Veterinarian Checkup for Sam my FIV Cat

It has been 45 days since my FIV cat was diagnosed with kidney failure and put on a special prescription k/d food diet.  We were told that Sam could no longer eat animal protein because it was hard on his kidneys.  We had to feed him food that was formulated for renal health only.

We bought the Hills Prescription Diet k/d canned food and the dry kibble then mixed the two together and put them in his food bowl.  Sam played with the food but would not eat it.  

So I removed that food from the bowl and replaced it with k/d canned food only.  Mr busy cat went into the kitchen got a towel and put the towel on top of his food bowl.  I guess he hated it so much that he did not want to look at it. (lol)

Sam eats dry k/d food from the bowl

My cat has got to eat, I removed the canned food, washed his bowl, and poured Sam a bowl of the dry k/d special kidney diet food.  Sam grazed his food bowl and ate a few pieces of food.  Then he took every piece of food out of the bowl and put the kibble on the carpet.     

Our veterinarian suggested that we try Prescription renal LP by Royal Canin and again Sam did not eat the food. He grazed his bowl when absolutely necessary but other than that would not eat the special diet food.

The one thing that the veterinarian told us is that Sam could not lose weight. When he was checked it was noted that he lost 1 pound. The attending veterinarian said that his weight loss may be due to the FIV condition and I disagreed, I know it is because our cat does not like food that is made with no animal protein. Cats are carnivores, not vegetarians.

The veterinarian said that Sam cannot lose any more weight, so now they have ordered a new prescription for feline renal health food for Sam. We hope that this new food tastes better because I am sure that this is why our cat is not eating.

Sam is a junk food kitty eating Purina Friskies Salmon Pate for Senior cats mixed with Blue Buffalo spa selects and loved this food combination before he became sick and now he hates his kidney diet food.  

Hoping that this next prescription food will be one that Sam likes.   

My Cat Sam is Losing Weight

Forty-five days ago my cat Sam was rushed to the veterinarian because he had a fever and stopped eating. These two symptoms are cause for alarm when your cat has feline immunodeficiency virus. My cat was admitted to the animal hospital and stayed there for ten days. That is when we learned that his kidneys were not normal and that he had chronic kidney disease, his teeth needed to be removed, and that he was losing weight.  Pounds were lost while at the veterinarian hospital.

Sam hiding in the water container.

 Sam was losing weight; was a warning flag for cancer. 

Sam had an ultrasound and the results were negative, of course, this ultrasound could not see inside his internal organs and we have no idea if he has kidney cancer or what.

So we bring Sam home and he has to eat special cat food; Royal Canin veterinary diet Renal LP in gravy canned food for chronic kidney disease or renal failure.

The food gives him more energy but also reduces his food intake, plus Sam hates canned food.  He is a kibble junkie cat, and I guess he does not like the taste, eats only when he has to and I can tell he does not like it because he growls at his food bowl.

Yes, my cat hates his kidney diet food.  He eats when is starving and seldom licks the plate clean. I think this is why he has lost more weight.

The veterinarian says the weight loss is not due to the lack of kibble food but thinks it is due to some underlining medical condition.  I am a worried cat mom. 

We go back to the veterinarian on Tuesday for a checkup.

Hanging Out With My Cat Sam

Only a cat owner will know what I mean by "hanging out with a cat". Unlike dogs, cats are intuitive and sense when they need to be calm or caring of their owners. Today I am sick and staying in bed and my cat Sam has been hanging out with me.  Normally he is very busy but instead of playing with the dog or watching the birds he is lying next to me.

Cats can be playful and make their owners laugh and then when you do not feel good they sense your emotions the cat is really affectionate and are good company. For instance, when I do not feel good my cat knows it and he will bring all of his toys to me and set them close to me. He will not insist that I throw the cat ball far, instead, he will be happy playing with me while I lie in bed or on the sofa.

Hanging out with my cat Sam is fun because he lies next to me as if he is keeping me warm and when I nap he naps.   When I awake I usually find Sam under the fleece blanket or on top of my head purring.

Today I do not feel good so I have been lying on the sofa in the living room because my husband has a nice warm fire going in the fireplace and the heat sure feels good, Sam is hanging out with me on the sofa and so is the dog. When I do not feel good my cat is good company.

Note: Sam has feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and so he does sleep more, which means when you are sick and have to stay in bed, an FIV cat is good company.

Quality Time Spent with FIV Cat

They say that your FIV cat has 5 to 7 years to live a quality life before the feline virus that suppresses its immune system makes the cat sick and I say make those years the best years of your cat's life by spending quality time with them.

My cat Sam the Siamese playing with a ball on the bed

My cat Sam is celebrating his 7^th year since becoming diagnosed with feline immunodeficiency virus and oh boy has he had a good life. In his cat life, he went from living down the street with his sister to a nice family and had a happy kittenhood until the family moved away and abandoned him. They took the female Siamese cat but left Sam to fend for himself in the neighborhood.

