Kitten Feline HIV

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is similar to the human form of the disease in that it attacks the cat's immune system. This hinders the animal's ability to fight off infections and diseases of all kinds. This disease can affect house pets as well as cats out in the wild, both large and small. It appears most frequently in outdoor cats who can wander freely and affects male cats twice often as female ones.

  1. Transmission

    • Most cases originate from bite wounds, according to Cornell Feline Health Center. The saliva carries the virus. In rarer instances, a mother can pass it to her kittens during birth or through her milk. The center also notes sexual activity between cats can spread it, but this does not happen often.

    Stages

    • Like its human counterpart, FIV has various stages that each manifest different symptoms. The first stage usually appears four to six weeks after the initial infection according to veterinarian Holly Nash, writing for Peteducation.com. The second stage can last for years and symptoms rarely manifest. During this time, the virus assaults the immune system. This prolonged period of attack results in the final stage of the disease in which the cat experiences increased susceptibility to all sorts of infections and diseases.

    Signs and Symptoms

    • Symptoms can manifest in different ways, says the Cornell Feline Health Center. Some cats might experience problems that get progressively worse over time while others go through periods of illness and general good health. Common symptoms of FIV include oral infections, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, eye problems such as glaucoma, lackluster coat, fever, diminished appetite, chronic diarrhea, weight loss that gets progressively worse in the end stage of the disease, neurological disturbances, changes in behavior and skin and ear infections resulting from overgrowths of yeast, bacteria and fungus.

      Other signs of FIV infection include cancer, blood infections and reproductive problems. According to Nash, FIV infected kittens and cats have a five times greater risk of contracting leukemia and lymphoma cancers.

    Diagnosis

    • Testing involves looking for the presence of antibodies that fight off FIV infection. The presence of these antibodies indicate the kitten or cat has the virus. If a person suspects her cat has been infected with the virus through a known bite wound, she should hold off on testing for eight to 12 weeks. This is about the time it takes for a cat to develop antibodies that attempt to eradicate the infection. If a person does not know if the cat was exposed to any cats that might be infected but wants to test, she should repeat the test again eight to 12 weeks later if she receives a negative result. Cornell also recommends cats with known exposure who test negative get another test as well.

      Kittens can test positive for the virus up to four months after birth if the mother had the disease but only a small amount actually get sick. Nash recommends retesting any kitten that was tested younger than six months regardless of the results.

    Treatment

    • Primary treatment consists of managing the infections and other conditions that can result from the infection. For example, antibiotics for bacterial infections and chemotherapy for cancers. Nash indicates the human antiviral drug AZT has shown some benefit for FIV-infected cats but can have serious side effects. Owners should bring their pets to the doctor at least every six months for a general checkup. Cats with FIV should not eat raw foods due to the risk of infection with bacteria or other harmful organisms. Life expectancy will depend on many factors, and some cats can live for years in relative good health. Problems such as significant weight loss, persistent fever and the presence of serious illnesses such as cancer will produce a shorter lifespan.