How To Recognize and Prevent Feline Aids

Feline immunodeficiency virus, FIV is feline aids, and while it has some similarities, for the most part it is vastly different than the human variation, HIV. Cats cannot get the human HIV and humans cannot get feline aids. It is believed that cats that have established owners, are well cared for, and neutered, are at relatively low risk of contracting feline aids.

Strays that engage in territorial battles that usually have biting and scratching pass feline aids in the saliva as the cat bites. House cats to not have much of a chance of catching HIV because they are isolated and cared for away from other cats. If you have more than one cat and they all get along well there is little chance of spreading the virus. Only if the cats fight and bite each other does this happen.

Some Veterinarians may feel that the infected cat must be euthanized if it is unable to be tamed to where it does not fight and bite other cats. But if an owner is able to recognize that their cat has symptoms of Feline Aids in time, and they are diligent in caring for their pet, they will be able to extend the life of their cat enjoy them for some time to come.

Initially when the cat gets the Feline Aids, they will have a fever, depression, and general malaise. One very common symptom is bad gum infections and the loss of teeth. Appetites can be very poor and the animal may drop weight suddenly. Cats at this point get colds easily and they are hard to get rid of.

Once they get over the initial symptoms the move into the second stage of the illness they can stay there for the rest of there lives if well cared for. The third stage is when the immune system totally breaks down and the cat becomes chronically ill. It is at this point that the health of the cat may decline rapidly. The body’s organs can fail with death following shortly after at this point. Whether the cat’s health improves or declines, once the virus enters the body, your cat can never get rid of it completely.

Prevention for this would be to keep your cat inside for the most part and away from other cats that tend to roam and are stays. Also keep up on you cat’s shots and have your cat checked out by a vet once a year and ask for your pet to be checked for feline aids.