Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with fiv

Loss of a dear, loved cat, and getting new cat (or 2). Non-cat people, skip this one.

neblina_matinal — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:52:23 -0800

Loss of a dear, loved cat, and getting new cat (or rather, 2). Non-cat people, skip this one. I've just lost my cat, Scarlet O'Hara, to CRF on Monday. I'm still hurting a lot, I really loved her. She was my feline mini-me, this cat's personality mirrored mine in so many ways it's not even funny.

I know I have to allow myself to grieve her loss, but I've very quickly realized there is a cat-shaped hole in my life than only another cat can fill. I'm not trying to replace her, I really know that's impossible, which is why I'd like your input on a few questions:

1. I know grieving time is different for each person, but is there a healthy minimum? I certainly don't want to bring a new cat home and feel miserable because oh-well-Scarlet-didn't-do-that or whatever. It wouldn't be fair on either of us. New cats often need time to adjust, and I know the first few weeks might be tricky. I want to be all there.

2. I live in a one-bedroom apartment (about 85m2/915ft2) and I want to adopt two cats. I've always wanted two, but Scarlet was too dominant and hence agressive towards other cats, so I never added to the family. This is enough space, right?

3. The new cats. I want to adopt adult cats from a shelter, because a) they have a harder time being adopted and b) I want mellow, cuddly cats and while it is sometimes hard to see their true nature at the shelter, it's still a better shot than adopting kittens that really can grow up either way. I'm thinking of getting two FIV+ cats, as they'll be indoors always except for a small terrace. But I can't deal with the idea of loosing another cat friend to illness... Please tell me I'm being an idiot. I want to do something really nice for kitties that usually don't stand a chance at a shelter. Scarlet would be proud.

4. My mother also has a cat, who's the kindest soul ever and gets along with other cats. Whenever she's away on holiday I bring him to my place (hasn't happened yet, he's a new addition), and vice-versa. He's FIV-. How bad would it be, with 2 FIV+ cats who would only see the other cat a couple of times a year? Is this enough to make me not adopt FIV+ kitties?

5. Are there any tips to recognize the type of cat I want at a shelter? I don't care about looks, as I find all felines beautiful, but I really want ones who want to cuddle and sit on my lap and all that mushy stuff (that said, Scarlet looooved her cuddles and her lap and she still managed to keep one heck of a personality, so I know there are no absolutes here.)

Thank you for reading all of this. Please keep in mind that even though I have more questions regarding the adoption process, I'm still very concerned about the grieving process and not rushing things...

Kitty sneezing. What to do?

stewiethegreat — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:43:57 -0800

My FIV+ cat is sneezing. A lot. We have a humidifier on, but aren't sure how serious the situation is. We adopted a formerly feral FIV+ (the feline equivalent of HIV) cat a few months ago. He sneezes now and again- probably once a week until the last week and a half. It is dry and colder in our area right now, and I'M sneezing more right now, too, but he's sneezing a lot. Like 36x daily, and a few fits of sneezing with three or four sneezes piled on each other.

We've read the previous ask.me posts about pneumonia in kitties and sneezing cats, but our situation seems a little different. Our kitty is eating and drinking plenty, still breathing fine through his nose, and doing all of his normal activities: attacking our ankles, sleeping, biting our hands, napping, lunging at our legs, drowsing, and the like.

So far, we've gotten a humidifier and turned it on (as of 2 hours ago) and fed him some honey with extra-stinky salmon, which he wolfed down in three seconds flat (under the recommendation of a friend whose logic was: honey is good for human immune systems, it can't be bad for cats)

Any suggestions? We are prone to worrying because FIV cats, when they get sick, often get very, very sick and sometimes die, and we love ol' stinkybutt.

Living with FIV?

arnicae — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:19:37 -0800

Should I adopt a cat with FIV? This cat's story is typical: a feral cat, he was caught during one of the winter spay raids by a local organization. He was incredibly friendly in the trap, and when they discovered that he had FIV they decided to try and adopt him out rather than put him back on the streets or euthanize him.

He's healthy, big, and energetic. I've read through a lot of past AskMe questions on cats with FIV and was encouraged to read that there are a lot of options and that cats with FIV can live close to their normal lifespan.

Here's the problem: I'm a grad student living relatively close to the bone. Will I be able to get this guy pet insurance, since he's already FIV +? Will it cost a lot more? Will I have to budget a great deal more for health care than normal, both in terms of secondary infections that he will be more susceptible to and the long-term drugs the Vet might suggest (in the past, that means immunizations, worm collars every once in a while, and a yearly or twice-yearly pet visit in addition to human-grade food) .

Any advice? He would be our only cat, but again, I live on a budget- thanks!

A complicated situation with an FIV-positive (Feline HIV) cat...

soulbarn — Tue, 01 May 2007 13:45:20 -0800

Our neighbor abandoned his cat. We've been taking care of him. We're moving. We just found out he has FIV (feline HIV.) The complex dilemmas and a plea for advice within... This is a bit complicated, so I'll break it into steps:
1) We're moving. We have four cats. That's already pushing the limits of her new lease, but so far it is OK.
2) We've also been feeding another cat, an old tabby who was abandoned by the jackass crackhead next door. The other cat is an outdoor cat (maybe was once indoors - he's very gentle.)
3) We were going to take the tabby - his name is Mr. Jenkins - with us and continue basically the same arrangement (at some risk, see the "pushing the lease" comment, above.)
4) We took the tabby to the vet prior to moving to get him neutered. The vet told us he had feline HIV (FIV).
5) We know that Jenkins could (and maybe has) infected other cats, though he's certaintly not a fighter or a scratcher. We can't in good conscience leave him outside. We can't take him inside without being evicted. And though we're trying to adopt him out, today - May 1 - is the day we are leaving the old place. Right now, we've got him boarded at a vet's, but we can't afford that for long.
6) Except for some crusty nose stuff, the cat is totally energetic, healthy, and absolutely sweet. He's even fat. So the disease seems not to be affecting him now.

What do we do? In the cold, hard light of day, given the situation - and if we can't adopt him out - the humane thing to do to the OTHER cats would be to put him down. But, per item six, he's not sick seeming at all. In fact, he's happy. And I can't bear to put him down if he's not suffering.

Advice?

Resources and anectdotes related to Feline HIV

paddingtonb — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:27:36 -0800

Seeking resources and anecdotes related to Feline HIV My mom's cat was just diagnosed with Feline HIV, and she is just devastated. She feels like it is her fault because she let him go out, and he got in a fight (which, it turns out, is the most common way for it to be transmitted).

To make matters worse, the vet told her there was nothing she could do to treat him or manage the condition, and they sent her home without even disinfecting the wound he had on his neck (which was her original reason for the visit). They also harassed her about her responsibility to not infect other cats while she was crying. He is obviously going to live indoors from now on.

From what I've been able to google (http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fiv.html, http://cats.about.com/cs/healthissues/a/fiv_in_cats.htm), There is no cure. But, there are certainly lots of things she can do to keep him from getting sicker and to prolong his quality of life. One of the main things is quick treatment of secondary illnesses, so I am pretty dubious about this vet too.

I'm looking for reliable resources on FIV management, and anecdotes from kitty moms and dads who have been there.

Bonus points for someone who can recommend a compassionate, capable vet in the Honolulu area! (She is currently at VCA in Kaneohe).