Getting Home Ready for FIV Cat

Cats generally do not like change and so moving my FIV cat to a new home needed to be done carefully.  FIV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus cats will remain in good health provided they live in a controlled environment that is stress free and nurturing.

Normally I would not move My cat Sam from my office to home because I do not like to upset his daily routine but there was no alternative as mold was found in my office and chemicals were needed to remove the mold making the office an unsafe area for my cat.

My husband and I decided to bring Sam back into our home.  Sam would have separate living quarters that were away from our other cats.  

The room that we set up for Sam is an enclosed sun room that has heat and air conditioning.  It also has a kitty door that will allow Sam access to an attached outdoor screened enclosure.  The new room for Sam is a 10 x 19 and the screened attached closure is the measurement of 8 x10.  This room has 8 windows and two cat seats attached to the side of the window.  

I feel the cheerful room will provide Sam with positive stimulation.  In addition we will be able to spend more quality time with Sam.

Getting FIV Cat’s Home Ready

We worked all week on getting Sam’s room ready.  

Monday – Pest Control

My husband dusted the room with Diatomaceous earth food grade to kill any parasites; fleas, ticks, mites and to kill all bugs that may reside in the room. 

Saturday- Sanitize Room

My husband and I cleaned the room; vacuumed the floors and the sofa and polished the furniture with natural paste that is not harmful to pets and then we scrubbing the floors, walls, windows and ceiling.

*Buy housecleaning products that are safe for children and pets

Sunday –Set up Room for Cat

We covered the cement floor with tight weave Berber area carpet and we covered the sofa to protect it from stains. 

We added cat furniture and accessories to the room; cat tree, window seat, cuddle bed, covered litter box, scratching post, toys and a feeding station. 

To filter the light we covered the windows with wood-like blinds and to keep the air clean a HEBA air purifier was set on the coffee table for a circular cleaning of airborne particles.

After the room was cleaned and set up I plugged a Feliway comfort diffuser into the electrical outlet. The feliway formula is a slow release synthetic cat pheoinom which aids in keeping cats calm.  It is helpful when bringing a cat into a new home or socializing new cats with other cats.

Moving Day

I arrived at the office at the usual time and fed Sam.  While Sam ate I got his carrier ready for transporting him by spraying it with Feliway mood modifier.  

Sam was indifferent as he was eating his food; however his uninterested state changed when I set the carrier on the floor and opened the door.   Sam reacted by meowing loudly and running around the room.  He knew something was up and he was anxious.  I suspect that he assumed he was going to the veterinarians. 

 

Sam would not go into the carrier on his own so I put him in it.  I covered the carrier with Sam’s baby blanket and I hoped that it would comfort him.  He stopped meowing as soon as we got into the car.  I talked to Sam during the drive home. I did this to comfort him and I had hoped he would feel less anxiety.  

When I got home my husband took Sam’s carrier and together we brought him into his room.  His carrier was set in the middle of the room on the floor and then we opened the door.  Sam ran out of the carrier as fast as he could and examined every nook and cranny in the room.  He ran around until he could run no more and then he laid on the sofa in-between my husband and me.  

Sam took a nap, my husband and I took a nap and when we awoke we found that Sam had eaten some food, used his litter box, played with his toys and he was resting on the window seat. 

The stress of the move home was lessened because I took the necessary steps to comfort Sam and to lessen his anxiety.  

Sam likes his room and enjoys being able to view us while we sit in the living room.  Since the move I set up my office in Sam’s room which allows me to spend time with Sam.  

My husband watches TV with Sam while I keep the other cats company. When Sam lived in my office I would spend many hours during the day with him and I would visit him on my days off too.  

At night Sam would be alone in the office, he was a happy cat but I feel his present living arrangement where we all live under one roof is easier and healthier for him and me.

Diatomaceous Earth Flea Treatment for Cats

With so many flea treatments available it is difficult to know which flea remedy is right for your cat.  Many of the topical applications of flea treatments are not as toxic as one would think, however, if your cat has feline Leukemia or immunodeficiency virus you may be concerned with the toxicity of the topical or internal flea treatments and how they affect your cat long term.  For this health concern, many people are turning to Diatomaceous Earth Flea Treatment for Cats.