Sam did not do so well being outdoors because he was not neutered and the neighborhood and feral tomcats beat him up regularly. When I caught him Sam was not a pretty cat, his hair was missing, bite wounds and he was skin and bones. But I took care of him and nursed him back to health and even though he had been diagnosed with FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) he went on to live a wonderful cat life where his people and dog loved him.

Sam has a cat room with toys and a self-warming K&H cat bed. cat tree and a window seat where he can watch the birds eat from an outdoor feeder. Sam gets plenty of belly rubs plus kisses and he is told every day that he is loved. In fact, I sing a silly little song and Sam sings the chorus.  My husband thinks it is hysterical but I do not care it is my special song that I sing with my cat Sam.

My rescue cat may have had an iffy time when he was abandoned but the last seven years have been perfect and we are hoping and praying that he has seven more years.

FIV Cats Sleep More Than Normal Cats

When you own an FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) infected cat you tend to read books and search online for information regarding this feline disease.  Then you do everything that you can to keep your cat healthy and happy so that he does not get sick.

My cat Sam sleeping on the sofa.  He sleeps 90% of the day

All the information that I have read indicated that cats that are infected generally do not show signs of the disease for five to seven years. I rescued Sam in 2008 and he was diagnosed with Feline AIDS which was reduced to FIV since he had no symptoms. Sam has been healthy and happy for seven years and now he is sick; renal failure and possible cancer.

The veterinarian said that the renal failure is due to the FIV and he suspects that he may have cancer also. My cat is slipping away from me and there is nothing I can do to stop his illness from progressing. We had hoped that we could spend one more year with him but I do not know if that is possible.

Sam is still happy, talks to me daily plays with the dog but overall he sleeps more than before.For now, we are keeping all veterinarian appointments.  He has had a B12 shot and that has helped some.  His weakened immune system cannot fight off the diseases and for now, I have my Sam even though he sleeps 90% of the day, the 10% is still quality time spent with my cat Sam.

My FIV Cat Has Kidney Failure

My cat Sam was rescued after he was abandoned in the woods by my home. It took us less than a year to catch him because he was so scared. By the time we got him, he was skin and bones and from the looks of his coat, he had been in one too many fights.

We took him to the veterinarian and he tested positive for feline leukemia and aides. The veterinarian at the time wanted to put Sam down but I said no and that was in 2008. To make a long story short I nursed Sam back to health and have enjoyed this talkative, playful, and very loving Siamese cat for the last seven years.

Everything was great in fact in August of 2014 his medical exam and blood work should not have changes, but come to the end of November it was clear that something was wrong. Sam who loves to eat, decided he was not going to eat anymore. We thought maybe he suddenly did not like his only natural food by Merrick.  We fed him the best-canned cat food; de-boned chicken canned cat food that was grain free and had no corn wheat, soy, or gluten so we spiced up his food and gave him Merrick Purrfect Bistro Surf and Turf canned cat food and my cat turned away from his food bowl.

The next day he went to the veterinarian because if Sam is not eating there is something wrong. Well sure enough he had fervor, and an infection from an unknown source, his blood work came back fine but his urine showed that his kidneys were not working properly. Sam was in the veterinarian hospital for 10 days and when he was discharged we were told that his teeth due to feline stomatitis had to be removed but the surgery day was unclear due to his renal failure.

Sam has been home now for two weeks and he is doing better, but the veterinarian told me that he needs a follow-up exam and then he will decide if they will go ahead to remove his teeth. I will know more on Tuesday as it is Sams's next appointment. 

Pregnant Cat Infected with FIV

I tell all of my friends to keep their cats indoors but for some reason, my one friend did not heed my advice and let her pregnant cat out into the garden one day, three minutes later that pregnant cat was infected with FIV because of a minor ruckus with a neighbors cat.

Maine Coon Cat

She did not take her cat to the veterinarian because her cat was up to date with all vaccines including Feline Leukemia so she had no worries, the injury that occurred due to the cat confrontation was minor.  About ten days after the cat fights the pregnant Maine Coon cat came down with cold-like symptoms with swollen lymph nodes but this passed and she went on to deliver five adorable kittens.

After giving birth her beloved cat got sick and was not responding to the medication given. The cat kept getting sicker and the attending veterinarian asked if her cat went outdoors. She told him of the incident in the garden, and her cat tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)

All of the kittens tested positive also and could not be sold nor could she find anyone to take them. Her veterinarian told her that they could live a long life without complications but the life must be one of no stress and they could never go outdoors.

Know that until there is a vaccine that will prevent cats from getting infected with FIV then it is wise to keep all cats indoors.   An indoor cat is a healthier cat.

A cat with FIV is a cat that has a suppressed immune system and if infected with the virus at birth the life expectancy is 5 to 7 years.

