FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) Q&A

What is FIV?
FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It is estimated that 1-3% of all cats in the United States are infected with the virus. It is a lentivirus, which means that it is a slow progressing virus. The good news is that though FIV is fatal eventually, many cats live for years after contracting the virus. It is similar to the virus that affects humans, HIV, in that it weakens the cat’s immune system making the cat more vulnerable to diseases that healthy cats easily fight off.

Is there a cure for FIV?
No. There is no cure, and vaccinations for the disease are quite controversial.  FIV is a tricky virus, and for that reason – prevention is crucial.

How do cats catch FIV?
FIV is usually spread through deep, penetrating bite wounds, which is why cats that are given access to outdoor areas are the the highest infected population. Sometimes a mother will transmit FIV to her kittens during gestation (passing through the birth canal) or when she nurses them. (Most kittens with an infected mother will test positive for the disease due to the exposure to the antibodies, but will not become infected.)

Can I catch FIV from my cat?
No. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus only affects cats. But humans are susceptible to opportunistic bacteria and parasites that might infect cats in later stages of FIV. (i.e. if your FIV-positive cat experiences a bacterial infection due to his/her compromised immune system it could be transmitted to humans, especially those with a compromised immune system. But FIV itself, cannot be transmitted to humans.)

How is it prevented? How can I keep my cat from being infected?
Keep your cats indoors. Free-roaming cats are one of the highest infected populations. If you let your cat outside, you risk exposing him/her to this disease.  You can control how often your cat sees the vet, how good his/her diet is, even how much exercise they get – all factors for a healthy cat.  But if your cat has access to the outdoors you CANNOT guarantee that your cat will not come into contact with an infected cat.

How is FIV diagnosed?
FIV is diagnosed by your vet using a FIV antibody test which is called an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.) It takes about 10-20 minutes to run. The vet will look for antibodies in your cat’s blood which are unique proteins that your cat’s immune system will produce after being exposed to the virus. Tests can be inconclusive, in which case your cat will need to be retested in another 8-12 weeks. False positives are also prevalent, so cats who test positive usually undergo a second test – a Western Blot Assay to rule out the false positive.
Kittens will often test positive for the disease if their mother had it, but it does not mean they will be infected, only that they have antibodies in their system due to their mother’s antibodies. Kittens who were exposed should be retested after they are six months of age.
A negative test result usually means that the cat has not been exposed to the virus. But, antibodies don’t typically show up in the cat’s bloodstream for 8-12 weeks after exposure, so a retest might be needed. A blood test might also find the following blood abnormalities in FIV positive cats:

• Neutropenia (abnormal decrease in the number of circulating neutrophils, a type of white blood cell)
• Hypergammaglobulinemia (abnormally high level of gamma globulin, a type of antibody, in the blood)
• Anemia (abnormally low level of circulating red blood cells)
• Lymphopenia (abnormally low level of lymphocytes in the blood)

How is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus treated?
There is no way to treat FIV.  Much like HIV, most infected cats will die of secondary infections due to a compromised immune system, so measures need to be taken to prevent infections by keeping the cats isolated from other cats, indoors and up to date on vaccinations.  Antibacterial or antifungal medications can be used to treat secondary infections, but as the disease progresses these secondary illnesses become harder and harder to fight off.  Antiviral drugs to treat the disease are available, but the long term outcome of such treatment has yet to be determined.   If veterinarians suggest antivirals, the cat will have to be monitored monthly to make sure red blood cell count & lymphocyte levels are normal.  In the later stages of the disease cats will need fluid therapy, blood transfusions and high calorie diet supplements.  Again, the disease is eventually fatal.

If my cat is infected, how long can I expect him to live?
The lifespan of a cat infected with FIV is hard to pin down. 50% of cats infected will show no symptoms of the disease after 2 years after exposure.  About 20% of cats will die in 2 years.  Cats that have entered the last stage of the disease usually only survive for a year.  The best way to keep your cat healthy is to keep your cat indoors, away from potentially infected cats.

Want more reason to keep your cat indoors? Check out this article on the Ecological Perspective of Keeping Cats Inside.

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