Adult cat flea: Wikipedia Commons

My cat Sam has Feline immunodeficiency virus and due to his health condition, I was concerned about using chemical-based flea treatments.  

I asked a friend who has experience with cats with Feline Immunodeficiency what she used and she told me about Diatomaceous  Earth and food grade.  I purchased the safe and natural product at amazon.com and used it to treat my home and my cat for fleas.

Treat your Home with Diatomaceous  Earth Food Grade

The best way to prevent your cat from becoming infested with fleas is to treat your home with a safe and natural flea preventative. Kill household pests with diatomaceous earth food grade.

Follow the direction on the package.  I always vacuum my carpets and my upholstered furniture before filling a duster or shaker with DE. Treat your entire house; carpets, upholstered furniture, drapes, bedding, pet beds, cat trees, and scratching posts.  Treat all areas where fleas or ticks would hide.  

Know that you will have to treat your home monthly if you have pets that go outdoors. If you work in the garden or do yard work fleas can hitch a ride on your clothing.  

Diatomaceous Earth food grade for Cats

If your cat has fleas crawling on them then sprinkle a small amount of the earth onto the palm side of your hands. Then rub the earth onto your cat’s fur.  For me, I find this is the best way to apply the powder to my cat's fur. 

If your cats do not have fleas then do not do this. Know that If your home is treated with DE then it dehydrates the flea quickly and they will die. Your cat will benefit from the whole house treatment by lying on the carpet or on their pet beds.

Groom your cats with a flea comb to remove dead fleas. 

Diatomaceous earth food grade is safe and natural for humans and pets. 

 Very important to buy only food grade product.  Read the label to make sure if is safe for humans and pets.  

Cat Health - Feline Idiopathic Cystitis

Stress, dry cat food, obesity, lack of exercise put your cat at risk for Feline idiopathic cystitis condition. 

Feline idiopathic cystitis or commonly known as sterile cystitis. This condition is inflammation of the bladder. The veterinarian checks the cat’s urine to determine if the urine is sterile or if it has tiny crystals or sand like particles in the urine.

Niki after 1 week of treatment

My cat is Niki is a 12 year old socialized feral Maine Coon Cat was recently diagnosed with feline idiopathic cystitis.  She is independent,territorial and  aggressive with our other cats.  Her bad behavior and aggressive nature has caused her to have stress. 

Watch for Symptoms

Cats that are sick will urinate in places that would get your attention; sofa, chair, bed, kitchen counter.  This is their way of telling you that something is not right.  If you cat is urinating outside of their litter box and it is not due to new cat or dirty litter box then contact your veterinarian.

Other symptoms are excessive urination with signs of strain or pain and blood in urine.

As a pet owner you know your cat and thus know when something is not right.  My cat showed signs of wanting to sleep more and she also had tear stained eyes. She appeared to be putting on weight but her appetite seemed to lessen. 


Over the course of three weeks she became more aggressive with cats and with me. She did not want to show weakness so she hid in the back of the closet and did not sleep at the foot of our bed. She did not want to be held and she did not want to be groomed or petted.  

I noted all of her symptoms in a journal. I treated the home with feliway mood modifier and it seemed to help some. Her illness came on quickly and when she showed no interest in food and urinated on my kitchen counter I made an appointment for her to see her veterinarian.

If you note behavior changes in your cat, a loss of appetite, and urinating outside of litter box when box in clean then note the signs and contact your veterinarian.   

Diagnosis  Treatment Prevention

The veterinarian will give your cat a wellness exam and will do a urinalysis.  Urine appearance that is red or brown in color, has a cloudy look and has a strong ammonia odor could indicate a serious cat health condition. 

In Niki’s case, her veterinarian examined her urine under a microscope to look for white blood cells which indicated inflammation, and crystals; bladder stones.  Her urine showed signs of blood and tiny crystals. 

Further tests are needed; mature cat blood screen and ultrasound.  These tests are needed to rule out serious kidney, liver and bladder disease. 

