All About FIV - Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

FIV is a slow-acting virus. It's a cat's version of HIV that results in AIDS for humans. People cannot catch FIV, so don't worry!

Many times FIV is not detected until the cat has become quite sick. The virus reproduces inside white blood cells (the ones that fight infection) and spreads throughout the lymphatic system. Swollen lymph nodes and fever is the initial result. Over time, the immune system becomes increasingly weakened and the cat loses it's ability to fight even the simplest of infections. Healthy cats can fight off the normal bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi of their environment but FIV cats become severely ill or can die from such infections.

The most common means of transmission is through bites. Free-roaming and feral males who are aggressive (they bite and get bit) are at highest risk for getting and passing on FIV. A less common way of transmission is from pregnant mother to newborn/nursing babies.

Signs and Symptoms of FIV:

• Recurrent illness or infections. Skin, bladder, and upper respiratory tract infections are common.
  
• Poor coat condition.


• Persistent fever and loss of appetite.


• Inflammation of the gums and mouth.


• Persistent diarrhea.
  
• Eye infections and other conditions.


• Progressive weight loss and eventual wasting away.


• FIV cats are more likely to suffer from cancer and blood diseases.


• Miscarriages of litters of infected pregnant mothers.


• Seizures or other neurological problems.


• Unexplainable behavior changes.

FIV Testing:

To diagnose FIV, the vet simply takes some blood to be tested in the office or a lab for the presence of a certain antibody. If the result comes up positive, then a second test (different method) will be ordered to make sure the first one wasn't a false-positive.

• Kittens born to FIV-positive mothers are not necessarily infected but must be tested every 60 days until they are at least 6 months old to be certain.


• A cat that have been infected within the previous 12 weeks might have a false-negative result because it's body hasn't started producing the FIV antibodies yet. If a cat has been exposed to an FIV cat or has gotten bitten or into a fight with an unknown cat, it should be retested again no later than 60 days from the incident. Two tests are best.
  
• Cats in the late stages of an infection have very weakened immune systems and may not be producing detectable levels of the antibody anymore. This would create a false-negative result.
  

Protecting Your Cat from FIV:

• Keep your cat indoors and away from unknown cats.


• Never adopt a cat that hasn't been tested for FIV first.
  
• Cats that were feral or of unknown backgrounds/parentage should be tested twice for FIV before bringing them home.


• If one of your cats has FIV, it needs to be quarantined away from the other cats. Rough play or a fight could result in a bite which spreads the FIV to other cats. Gentle cats who don't play this way are less likely to spread the disease.


• Make sure your cats receives its FIV vaccinations on schedule. Note-vaccinations are not a guarantee of protection but they do put the odds in kitty's favor.

Taking Care of an FIV Cat:

• Keep FIV cats indoors and away from other cats and animals. They need to be protected from injuries, germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa that might cause infections.


• Talk to the vet about spaying or neutering.


• No raw meat, eggs or unpasteurized dairy products. These items might have parasites or bacteria that an FIV cat is unable to fight off.


• Dry food is less likely to spoil or become contaminated while sitting out. Avoid canned food.


• See the vet every six months for a thorough checkup, blood count, serum analysis, urine test and weight check. FIV cats need constant watching because their health is always in jeopardy. Call the vet asap with even the smallest of concerns.


• Keep kitchen and bathroom counters and floors clean and disinfected. Take shoes off at the door and vacuum carpets often. Dirt brings in all sorts of nasty stuff.


• Wash and disinfect water bowl and food dish every day.


• Keep the litter box super clean and disinfect it once a week.

The lifespan of an FIV cat depends upon how soon the disease is caught and the nature of the cat's infections. Some cats can live many more years under ideal conditions.

After the passing of an FIV cat, the home needs to be cleaned up before a new kitty can join the family. It's not the FIV you will be cleaning up. It's the various germs that your HIV left behind during it's final months of poor health. Disinfect all kitty supplies by washing thoroughly with hot soapy water and drip drying. Give these items a second wiping down with bleach water and air drying. Throw away soft toys and get new ones. Spray cat towers and beds with a disinfectant spray. Give all floors a very thorough vacuuming or mopping.

Cats - To Declaw or Not to Declaw - That is the Question

When I was a little girl back in the 1960's, whether or not to declaw a cat was a simple yes or no decision, but it wasn't an issue that anyone argued over. Today the topic of declawing brings up emotions and heated debate and, sometimes, people on one side or the other will resort to rudeness, lying and false propaganda in an attempt to persuade others. It can get downright nasty.

I've owned several cats in the past 25 years, plus I grew up with cats. Some had their front claws and some didn't. About 2 years ago I wanted to adopt two kittens from Stray Cat Blues, a rescue that displayed their cats at our local PetSmart store. I filled out a very long application and had to ask my vet to write a letter of recommendation. He told me he wrote a "glowing" letter, highly recommending me as a future adopter. I also had to fill out a questionaire about every pet I've ever owned, ever.

At the time I was working in the grooming salon inside that same PetSmart. A few days after I had submitted my paperwork and the vet had given SCB my recommendation letter, one of their volunteers popped into the salon to tell me my application was being denied because of owning a declawed cat in the past and that they didn't trust me not to do it again. That decision was out of left field for me. I had no idea declawing was even an issue.

