Cleo has FIV

ziggystyles · 06-16-2011, 04:21 PM

Refer to my earlier post about Cleo...basically in short...last year we started to bring her to the vet...she kept scratching some spots raw. Various meds and stuff later, she healed up a bit, but when we stopped with the meds...she started scratching again. With this latest round of shaving her...she got a shot, which seemed to help, but the wounds didnt seem to disappear. The vet decided to do an FIV test and it came back positive. So now she got that shot again...anti-bacterial...something...can't remember. Her fur is growing back for the most part...outside of a bald light fuzzy patch on her shoulder. The vet also gave us some wound cleaner to put on her twice a day...not really sure what that is supposed to do. its like a clear blue gooey stuff...i imagine its for surgeries and such. smells like that at least.

We also got her some anti itch cream to put on her, that we put on and then put her sweater on over that so she cant itch.

So...basically I dont know what to do now. Outside of the diagnosis, she seems ok. she itches and Im sure that bugs her a bit...but thats somewhat under control. She doesnt seem unhappy. still eats and drinks. We figure she is about 8 years old or so.

The kicker is that we dont know if our other cat might be a carrier of the FIV. He might have given it to her..we dont know....havent tested him. He seems fine, and while they generally tolerate each other....I dont think they have bitten each other. He isnt showing any signs.

Basically we were told to keep her from other cats and stuff. But other than that, what else can we do?

Ryan

Smirkitty · 06-16-2011, 06:02 PM

I have 1 FIV+ cat and 1 FIV- cat, living together with no issues. FIV in only transmitted through deep muscle bites.

MinkaMuffin · 06-17-2011, 12:28 AM

I could be totally wrong on this, but I think the itching is more likely an allergy issue, rather than FIV related. (Though I'm sure it doesn't help.)

Has your vet suggested switching to a hypoallergenic diet?

ziggystyles · 07-07-2011, 12:38 AM

Dang it! I keep thinking I replied. Grr...sorry.

The vet has seemed to run out of ideas / options. We gave her a shot of penicillin a couple of weeks ago...doesnt seem to be helping. She also gave us a bit of heal-a-horse cream to help moisturize the scabs. She hasn't said anything about changing the diet. It's starting to bug me more...tonight I just noticed a new scab on her back, near where two others are. This new one is raw. Then under her jaw she has a few smaller scabs. Plus the fact that we are going on a two week vacation and leaving the cats here at the apartment. Someone is going to come in and look after them each day...but I really feel like Id be asking alot to have them shampoo Cleo each day...etc.

neko13_3 · 07-07-2011, 11:06 PM

FIV+ cats don't have to be kept separate unless they tend to really bite each other. It can only be transmitted via deep intramuscular bites. General contact or a scratch can't transfer it. I would get the other kitty tested, just to make sure and also so you can be on the look out for any symptoms related to the FIV causing a problem.

I work with a cat fostering group, and FIV+ and FeLk+ are frequently kept with negative kitties.

DellNec · 07-11-2011, 07:39 PM

I was told by my vet that there have been verified cases of scratches that transmitted FIV. The vet said that a positive FIV cat should NEVER be housed with one that is negative.

Primary mode of FIV transmission are deep bite wounds and scratches, where the infected cat's saliva enters the other cat's bloodstream.

FeLV, which may be spread by more casual, non-aggressive contact since the virus is also present at mucosal surfaces such as those in the mouth, rectum, and vagina, so casual contact cannot be ruled out as a potential transmission.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_...ficiency_virus

DellNec · 07-11-2011, 07:52 PM

Little evidence exists to suggest that FIV can be transmitted through casual contact between cats in a home, such as gentle play, snuggling or sleeping together. While sharing bowls of food or water has neither been proved or disproved thoroughly as a transmission method, it’s usually not recommended to have FIV-positive cats mingle with other cats in your home.

Read more: Feline FIV Transmission - VetInfo

06-16-2011, 04:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
ziggystyles Cat Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, MN Posts: 116	Cleo has FIV Refer to my earlier post about Cleo...basically in short...last year we started to bring her to the vet...she kept scratching some spots raw. Various meds and stuff later, she healed up a bit, but when we stopped with the meds...she started scratching again. With this latest round of shaving her...she got a shot, which seemed to help, but the wounds didnt seem to disappear. The vet decided to do an FIV test and it came back positive. So now she got that shot again...anti-bacterial...something...can't remember. Her fur is growing back for the most part...outside of a bald light fuzzy patch on her shoulder. The vet also gave us some wound cleaner to put on her twice a day...not really sure what that is supposed to do. its like a clear blue gooey stuff...i imagine its for surgeries and such. smells like that at least. We also got her some anti itch cream to put on her, that we put on and then put her sweater on over that so she cant itch. So...basically I dont know what to do now. Outside of the diagnosis, she seems ok. she itches and Im sure that bugs her a bit...but thats somewhat under control. She doesnt seem unhappy. still eats and drinks. We figure she is about 8 years old or so. The kicker is that we dont know if our other cat might be a carrier of the FIV. He might have given it to her..we dont know....havent tested him. He seems fine, and while they generally tolerate each other....I dont think they have bitten each other. He isnt showing any signs. Basically we were told to keep her from other cats and stuff. But other than that, what else can we do? Ryan

06-17-2011, 12:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
MinkaMuffin Cool Cat Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,090	I could be totally wrong on this, but I think the itching is more likely an allergy issue, rather than FIV related. (Though I'm sure it doesn't help.) Has your vet suggested switching to a hypoallergenic diet? __________________ The dog may be wonderful prose, but only the cat is poetry. - French Proverb

07-07-2011, 11:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
neko13_3 Jr. Cat Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 65	FIV+ cats don't have to be kept separate unless they tend to really bite each other. It can only be transmitted via deep intramuscular bites. General contact or a scratch can't transfer it. I would get the other kitty tested, just to make sure and also so you can be on the look out for any symptoms related to the FIV causing a problem. I work with a cat fostering group, and FIV+ and FeLk+ are frequently kept with negative kitties. __________________ RIP Chi-Chi 10.31.2006-07.05.2011

07-11-2011, 07:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
DellNec Jr. Cat Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 74	I was told by my vet that there have been verified cases of scratches that transmitted FIV. The vet said that a positive FIV cat should NEVER be housed with one that is negative. Primary mode of FIV transmission are deep bite wounds and scratches, where the infected cat's saliva enters the other cat's bloodstream. FeLV, which may be spread by more casual, non-aggressive contact since the virus is also present at mucosal surfaces such as those in the mouth, rectum, and vagina, so casual contact cannot be ruled out as a potential transmission. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_...ficiency_virus Last edited by DellNec; 07-11-2011 at 07:43 PM.

06-16-2011, 06:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Smirkitty Cat Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 1,897	I have 1 FIV+ cat and 1 FIV- cat, living together with no issues. FIV in only transmitted through deep muscle bites.

07-07-2011, 12:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
ziggystyles Cat Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, MN Posts: 116	Dang it! I keep thinking I replied. Grr...sorry. The vet has seemed to run out of ideas / options. We gave her a shot of penicillin a couple of weeks ago...doesnt seem to be helping. She also gave us a bit of heal-a-horse cream to help moisturize the scabs. She hasn't said anything about changing the diet. It's starting to bug me more...tonight I just noticed a new scab on her back, near where two others are. This new one is raw. Then under her jaw she has a few smaller scabs. Plus the fact that we are going on a two week vacation and leaving the cats here at the apartment. Someone is going to come in and look after them each day...but I really feel like Id be asking alot to have them shampoo Cleo each day...etc.

07-11-2011, 07:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
DellNec Jr. Cat Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 74	Little evidence exists to suggest that FIV can be transmitted through casual contact between cats in a home, such as gentle play, snuggling or sleeping together. While sharing bowls of food or water has neither been proved or disproved thoroughly as a transmission method, it’s usually not recommended to have FIV-positive cats mingle with other cats in your home. Read more: Feline FIV Transmission - VetInfo

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