Feline immunodeficiency virus, or cat FIV, is a retrovirus infection first discovered in cats in the U.S. The virus is often referred to as cat HIV or cat AIDS because it has a similar effect on felines.
FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that can eventually progress to feline acquired immunodeficiency syndromesimilar to AIDS in people. In this article, Dr. Jennifer Coates explains the symptoms, causes, and management of FIV in cats.
What Is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus? FIV is a slowly progressive virus that works by damaging cells in the cats immune system. The ongoing destruction of cells that are integral to the bodys defense mechanisms leads to a weakened immune system.
Most FIV-infected cats catch the virus by fighting with other cats. The virus spreads when an infected cat bites a cat that is not infected. A much smaller number of cats catch the virus from their mother as kittens. Sexual transmission of FIV does not appear to be common.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Also in Cat Care and Cat Health Note - People can not catch FIV and cats can not catch HIV. FIV attacks and weakens the immune system so infected cats are at risk from other infections and diseases that healthy cats would easily fight off.
FIV Quick Facts. FIV causes feline AIDS, a silent, deadly disease that attacks a cats immune system but is not the same as the human AIDS virus. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, up to one in 12 cats tests positive for FIV.
Not all cats with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) & Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) develop symptoms that impact their quality of life. See our FIV and FeLV test protocols.
FIV is an endemic disease found in domestic cats worldwide. It is a lentivirus, which means it progresses slowly, gradually affecting a cats immune system. Cats are typically infected through a bite inflicted by a stray male cat earning it the moniker the fighting cat disease.
