Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Although there is no cure for the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), many cats go on to live long lives following their diagnosis. However, careful management is required to keep these kitties safe from developing other illnesses or from transmitting the disease to other cats. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of FIV in cats. Plus, gain insight from a cat-only vet who lets you know what to do if your kitty is faced with this diagnosis.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Causes

There isn’t a long list of causes for FIV in cats . The primary methods by which this disease is transmitted include the following:

Bite Wound From an Infected Cat

FIV is a contagious condition, which is why it’s important to protect other cats in the immediate environment should your kitty be infected. Typically, simple actions like sharing a food or water bowl or litter box do not transmit FIV. However, if a cat is infected and bites another cat, FIV can be transmitted. For this reason, it’s more likely for outdoor cats to transmit the disease because they tend to engage in more territorial fights than indoor kitties . Nevertheless, an infected cat presents a threat to any other cats it comes into contact with.

Infected Mother Transmits to Kittens

The other method by which FIV is transmitted is from a mother cat to her kittens . This typically happens when the kittens are still inside the uterus but it may occur once they’ve been born and they suckle on infected milk. Interestingly, the virus may infect some kittens in a litter while others remain healthy.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Symptoms

FIV presents with several different symptoms and some are more subtle than others. They include the following:

Appetite Loss

Cats have an internal clock that alerts them when it’s time for meals and treats. They meow expectantly if you’re even a second late. If you notice appetite loss alone, it could be for a host of reasons. But paired with other symptoms, you may need to get your cat checked for FIV.

Mouth and Gum Inflammation

Not every cat lets you peer into its mouth for inspection. But sneaking a peek at your cat’s mouth and gums can help you ascertain whether or not there is inflammation worth getting checked out by a vet.

Consistent Diarrhea

You clean after your cat, which gives you an advantage because you can examine their poops. If you’re noticing consistent diarrhea, something is amiss.

Seizures

This is a much more serious symptom that warrants a vet visit immediately. Tremors or seizures could indicate a serious condition, whether it’s FIV or not.

Poor Coat Condition

Cats are fastidiously clean. A normally lustrous cat that suddenly has a poor coat appearance needs you to be proactive and take a closer look.

Recurrent Fever

Unless you check a cat’s temperature, you can’t confirm a fever. However, a cat with a fever may have glassy eyes, a dry nose, warm ears, and display lethargy.

Neurologic Disorder Symptoms

We already listed seizures separately in this list of symptoms, which is a neurological issue. However, you may notice odd behaviors in your cat or sudden inexplicable weakness as well. These symptoms require veterinary attention.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Phases

The Cornell Feline Health Center confirms there are three distinct phases of infection with FIV.

The Acute Phase

After infection, the acute phase kicks in. This typically doesn’t start until one to three months after the transmission of the virus. During this phase, the virus makes it to your cat’s lymph nodes. Some of the initial symptoms you’ll notice include loss of appetite, fever, and lethargy/depression. It’s easy to overlook this phase as something more serious because the presenting symptoms are mild.

The Asymptomatic Phase

This phase may last several months but it may also go on for years on end. During the asymptomatic phase, the virus starts replicating at a slow rate. Your kitty will appear completely normal and in some cases, the disease progression stops here. In other cases, the presence of abnormalities can be detected via blood work.

The Progressive Phase

If the virus continues to spread, it affects the immune system, and your cat moves into the progressive phase of FIV. During this stage, they are immunocompromised. This means they are much more likely to develop secondary infections. In fact, most of the complications relating to FIV are not due to the virus itself, rather the other conditions that arise from having a compromised immune system. These other conditions may include respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and immune-mediated blood disorders.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Treatment

A-Z Animals spoke with Dr. Colleen Wallace, a cat-only veterinarian at Cozy Cat Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh, NC. She said, “Unfortunately, there is no treatment for FIV itself; treatment for a cat with an active FIV infection consists of treating any secondary infection and supportive care.”

When a cat is diagnosed with FIV, it becomes imperative that you work closely with your vet to monitor your cat and prevent secondary infections. Keeping a close eye on your cat, noting unusual symptoms, and requesting prompt evaluation can help keep your FIV-infected cat healthy (and consequently, encourage a longer lifespan).

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