not practical or possible. If the cats do not fight with one another, there is little risk of the virus being passed to the uninfected cat. However, if the social structure is disturbed and the cats become aggressive, there is a possibility of spread.
Previously, cats testing positive for the feline immunodeficiency virus were destroyed because of the mistaken belief that the cat could not live a normal life. However, we currently know that is not true. FIV-infected cats can live normal lives, sometimes for relatively long periods of time, provided that a protected living environment is provided.
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