FIV

How FIV Infection is Diagnosed
Most veterinarians will perform a thorough physical examination and conduct routine blood work (complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile) on any cat presenting with nonspecific signs of illness.

FIV is found worldwide in domestic cats, and also infects wild felines including snow leopards, lions, tigers, jaguars, Florida panthers, and bobcats. Although the virus was first isolated in 1987, we know the virus has existed for many years.

FIV: Acronym for feline immunodeficiency virus, a disease usually transmitted by saliva to blood (deep biting wounds).

FIV
This is a cat retrovirus that is contagious (but not highly contagious) to cats but not dogs. The common form of transmission is through bites in cat fight, usually male cats. There is a long incubation period before symptoms are seen.

FIV - Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (feline AIDS).
Fistula - Abnormal opening or passage between two hollow organs or structures.
Fixing - To fix a certain characteristic by selective breeding or inbreeding.

FIV, or cat AIDS, is not always fatal. FIV decreases the ability of the cat's immune system to fight infections. Cats with FIV may remain free of symptoms for years.

FIV or Feline AIDS in Cats
The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection is a complex retrovirus that causes immunodeficiency disease in domestic cats.

FIV is similar to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) in that it attacks the body's immune system, eventually making the patient unable to deal with common infections.

FIV-positive cats should be kept inside and away from other cats. With this and other precautions, they may live a fairly long time. Because of their subsceptibility to secondary infections and complications, these cats are rather vet-intensive.

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Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is contagious among cats. Although FIV is not contagious to humans, FIV has some similarities to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and has been used to help researchers better understand HIV.

" We found out he is FIV positive, but he is so tough it doesn't slow him down much. He had terrible ear infections, scratches and cuts from fighting, runny eyes, and fleas that took weeks of treatment to cure.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): Virus that attacks the cat's immune system.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP): A coronavirus infection of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity. This disease leads to death.

That ole' black magic
I have an FIV positive cat, but wanted another to be her companion.
Finally one crossed my path- luckily, and he needed our help. He had FIV, but was ...

Does the breeder regularly check her cats for infectious diseases such as FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency virus) & FeLV (Feline Leukaemia).

As a result, he won't come home with scratches and bite marks as often (if at all), and will be better protected against diseases like leukaemia and FIV which are contracted through sex, or through battle wounds.

See also: Felv, Virus, Veterinarian, Behavior, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus