We are lucky enough to have had two FIV cats - Sooty, who is no longer with us, and Salvador who seems to have decided that he rules our house and we are just his staff ;)
I'm not a vet and don't have any formal qualifications in animal medicine, so this post is just based on my experiences and what I have learned looking after two FIV+ cats.
The Story of Sooty
Sooty just turned up one day, staring through the kitchen door at Tabbycat's food bowl. He was feral, scruffy and totally starved. We couldn't get any closer than about 10 feet from him, he'd just hiss and run away. But we gave him some food, and he ate three pouches in a single go he was that hungry !
After that, he came back every day for something to eat, and was comfortable sleeping on our patio. We asked around the area, and everyone had seen him but no-one owned or claimed him.
When autumn came we thought we should get him to a vet to be checked over and get his vaccines. We didn't plan to adopt him, but no-one else was looking after him. The local Cat's Protection League lent us a cage to trap him, and once he was caught they were able to take him to their vet.
The vet phoned us a couple of hours later saying "Sorry, he is FIV+ and feral, we should euthanise him for his own good." We disagreed, we felt he deserved a chance at life.
When we collected him he had been vaccinated and neutered, and they said that although he'd calm down a bit he would always be a wild feral cat, he'd never be a fully tame lap cat. They were mostly wrong; the following night, he jumped into my lap and it became his favourite place.
Although Sooty did calm down, and was totally devoted to me (it was like having a puppy !) he always had a wild side - I used to say he was like the little guy in the pub with a knife who would fight anyone. He was half the size of any other cat, but had twice the personality and a huge will to live. He was definitely the runt of the litter, with a huge number of other health problems.
He was also the cleverest cat I have ever met, with about 50 different distinct "words" he would use for different things. He even had a different sound for each of the cats in the area, clear enough that I would know exactly who he was talking about. Although he and Tabby didn't get on very well, when Billy turned up, they became great friends.
With all his health problems, Sooty was a regular visitor to the vets, and towards the end he started to look very poorly. He lived until he was about eight years old; we gave him the best possible life, and I still miss him terribly.
What is FIV ?
FIV is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a bit like the cat version of HIV in humans, and in fact the study of FIV+ cats has been a huge help in finding treatments for HIV in humans. It is a shame that the research hasn't been focused back onto cats to help them get the treatments they deserve.
Most (but not all) FIV+ cats are un-neutered males who have spent time stray or feral. FIV is normally only transmitted by the kind of deep bites that males give each other when fighting over territory or mates. It generally can't be transmitted through scratches and although it may be in saliva, I have never heard of a case of a human catching it.
What Problems Can You Expect ?
The main issue with FIV is that your cat will have a severely compromised immune system. Contact with cats who have a cold, who ever had cat flu, or who have other infectious diseases can be a serious, or even life-threatening problem.
Most of the time, FIV stays dormant. With luck and good care, a cat can have a normal life expectancy. However, it is also possible that FIV can become active, for reasons that are still poorly understood (although it may be as a result of catching an infection). At that point, it sadly acts like HIV in humans, and you may have to face the fact that your time together may be limited.
Two other health issues we have experienced are that for some reason, FIV can cause severe dental issues, and it can also lead to dermatitis and other skin problems.
Here in the UK, we have found it is impossible to get a pet insurance plan for an FIV+ cat, so you should be aware that to give your cat the best healthcare is a financial responsibility.
What Do You Have To Do Differently ?
Minimise exposure to sources of infection
The most important thing is to minimise your cat's exposure to sources of infection. It is often recommended that FIV+ cats are kept as indoor pets, to avoid exposure to all the bugs and risks that exist outdoors.
With Salvador, this isn't a problem; he is the laziest cat ever and is happy to live in the bedroom and have his food bought to him by his slaves. Sooty, on the other hand, went totally stir-crazy if he couldn't have a potter around the garden every day or two.
If you have a cat who really needs the outdoors, it is worth looking into building a catio for them if you have the money and space.
Despite what you might hear, FIV+ and non-FIV cats can happily live together as long as they don't have serious fights. Sooty, Tabby and Billy all lived together, and we regularly tested the other two for FIV which always came back negative. They didn't fight, but no matter how hard we tried they would steal each other's food (and mine... sitting on the sofa with a McDonalds was a battle of wills, and I would rarely win....)
Closely Monitor For Problems
It is also essential to monitor your cat closely to catch any health issues as early as possible - any problem which is not dealt with in the first few hours is significantly harder to treat if left longer.
It becomes a habit to listen for any changes in their breathing, eating, sleeping or toilet routines. Looking out for skin problems (over/under grooming, excess scratching, dandruff flakes etc) and for any signs of dental discomfort also become normal. It won't take long before you are completely tuned in to your cat's health and can pick up the smallest signs at an almost instinctive level. It's actually a really good bond to have.
Solving Skin Problems
If you see skin problems, we found a quick trip to the vet for a steroid injection normally sorted it out very quickly.
If your cat has had dental problems and is missing front teeth (especially canines) they may find it hard to groom themselves, in which case you'll need to help by brushing them every day or two.
Dental Problems
Dental problems are a bit more complex. Vets always seem to want to take out any teeth that they think could be an issue. In one respect, this makes sense; every time they have to anaesthetise a cat to operate is a risk so they like to do it as rarely as possible, and cats are good at hiding pain so they don't want to risk leaving your cat with bad toothache.
But our experience is that if you have a close enough bond with your cat, you learn to know when they are uncomfortable or in pain. A cat's teeth are both a defence mechanism and needed for eating, and we have found that when any cat has had most of it's teeth removed (especially canines) it can be the start of a downward decline as they lose confidence and the ability to eat properly.
What Are The Benefits
After everything I have described, you may be wondering why anyone would ever adopt an FIV+ cat. The answer is simple; cats KNOW what you have done for them. Sooty and Salvador are the most affectionate cats I have ever known.
If you adopt an FIV+ cat and look after him or her right, you will be surprised how close your bond with them grows. They will be more than just a pet, they will be a best friend.