What you can do to Prevent Feline Idiopathic Cystitis

Prevent this cat health condition by feeding your cat a high protein and low carbohydrate canned food or make your cat a raw food.  Raw food with no fillers, chemicals or preservatives is very healthy for cats. 


Make sure your cat is hydrated.  Do this by mixing the canned cat food with two tablespoons of filtered water or low sodium chicken broth.

  

 Keep your cats water fresh.  If your cat is finicky about drinking water than enhance the flavor with low sodium chicken broth or add a tablespoon of tuna water from canned tuna. 

Another way to prevent feline idiopathic cystitis is to keep your cat active.  Plan a play time for your cat.  Choose a feather type toy like and interactive toy like Da Bird.  Niki plays with Da bird daily and she likes her catnip mouse and balls.  

If your cat is lazy and does not want to play then use a clicker to train them with low fat treats.  You can get your cat to do anything provided there is a food reward.  

Install an outdoor cat enclosure for your cat.  Allow your cat to spend time outdoors in a safe area. The fresh air and the natural vitamin D will improve your cat’s health.  If not a cat outdoor enclosure, then consider walking your cat on a leash in your yard.

Make sure you have a litter box for each cat in your household. Keep the litter box clean.  A cat will feel stress if they have no access to a clean litter box.

Control your cats stress by eliminating stressful situations.  


I set up a cat room for her on the heated/air conditioned sun porch.  The floor is cement and there are 8 windows that provide fresh air and a view of bird feeders. 

The room has all that she needs; bed, toys, litter box, cat tree and window seats.  Niki loves her room and both my husband and I have seen an improvement in her disposition.  She is using her litter box, eating well and aggressiveness is gone.  She likes being the center of attention.

Note from Sgolis

If you have a cat has feline immunodeficiency virus or leukemia then it is best for you to feed your cat a high protein, low carbohydrate diet and to make sure that they are hydrated.  

Plan to keep your cat active by playing with them for one hour each day.  Keep your cat in a happy state of mind. Stress is a factor for this cat disease.

Notes from Susan:   

It was hard for me to see that Niki was sick because she is a cat with a bad behavior.   She showed no signs of strain in litter box, no blood in urine or odor.  Her appetite was always good until one day she did not eat and she urinated on my kitchen counter.  She was telling me loud and clear that something was wrong. 

January 17th:
Niki's blood tests showed that there is no reason to worry.  Her blood was normal.  The veterinarian wants her to stay on  Hills cd multicare bladder health diet for the rest of her life and we are to recheck her urine in six weeks.  As of this date the diet and the low stress has agreed with Niki and she is using her litter box.  One thing that I did notice about her litter box behavior is that it has to be clean at all times or she gets grouchy.

Cat Upper Respiratory Symptoms and Treatment

Four of my housecats had symptoms of a cold which rapidly turned into an upper respiratory infection.  

Their symptoms were sneezing, water eyes and nasal drainage with no appetite and refusal to drink water.  The day before their cold like symptoms all cats drank a lot of water and slept more and they hid under the bed, sofa and in the closet. 

I responded to their symptoms quickly and  the first thing that I did was isolate them in one room and added an air purifier to the room to remove 99.9 percent of the airborne germs. 

I then called my veterinarian and they saw the cats immediately.  The  cats were treated with the antibiotic Doxycycline.

Treatment:

