FIV and your cat – how worried should you be?

The FIV virus was identified in the 1980′s. It belongs to the same viral group as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and is, therefore, sometimes referred to as ‘Feline Aids’ which is enough to send a shiver down the spine of every responsible cat owner out there. We thought it might be useful to dig a bit deeper to find out what this scary sounding virus actually does and how worried we really need to be.

Symptoms of FIV infection can be varied and non-specific. The gums may appear inflamed, and the cat may have a discharge from the nose or eyes as well as suffering bouts of diarrhoea and conjunctivitis. 6 to 8 weeks after infection, it may be possible to detect raised lymph nodes and the cat may also display a high temperature. A routine test (ELISA) is available which can detect antibodies four to six weeks after infection, but this test is often unreliable so a positive result should always be confirmed by an IFA test (Immuno-Fluorescent Antibody Test) or a Western Blot test. The IFA test is not expensive -usually around £25- and will give you a definitive answer in under a week. A vaccine against FIV was developed in the USA in 2002 but, apparently, it is still too early to know how effective it will be. Currently, a big disadvantage with this vaccine is that once a cat has been vaccinated, he/she will automatically test positive on an FIV test even if he/she doesn’t have the virus.

Because FIV depletes certain white blood cells (T lymphocytes) the fear is that infected cats could become more susceptible to other infections. However, studies to date have shown that many FIV+ cats do not seem to suffer significantly more infections than cats which are not FIV+ and, thanks to some of the latest research, vets now also know that the FIV virus cannot survive for very long outside the body and that it is, therefore, not easily passed from cat to cat. In fact, some researchers now estimate that the likelihood of an FIV positive cat passing the virus to another cat living the same household, for example, is as low as 1-2%. The main route of infection is normally through a bite from an infected cat, so cats that fight frequently are most at risk. As intact toms are the most likely to fight, this is another very good reason for ensuring your male cat is neutered.

FIV is also a very slow-acting virus, so a cat who contracts it will usually continue have a strong immune system for several years. With love, good care and speedy reaction to any signs of infection or illness, many FIV+ cats can live almost normal lifespans. In fact, one fourteen year study by Maureen Hutchison B.Sc, BVMS, MRCVS (veterinary adviser to the Cat Action Trust) found that FIV positive cats are more likely to die on the roads or to live well into their twilight years than they are to die early from any FIV related condition:Cat Action Trust FIV information

If you are worried your cat may have FIV you should see your vet as soon as possible. However, unless your cat is a frequent fighter and has suffered deep bites from an infected cat, the chances are good that your fears will prove unfounded. If an ELISA test does prove positive, ask if you can have it confirmed before you panic too much, and always remember that FIV is not an automatic death sentence. In many cases, it may not even mean a shortened or compromised lifespan for your cat either.