FIV is a virus which gradually destroys the cats immune system, leaving them suspectible to infections. Once infected, some cats will go on to develop feline acquired immunodeficiency syndrome – also known as feline AIDS. The disease acts in a similar way to human AIDS but there is no cross infection between cats and humans. The virus in cats is spread primarily through saliva and therefore fighting with other cats is the main source of infection. The highest prevalence of disease is seen in cats which are allowed to roam and in particular in entire male cats (tom cats) as they are more likely to be involved in cat fights regularly.
Infected cats may not show evidence of disease for many years after contacting the virus, and as the disease affects the immune system, the symptoms can be quite varied. Most commonly seen symptoms include: loss of appetite, mouth and gum disease, weight loss, persistent diarrhoea or vomiting, anaemia, neurological dysfunction, and infections of the respiratory or urinary systems. A blood test performed in the clinic can detect the presence of the virus. Unfortunately there is no known cure for the disease.
Prevention of FIV is twofold: 1. Prevention of fighting by housing your cat indoors or confining your cat in an enclosure especially at night when most fights occur. Desexing also reduces fighting. 2. Vaccination of at risk cats is 80-85% effective in preventing FIV infection. Initial vaccination involves administering a course of three doses, given 2-4 weeks apart, followed by annual boosters. The vaccine may be given to kittens over 8 weeks of age or older. As the vaccine causes antibodies to be formed in the cat after administration – all FIV vaccinated cats need to be microchipped and cats over the age of six months need to have an FIV test prior to starting the vaccine course to ensure that they are free of the disease.