1. Doxycycline was administered to the cats with syringe without needle.  Best way is to put the syringe in the side of the cats mouth and release the liquid slowly.  (Follow dosage instructions given by your veterinarian)
2. Lysine powder: (follow dosage instructions by your veterinarian)  mix the lysine with can cat food once per day for 30 days.  Or buy the cat chewable tabs for cats. (The chewable tabs are easier to administer to the cats)
3. Feed high quality food:  I am feeding all of the cats Blue Buffalo can spa select.  It has a good source of antioxidants that will boost cats immune system.
4. To help the cat’s breath better run hot water into the tub and allowing the room to fill with steam.  Put your sick cat in the bathroom for 20 minutes.  The steam aids in opening up the nasal passages.  This of course is helpful because the cat can then smell his food.
5. Wipe the cat’s nose with a cotton ball that is moistened with warm water, this will remove the excess nasal drainage and allow the cat to smell.
6. To entice the cat to eat add three tablespoons of filtered water to a microwave safe plate or shallow bowl.  Then add one tablespoon of the canned cat food and heat for 10 seconds.  The warm food has a strong aroma and the cat can smell it and will then eat.
7. If the cat refuses to eat use a feeding syringe without needle and fill it with the watered down canned food.  Feed the cat slowly from the side of their mouth.
8. Keep cats hydrated. My cats refused to drink so my husband and I administered filtered water by way of a syringe.  We were up a few nights caring for them so that they would stay hydrated and nourished.
9. To prevent the spreading of germs wear a ventilator mask, latex gloves and spray your clothing with Lysol disinfectant spray.

 Note: 

All cats were up to date with vaccines.  

What I learned is vaccines will help prevent many strains of viruses but they do not prevent all of them.  It is like a human getting a flu shot.

With antibiotic treatment and the administering of syringe hydration and nourishment all of the cats showed signs of improvement within three days and were completely healed within 10 days.

Cats hide when they are ill because it protects them from being attacked, this is nature.  When cats are sick it is a sign of weakness.  Cats will hide until they can hide no more.

I recommend Lysine for cats as this enzyme will help to prevent virus symptoms.

Feline viral rhinotracheitis Symptoms

Cats that are not vaccinated for the prevention of feline viral rhinotracheitis are at risk every time they interact with cats outdoors, at the groomers or at a kennel.  

If you cat is permitted to socialize with neighborhood cats they may become infected when they groom another cat or if they inhale the virus from a cat that is coughing.
 

Healthy adult cats that are infected with feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) that receive medical care from their veterinarian usually do not have complications and will recover however mature cats age 8 or older, kittens and cats with a weakened immune system and cats with Feline Leukemia or AIDS could become seriously ill and some may die.  

You can prevent your cat from getting infected by getting your cat vaccinated and keeping up with the annual shots.  Keep all appointments for preventative wellness exams by your veterinarian. 

If you think your cat has been exposed then get a journal and document any symptoms that may indicate illness.  From the time a cat is exposed to the virus, it takes five days for the cat to show the symptom.  

The first symptoms of feline viral rhinotracheitis are similar to that of a cat cold; however, as the virus progress, the symptoms will get worse.  If you suspect that your cats are infected with this form of feline influenza then make an appointment with your veterinarian for a wellness check-up.  

Take your journal with you when you take your cat to their appointment.  The journal will help you to discuss your cat’s health with the veterinarian it will also allow you to make notes in regard to your cat's diagnosis and treatments.

Watch for these Symptoms:

• Sneezing

• Coughing

• Swollen and irritated eyes with excessive tearing; clear discharge that becomes thick and turns a greenish color as the virus gets worse.  (see image above) 

• Nose membranes and sinuses will become inflamed (red and swollen) Your cat will develop a clear nasal drip.  As the virus gets worse the clear nasal drip will become thicker and turn the color of green.

• Fever

• Behavior changes, not using the litter box, withdrawn 

• Loss of appetite with no desire to drink water

• Dehydration

• Drooling

• Pain and signs of stiffness in joints

 Tips:

There is no cure for Feline viral rhinotracheitis, all you can do is provide your cat with comfort, keep your cat warm and treat the symptoms.  Your veterinarian may give you a prescription for antiviral medication. 

Administer the medication according to the directions given by your veterinarian, do not miss a dose and do not stop the medication unless your veterinarian tells you to stop.

To prevent your cat from getting infected with feline influenza you should get your cat vaccinated.

Another way to prevent your cat from becoming ill is to keep your cat indoors.  A cat that is permitted to go outdoors may easily come in contact with a cat that has infections feline disease:  Feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus and feline viral rhinotracheitis.

Notes from Susan:

Even if your cat is not exposed to other cats, you must provide them with vaccines because they may come in contact with an infected cat when they go to groomers or to a veterinarian for medical care.  Take steps to prevent your cat from becoming ill.

Image credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons