If you have a cat, you know that these pets are very special. As pets, felines are faithful companions and if you want to care for them as much as they do for you, it is important that you know the diseases they can suffer from in order to prevent and treat them.
AIDS in cats is one of these diseases and, together with feline leukemia, it is one of the ones that most affects the population cat. However, although it does not have a vaccine, it can be treated effectively. Take care of and pamper your pet, don't be scared and know in detail about this disease, the forms of contagion, the symptoms and treatment for AIDS in cats of the hand from our site.
FIV - Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Known by the acronym FIV, the cat immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that only attacks cats. Although it is the same disease that affects humans, it is caused by a different virus, so AIDS in cats is not contagious to humans
FIV directly attacks the immune system, destroying T-lymphocytes, which results in the animal being vulnerable to other diseases or less important infections, but with this condition they can lead to death. It is a chronic disease and by affecting the cells of the immune system, it damages and destroys them causing a progressive deterioration of the cat's immune function.
Detected early, feline AIDS is a disease that can be controlled. An infected cat, if properly treated, can have a long and dignified life.
Transmission and contagion of AIDS in cats
For our pet to get AIDS, it needs to be in contact with the saliva or blood of another infected cat. In principle, it is known that feline AIDS is transmitted through bites, so stray cats are the most likely to carry the virus.
Unlike the disease in humans, it has not been proven that AIDS in cats is transmitted sexually and even if pets share a water or food bowl. Of course, pregnant cats infected with FIV can transmit the disease to their puppies during pregnancy or lactation. It is unknown whether hematophagous parasites (fleas, ticks…) can act as a means of transmitting this disease.
If your cat has always been at home you don't have to worry, but if he isn't neutered and goes out at night, it's best to have him tested for bloodto check that everything is okay. Remember that cats are territorial, which can lead to occasional bite fights.
Feline AIDS symptoms
As in humans, a cat infected with the AIDS virus can live for years without showing characteristic symptoms or until the disease can be detected.
However, when the destruction of T-lymphocytes begins to reduce the capacity of the feline's immune system, small bacteria and viruses that our pets face daily and without any problem, will begin to cause havoc on the he alth of the animal and that is when the first symptoms may appear.
The most common symptoms of AIDS in cats and which can appear months after infection are:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Dull coat
- Gingivitis
- Stomatitis
- Recurring infections
- Diarrhea
- Connective tissue inflammation
- Progressive weight loss
- Abortions and fertility problems
- Mental deterioration
In general, the main symptom of a cat with AIDS is the appearance of recurrent illnesses. So it's important to keep an eye out for common ailments that are hard to go away or if your cat constantly relapses into he alth problems that seem minor.
Diagnosis of AIDS in cats
The veterinarian will take into account all the symptoms that the cat presents as well as its medical history, but to verify the diagnosis of feline immunodeficiency he may employ various tests that will indicate the presence of specific antibodies against FIV.
These tests can be performed at the veterinary clinic although sometimes their reliability is not 100%, so it may be common repeat the test or use more complex tests in the laboratory, as well as use techniques that allow the virus to be isolated.
Treatment for cats with immunodeficiency
The best cure is prevention, however, although there is no vaccine for AIDS in cats, with proper care a infected pet can have a happy life.
To prevent your cat from becoming infected with the AIDS virus, remember to control its outings and avoid fights with stray cats, as well as having it checked at least once a year and more if you see it coming back. house with some scratch or bite. If this was not enough and your cat is infected you have to work on strengthening the defenses and the immune system
There are antimicrobial drugs that can help control infections or bacteria that attack the animal. It is important that we bear in mind that these treatments must be regular, because otherwise our feline friend may relapse with new infections. There are also anti-inflammatory that will help control derived diseases such as gingivitis and stomatitis.
Apart from medications, the diet of cats with AIDS must be special. It is recommended that the diet be high in calories, so cans and wet food are a perfect ally to fight against the deterioration of the infected animal.
No treatment acts directly on FIV itself, what we can do to help our pet and give it a decent life is keep at bay all the opportunistic diseases that can attack you while your immune system is weak.
What else should I know about feline AIDS?
Next, we clear up other doubts about AIDS in cats:
Life expectancy in feline AIDS
It is important to bear in mind that the life expectancy of a cat with AIDS is not easy to predict, everything will depend on how your immune system responds to the attack of opportunistic diseases. When we talk about a dignified life, we mean that a pet with feline AIDS can live with dignity having a series of minimum care. Even when your he alth seems to be on the mend, you should be very vigilant about things like weight and fever. For this reason, it is not possible to know with certainty how long a cat with AIDS lives.
One of my cats has AIDS but the others don't
If cats don't fight each other, there is no possibility of contagion. Remember that feline AIDS is only transmitted through bites. However, as this is difficult to control, we recommend that the infected cat be isolated, just like any other infectious disease.
My cat has died of AIDS, is it safe to bring a new one?
Without the carrier, feline FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) is very unstable and does not survive for more than a few hours. Also, feline AIDS is only transmitted through saliva and blood, and without an infected cat biting, transmission to a new pet is highly unlikely.
However, as with any other infectious disease, we recommend some preventive measures:
- Disinfect or replace all belongings of the deceased cat.
- Disinfect rugs and carpets.
- Vaccinate the new pet against the most common infectious diseases.
Can a cat with AIDS infect me?
No, feline AIDS does not attack humans A cat infected with AIDS can never infect a human even by biting him. Although it is the same disease, FIV is not the same virus that infects humans, in this case we are talking about HIV, which is the human immunodeficiency virus. If you want to know what are the diseases that cats transmit, we encourage you to read this other article on Diseases that cats transmit and their symptoms.
Caring for a cat with immunodeficiency
If our cat has been diagnosed with feline immunodeficiency, we can take various measures to try to ensure that our pet enjoys a good quality of life:
- Offer you good quality, nutritious and appetizing food.
- Submit it to regular deworming, both internal and external.
- Keep it indoors to prevent it from getting other infections.
- Continue with the stipulated vaccination schedule.
- Offer homeopathy for cats as a preventive tool against secondary infections.
While a cat with AIDS may be able to live somewhat normally, preventing feline immunodeficiency may be more complex, since To achieve this, we must ensure that our cat does not have any contact with the outside.
