FIV’s Implications For Cat Health Care

An untreatable cat health care problem, the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is not uncommon because there is not presently a vaccine available, despite the best efforts of researchers and vets. Because this serious cat health care problem is passed from one cat to another in the saliva when they bite each other, it is especially prevalent amongst un-castrated male cats who are more likely to fight.

As is the case with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) the virus works by attacking or killing the white blood cells. This is dangerous to the cat because the white blood cells are responsible for fighting off infection. As a result, cats which have been infected by the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus are more susceptible to developing infections which are more likely to lead to further complications.

Because cat health care should be a priority for any cat owner, they should be watching out for FIV symptoms. Common symptoms include sneezing, the presence of discharge around the eyes or nose, raised temperature, diarrhoea, anaemia, infections of the skin, reduced appetite, swelling of the lymph glands and gum disease known as gingivitis. Pet owners do not always realise the scale of the threat to cat health care posed by FIV because infected cats can and very often do appear outwardly healthy, sometimes for many years.

Cat health care researchers have yet to find a treatment for the virus, but infections can be treated with antibiotics in order to make the cat as comfortable as possible. There is not sure fire way of avoiding the disease because there is no vaccine, but keeping cats from mixing and fighting with other cats helps. Castrated or neutered cats are less inclined to fight, so it is always a good idea to have your pet castrated.