Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a virus that affects the immune system in cats. The virus is more common in areas where there’s a big population of unneutered male cats. Once a cat is infected, they’re unable to eliminate the virus and they’ll have the infection for the rest of their life.

If you suspect your cat may have been infected with FIV virus, book an appointment at your vet practice so your cat can be tested for FIV. Testing is important to prevent the spread of the virus and control FIV disease.

What is FIV in Cats?

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a species-specific retro virus that causes the destruction of white blood cells. These are the cells of the immune system that protect against infectious diseases. This leads to immunodeficiency and an infected cat will be more susceptible to secondary infections. FIV is closely related to HIV in humans.

The virus that causes FIV only affects cats, so there’s no risk that FIV can be passed onto humans or dogs in the household. The virus is present in an infected cat’s saliva and other bodily fluids and can be spread by bite wounds.

Toms that fight with other cats end up with cat bites more often than neutered male and female cats. So male cats that haven’t been neutered are more likely to be infected. A single bite may be enough to infect a cat. There’s no evidence that FIV is sexually transmitted though (unlike HIV in humans).

The virus is most often found in stray cats and can also be passed onto kittens from an infected mother. Kittens may also have maternally derived antibodies (antibodies transferred from the mother to the kitten) while not having the virus.

Symptoms of FIV in Cats

There’s a long gap between infection and clinical signs showing, so FIV is usually seen in cats over six years old. In the first few days after infection, a cat may have a slight fever or other minor signs but usually nothing is picked up by their owners. However, if a cat has already been infected with another retrovirus called FeLV (Feline leukaemia virus disease), the symptoms may be more severe.

Usually, the first signs that a cat may have FIV is that they begin to suffer from a series of secondary infections. This is because their immune system starts to fail. Eventually, the cat will succumb to various infections and show clinical signs like lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, fever, dull coat, and weight loss.

They may develop inflammation of the mouth, eye problems, anaemia and diarrhoea. FIV cats are also more susceptible to certain forms of cancer, and, in around 5% of infected cats, the nervous systems can also be affected.

FIV should be suspected in any older, unneutered sick cat and in any cat that may be immunosuppressed like those that keep getting infections or abscesses that won’t heal. Cats with chronic infections of the mouth, eye, upper respiratory tract, urinary or skin infections should be tested.

Blood tests including an antibody test to check for FIV virus antibodies will be taken at the vet practice. However, it can take up to 12 weeks after the initial infection for any antibodies to be detected.

False positive and negative test results can occur. Healthy cats that test positive for FIV and sick cats that test negative should always have their tests confirmed. A small proportion (around one in 10 cats) won’t have any antibodies at all and will test negative.

Virus isolation testing can be carried out to check the results. This procedure tests for the virus itself and is carried out by specialised laboratories.

Kittens that have received antibodies from their mother can have FIV antibodies until they’re 16 weeks of age or older. They may not actually be infected despite their mothers being FIV positive. This is considered a false positive and these kittens should be retested after 4 months of age to determine their true infection status.

What is FIV in Cats Treatment?

There’s no cure for FIV and, if a FIV infected cat is healthy, then no treatment is needed. However, they should be protected from other infections as much as possible.

As FIV positive cats have poor immune systems, they're more vulnerable to secondary infections. It’s recommended to keep a FIV positive cat indoors so they’re less likely to be exposed to other diseases.

Cats with FIV should be neutered to reduce the risk of passing on the infection, have up to date vaccinations, and have regular check-ups at the vet practice. They can be given anti-retroviral treatments, but these are expensive and may only provide remission in the short-term. They can also have side-effects. Research is ongoing to find effective antiviral therapies.

How to Prevent FIV in Cats

Neutering male cats is the best way to prevent the spread of FIV. Infected female cats should be spayed to prevent the infection being passed to their kittens. It’s possible for an infected cat to live in a multiple cat household as long as the other cats are healthy.

The virus dies quickly once it’s exposed to the air so other cats are unlikely to pick up the virus from using the same food bowl or litter tray. This means that FIV infected cats can still be boarded at a vet practice or cattery without the risk of transmission of the virus. However, cat breeders should ensure that their cats are FIV-negative.

FIV vaccines (FeL-O-Vax) are available in the US and some other countries, but not in Europe. Unfortunately, the vaccine isn’t considered reliable and effective against every FIV virus in the feline immunodeficiency virus family.

Keeping cats indoors, neutered, vaccinated, feeding them a good diet and applying regular flea and tick treatments will help to prevent FIV. These measures will also help to protect FIV positive cats from other infections.

Sadly, there’s no cure for FIV, and cats infected with the feline immunodeficiency virus are permanently infected. And if you’re wondering what’s the lifespan is of a cat with feline immunodeficiency virus it’s pretty good… a cat with FIV can live for years in apparent good health. So having FIV may not necessarily reduce their lifespan. They’re more likely to die from another infection that wouldn’t be a serious for a cat with a healthy immune system.

Keeping your cat up to date with their vaccinations, provide a good diet along with regular flea and tick treatment can help to reduce their risk of being infected with other infectious diseases. It's also important to closely monitor a FIV infected cat as they’ll need prompt treatment if they have any signs of illness. Neutering will also help to prevent FIV infections in the first place. 

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

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