DCFemella

My cat is one of those that likes to smell your breath, that started that horror story. Freaked me out at first, but he only does it if he doesn't get a chance to sniff my food when I'm eating.

So your cat is definitely a foodie. =)

hi there,

My cat is 8 years old, and he's been diagnosed with FIV 4 years ago! There's nothing to be worried about, as FIV only affect cats and can be transmitted from fights among cats only through bites.

The first time when I found out that's he's FIV, I actually cried in front of the vet, as I'm truly attach and love him. He's actually a stray cat that I took him in, but later on we become truly attach with each other. I came to the conclusion that he's been owned by someone before, but they threw him out, as he's really a well behave cat.

I came to discover on his illness, as he became sick with gum disease a few years back, and cause him to stop eating as it hurts his throat whenever he tried to eat. Slowly, he became sick and weak. Thus, I took him to the vet, at that time they discover that it's actually a tumor growing in his throat. They control the growth, as sadly it cannot be completely recovered. They just can'y make the tumor gone forever. So, after a week at the vet, he recovered and I took him home, but less than 2 weeks after that, he became sick again, and this time its not the throat that causing it, he's just very weak, did not have the energy to do anything and his fur starting to fall.

Immeadiately, I took him back to the vet, and because its been less than 2 weeks that he became sick again, she suggested for me to do the FIV and the cats leukimia test. Leukimia negative, FIV positive.

The vet asked me upon knowing this, what is my plan for him. Do I want to keep him, or I will left him on the streets, as she was concern because a lot of owners do not truly understand what is FIV and tend to neglect their pets or simply throw them from the house.

I told her I will keep him, of course, as he never left my side when I'm happy, sad or sick and that's what I'm going to do for him as well and he truly deserve that.

After that, I gathered a lot of information from the vet on FIV. From there onwards, I took care of him greatly, especially his diet. I feed him nutricious food, IAMS dry biscuit mixed with Fussie cat can food, vitamins for his immune system and monitor his health closely, especially his throat condition.

As FIV will affect the cats immune system, any sign of him; not eating, no appetite, coats dry and not shiny, etc, I will immediately bring him to the vet for check up just to make sure that he's ok.

Other than great care on his health, he's just as before, totally fine, loving cat, enjoy eating and likes to doze off on the couch.

When I told my friends about my cat, I was very, very surprised and concerned with their reactions as they IMMEDIATELY asked me to put him to sleep!! It's totally wrong. FIV cats IS normal cats as before. Their FIV illness do not affect us humans, and they should be given the chance to enjoy life and live provided we also give them the necessary support and help (health check up), just like when humans fall sick, we will go to see the doctor, the same applied to pets, they will go to see their doctor; the vet.

I'm happy to say that I'm glad to have him. He's a real fighter and has a high will to live. *GOOD NEWS*, he is now a father to two newly borned kittens :)

Ayesha,

Thank you so much for the wonderful reply. I am a little worried because he keeps having hairballs, so not sure if that is correlated to the FIV. I am taking him to the vet for his checkup soon, so we will see what she says. He is now an indoor cat, so I think he will be ok. He use to be a stray, so I think that is where the FIV came from.

Again, thank you. It's great to hear from others who are going through the same thing.