What is it?

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a virus that disrupts the immune system of cats. It is similar in many ways to HIV/AIDS but the FIV virus cannot cause disease in people.

Surveys in Australia suggest that approximately 8% of the domestic cat population is infected with the virus, while nearly a quarter of feral cats were infected There is a higher prevalence in un-neutered male cats due to their more aggressive nature.

How do cats get FIV?

The virus is transmitted between cats by bite wounds and occasionally from queen to kitten via milk. Cats that are more aggressive (like unneutered males), and cats that are allowed to roam free outdoors are therefore more likely to come into contact with the FIV virus.

What signs should I look for?

FIV infection has three phases: an acute phase with fever and enlarged lymph nodes, an asymptomatic phase of variable length, and a terminal phase. Infected cats in the asymptomatic phase appear healthy. When they progress into the terminal phase, various problems can become apparent. These can include:

Ulcers in the mouth - these can be painful and the cat may find it difficult to eat and subsequently lose weight.
Neurological problems - psychotic behaviour, tremors, loss of bladder control, and difficulty walk-ing.
Some types of cancers - such as leukaemia and lymphoma.

How do I know if my cat has FIV?

At Piper St, we diagnose FIV infection with a blood test that takes 15-20 minutes in-house. The test also detects Feline Leukeamia Virus and Feline Heartworm infections. FIV is often diagnosed either when cats are in the terminal phase, or when they are in the asymptomatic phase during routine testing prior to FIV vaccination.

Can FIV be treated?

As with HIV, there is no cure for FIV infection. If cats are well cared for and protected from secondary infections they are often able to lead long and healthy lives while infected with FIV. Many drugs to increase survival time have been investigated. Only one antiviral drug is licensed in Australia for use in FIV-infected cats - Omega 10 Interferon. This drug helps prevent the virus replicating and may help the cat to recover from secondary infections. It is, however, very expensive. Some drugs that are used in HIV patients have been trialled in animals, including AZT, phosphononformate and ribavirin. Of these, AZT can increase survival time, but it is not registered for use in cats at this time.

How can I prevent FIV in my cat?

The best way to prevent FIV infection is total isolation from other cats, however this is often not practical. Piper St offers vaccination against FIV for cats testing negative to FIV. While no vaccine provides 100% protection, the FIV vaccine has been demonstrated to protect cats from certain field strains of FIV. Castra-tion of male cats to reduce aggressive and roaming behaviours which reduces the likelihood of infection. We recommend a combination of vaccination, keeping cats indoors at night and in the case of male cats, castration, to prevent FIV infection. We also very strongly recommend microchipping cats that are vac-cinated for FIV, as the commonly used FIV tests give a positive result for both infection and vaccination.

What to expect at Piper St Vets

If you have a new kitten, we recommend microchipping and an FIV vaccination at 8, 10 and 12 weeks. Yearly FIV boosters are recommended to maintain protection.

If you have an older cat, we will first obtain a blood sample to run the FIV test. If this returns negative, we will microchip your cat (if not done already), then give the first FIV vaccination. Boosters are required at two and four weeks after the initial vaccination, then annually.