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