Feline FIV is a disease that can affect our four-legged friends and is super dangerous. Cats can suffer from this disease, which is also known as feline AIDS and is caused by the feline immunodeficiency virus. This is one of the worst conditions that kittens can have during their lifetime and the pathology develops in different stages and can remain asymptomatic for a while. ie,Cat AIDS is often a silent but super dangerous disease.

Feline FIV has no cure, but there are specific treatments to reduce the effects and provide more quality of life for the animal that tests positive for the disease. To understand more about the different stages and the most common symptoms of FIV in cats at each stage, we talked to veterinarian Amanda Miranda, from Rio de Janeiro.

FIV: cats transmit the disease mainly through saliva

FIV in cats has one main form of transmission, which is through contact between the saliva of an infected kitty and a healthy feline. In some cases, contact with blood is also a gateway to the disease. Therefore, in general, AIDS in cats is usually transmitted through bites or scratches, for example. Therefore, homeless animals, unneutered animals and those who usuallyare much more likely to contract feline AIDS, as they have contact with other cats and are more likely to get into fights.

In addition, there is also another form of transmission considered less frequent, but which can happen. Positive females when pregnant may end up transmitting feline FIV to their kittens if there is the presence of the virus in the blood. In this way, the kittens can be born infected or acquire the disease during breastfeeding or other care of the mother with the kitten, such as throughof licks.

It is worth remembering that FIV in cats is not a zoonosis, meaning that it does not pass to humans, so you can rest assured if you have an FIV positive kitten, because it will not pass the disease on to anyone in the family.

Feline FIV: symptoms are specific at each stage of the disease

FIV, cats, symptoms: these three words often generate many doubts in pet parents. This is not for nothing, after all feline FIV can have up to three different phases, classified as acute, latent or chronic phase. As the disease progresses, FIV symptoms may vary. That is, everything will depend on the phase in which the animal is, making it difficult to define a schedule of symptoms dayUnderstand below what the stages of the disease are:

The first phase of FIV in cats is the acute phase

When it comes to symptoms, feline FIV can have different manifestations early in the infection, so there is little care and testing is essential to know if your kitten is FIV positive or not. According to Amanda, when the animal becomes infected, it may initially present the following symptoms:

• Fever;
• Lymph node enlargement;
• Anorexia;

"These symptoms of FIV soon cease, so the animal is healthy and shows no signs of the disease for months or years," she explains.

Feline FIV: the second phase is asymptomatic

The second stage of feline FIV is called asymptomatic, because the immune system is able to neutralize viral activity for a good period of time, making the signs of the disease imperceptible. That is, at this stage there are no symptoms: feline FIV is "dormant" for an indefinite period of time, since the lymphocytes (cells that protect the body against diseases) are gradually destroyed.

FIV: cats entering the chronic or terminal phase have more specific symptoms

The last phase of feline FIV is characterized by the total fragility of the animal's immune system, so the risks of death are higher and there is still the risk of developing some other even more serious pathology, such as cancer. The main symptoms of FIV in cats in this case are:

• Infections;
• Skin lesions;
• Sepsis, which is a generalized infection;
• Secondary diseases, which can affect the gums, mouth, digestive tract, urinary tract and skin;

FIV positive: cat will need specific care throughout life

FIV and FeLV are especially worrying diseases when it comes to feline health. What few people know is that each condition requires specific care to ensure a good quality of life for the kittens. According to Amanda, the cat that is FIV positive should visit the veterinarian every six months for control and general evaluation. "The veterinarian must control the disease withblood tests and imaging tests, such as ultrasound and radiography, in addition to the treatment of secondary infections and control or removal of possible tumors that may arise ". The tutor must offer the animal a balanced and good quality diet. The veterinarian adds that the control of worms and parasites must be done regularly.

Finally, it is necessary for animals positive for the disease to be neutered, since FIV can be transmitted during mating and has a risk of passing from the contaminated mother to the kittens. Cats should live in a screened environment so that they do not transmit the disease to other animals and are not subject to other secondary diseases that will aggravate and worsen the pet's immunity, which is already low.compromised by feline immunodeficiency virus.

FIV in cats: can positives live with healthy felines?

It is always very difficult for cat owners to receive a positive diagnosis for feline FIV. Unlike FeLV (Feline Leukemia), there is no vaccine that facilitates the coexistence of a negative and a positive cat. But, although it is not entirely advisable, sometimes a cat with FIV can coexist with other cats negative for the disease, if both have all the care of the vaccine.family.

Among the main precautions, it is always necessary to keep food and water bowls clean. There must also be no competition for food, water or litter, so the number of accessories should always be greater than the number of resident cats. That is, if you have two cats, you should have at least three water bowls, three food bowls and three litter boxes. Another pointimportant is cat neutering: all animals should be neutered to have their predatory and territorial behavior more controlled.

Still, it is important to keep in mind that this is a risky decision and that, in order to avoid feline FIV in other cats in the family, there must be full dedication and commitment from the guardians in the matter of care.

How to prevent FIV in cats and ensure your pet's good health?

There are several myths and truths about FIV and FeLV, and one of them is that feline FIV cannot be prevented. Well, that's not quite true: with some simple care, it is possible to avoid the risk of your kitten developing the disease. To begin with, neutering is an essential measure that helps prevent possible escapes and fights with other cats.

Another way to prevent feline AIDS is with indoor breeding. In the case of animals living in apartments, a cat screen should be placed on all access to the street, such as windows, balconies and overhangs. For kittens living in houses, in addition to window screens, it is recommended to invest in vertical nets and walls to limit the animal's access to the streets. Without contact with the worldoutside, your pet is unlikely to come into contact with the feline immunodeficiency virus and consequently suffer from FIV in cats.