FIV takes Another Cats Life

For three days I had to make the decision to end my cat's life.  A cat that when checked in August by the veterinarian showed no sign of illness. However, this cat got a cold and never recovered. Did not respond to medication and further examination indicated mass and the diagnosis was cancer.

Over the years my husband has taken in 6 FIV, feline immunodeficiency cats. All of them showed no signs of the illness as this virus is known to lie dormant for a long time.

We were told that some cats are carriers of the virus and may never become ill, while other cats may get sick starting at age five.  That it all depended on the lifestyle of the cat.  A cat with no stress may never get sick.

Photo of Sam diagnosed with FIV in 2008 he is a survivor

Out of the six FIV cats that we have cared for, three of them needed euthanasia due to a cancer diagnosis. They were aged 6, 13, and 14.  These three cats have abandoned adult cats that I had rescued and all had a happy and stress-free life with us for several years before becoming ill.  

Then three days ago FIV took the life of another cat and even though we knew that the cats would not live a full life we are still sad because all of the cats were taken so quickly and our hearts are broken. 

Somethings Wrong With Sam My FIV Cat

We rescued Sam in 2008 and he was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia and AIDS by one veterinarian. In fact, they wanted to euthanize this cat on the spot but I said no.  It was a good thing that I said no because sixty days later Sam was tested again by another veterinarian and he said he had FIV feline immunodeficiency virus and confirmed that Sam did not have FeLV feline Leukemia virus.

2008 Sam playing with a ball

Sam has had a pretty normal life. Besides sleeping more he is otherwise as normal as he can be. His veterinarian checkups have been unremarkable.  We had changed his diet to blue buffalo canned cat food, and we have not had to do much except love him.

Well that was 2008 and this is now and I am concerned that maybe the FIV that was dormant for so long has now progressed and is more serious.

 He has signs of poor coat, loss of appetite, losing weight, and hiding which cats will do when they are sick.

These signs could be due to stress as the house changed and this may have been enough to cause him to get sick. The only way to know for sure is to take Sam to the veterinarian and so I made his appointment for next week.

FIV Cats Develop Cancer

In 2008 I rescued a stray black and white kitten that was constantly getting into fights.  This little cat had a big heart but was no match to the feral tomcats, so I befriended him by feeding him twice a day and soon he became dependent upon me. Then I coaxed him into my mud room by leaving the door open. Once the cat came into my house he made no attempt to run out the door. He came indoors on his terms and I welcomed him to my home.

Manx cat outdoors

The kitten was approximately five months old. I took him to the veterinarian and he was tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), the test came back negative. I had him neutered and he got all of his vaccines and rabies shots.

Black and white kitten rescued

All was well with this little black cat. He adjusted well with the other cats in my care and was sweet and loving. He was buddies with my Manx cat as they used to play and sleep together. Then one day my Manx cat got out of the house and he was gone for 28 hours, when he came back indoors we noticed fur was missing and suspected that he got into a fight.  I examined him there were no bite wounds.

My Manx cat was a gentle giant and never showed aggression so I was surprised when his behavior changed and he turned into a troublemaker.   His behavior changed for no apparent reason and he wanted to fight with my black cat. After two ruckuses where the fur was flying and Manx cat had bitten my black cat and caused an open wound, I took both cats to the veterinarian for a wellness exam because something was wrong.

The cat's teeth were the first system that my veterinarian noticed; they both had inflammation of the gums and dental disease, other than that my Manx cat had changes in his behavior. Even though our cats had the ELISA blood test which identifies the FIV proteins in cats' blood previously my veterinarian suspected that the cat had symptoms of this incurable disease. 

To my surprise, both cats were diagnosed with FIV.

We found out that our cats tested positive for FIV in December of 2013 and from that date forward their health seemed to fail due to a weakened immune system.   Both cats developed cancer and it spread very quickly.  My cats were put down in September 2014 they were both six years old.

 I suspect that my Manx cat was infected with FIV during the time he had gotten out of the house for a day and a half.  He must have had a puncture wound that I did not see when I examined him. 

This is why a recommend that everyone keep their cats indoors because there is no vaccine to prevent the feline immunodeficiency virus.  Know that FIV  is transferable by bite would. Even a mating love bite is enough to infect a queen cat and her kittens. 

I think it is better to keep cats indoors and be safe rather than sorry. 

Note: my Siamese cat named Sam has had no contact with these cats as he resides in another area of our home and only has contact with humans and with dogs.  Sam has no stress and is as healthy as an FIV cat can be. 

 

Sam my FIV cat hanging out with me in my office

Had I known that my Manx and Black cat were infected with FIV I would have taken steps to provide them with special care. I have learned that no cat is safe from catching FIV especially if they are permitted to go outdoors. 

Learn more about FIV at Web MD Pet Health

Photo black and white cat credit by Pixabay public domain