I pride myself in taking good care of my pets, keep them current on shots, taking them to the vet whenever they seemed sick and had even spent over $800 a few years ago for a bladder operation for one of my kitties. To tell me I wasn't good enough to adopt a cat was a kick in the stomach. When I told my vet what had happened he was livid!

Well, that's the end of that, I thought. Don't let the door hit me on my way out!

The next day at work, another volunteer from SCB came into the grooming salon and gave me a stack of photocopied articles, about half an inch thick. What is this?

OMG - it was a ton of articles explaining why cats should not be declawed. During my break I started reading them, thinking that I have been given scientific information written by veterinarians and scientists.

Well, most of it was lies and rubbish. Scare tactics. Propaganda to trick you into believing declawing was some terrible, medieval torture. These people are off the deep end, I thought. They think they are holier than thou and are on a mission! I was really pissed off, not because they rejected my application, but because they handed me a bunch of lies and sensationalism! I totally disagreed with their tactics!

I can only describe the information they gave me as creative writing essays based upon opinions, misinformation and outright lies. None of the articles were written by scientific experts with any studies to back their claims up.

Here are examples of what they gave me:

One article said cats are given medication such that they can't move but feel everything during the surgery. That is a bunch of hogwash!

One article goes on and on about the terrible pain of the surgery and that this terrible pain can linger for years as a phantom pain, causing terrible suffering. Puh-lease! My declawed cat was running and playing pretty quick! If anything, it was the spaying that was more painful, post surgery (and rescues definitely push spaying).

I remember one weird article that stated toes were broken/removed and this would affect the cat's ability to stretch and, as a result, there would be orthopedic problems. I beg to differ! My Blue and Pepper are declawed and love to jump and can jump a good 6 feet from my dining table onto the top of my china cabinet! They knead their paws (some call it Making Biscuits) and purr alot.

I am not siding with the declaw side or the anti-declaw side so I guess you could say I am pro-choice. But I am pissed at how these anti-declaw people are behaving - spreading lies, guilt and fear in an attempt to prove themselves right (self righteous, I say!) as well as denying good homes to homeless kitties which is supposed to be their number one goal. They have gone too far - soon enough, they'll be just like the extremist Greenpeace and Pro-Life people who resort to violence!

So that's my two cents, maybe even a dime's worth of ranting. Bring it on!

Pee Wee the Survivor

This is the story of my little boy. But he's not so little anymore and after the appointment with Mr. Snippy, he isn't a boy anymore either.

I was in the backyard one autumn, talking to my next door neighbor. She told me that she heard meowing all night long and asked if I had heard anything. Honestly, as soon as I told her I hadn't heard anything, the meowing began - and it came from underneath a mum bush that was right next to us!

I reached into the bush and pulled out a tiny kitten, hissing. It reminded me of the little tough-guy sidekick in "Gay Purree," a cartoon about cats starring the voice of Judy Garland. Then my new-found kitty started meowing, no - screaming, as loud as he could. His tiny, high-pitched voice echoed through the whole neighborhood. He was the cutest, most pathetic looking thing I'd ever seen!

At that point in time, I already owned 3 cats, 2 of which were sisters adopted just a few months before. I also volunteered with an animal rescue called Pet Guardian, specializing in fundraising. Time to put on my super-hero cape and get into action!

I brought the little fella into my house and checked him out. He was so darn bony - I could feel every bone in his body, every bump on his backbone, his pelvis, everything. He was also very tiny. He fit in the palm of one hand. This kitty was way too young to be away from it's mommy or given away to a new home. I decided that he was probably a feral kitten and, for unknown reasons, got separated or abandoned by his mom and siblings. Maybe something happened that I didn't really want to know about!

I called Mary at Pet Guardian and she told me to take the little kitten to my own vet and she'd reimburse my cost. I will be the foster parent. Once he's old enough and healthy again, we can put him up on Pet Guardian's website and adopt him out.

I set out some of my own cat's kibble and water and the little kitty went right for it. What's so funny is that he made loud yum-yum-yum sounds when he ate! It was hysterical!

I held my little charge in my arms, wrapped in a snuggly towel, for the rest of the day. My own cats jumped up and smelled him now and then. He was very interested in them but I wanted to keep them apart because he was so frail.

When my daughter arrived home from school, she fell in love with him. She'd never seen such a tiny kitten before and decided we should name it something that means "small." We ended up with "Pee Wee."

That night I had to take my daughter to a school event, so I made Pee Wee a little bedroom in the downstairs bathroom with the door closed and a note on that read, "There's a kitten in here. Don't worry-we're not keeping it" for my hubby who already thinks we live in a zoo.

That night I put Pee Wee up in a box to sleep in. It had an 8" square aluminum pan with litter at one end and towels and beanie baby "siblings" at the other end to sleep with. I placed the box on the floor, right next to my side of the bed. What a night - it brought me back to when my own daughter was a newborn. Pee Wee would wake up every 2 or 3 hours and make these pitiful little mews. I'd pick him up and snuggle him and then set him next to some food and water which he'd eat, again making his cute yum-yum-yum sounds. Next I'd put him on his litter box to do his business, then wipe his behind with a babywipe (made for pets) and then put him in bed with me, next to my chest so he could hear my heart beat. Once he seemed passed out, I'd transfer him to his little box again.

I didn't get much sleep that week. Pee Wee had the same schedule as a newborn. Also - he had diareah. I'd be drifting off to sleep and alot of a sudden...kitten farts! I got the giggles so bad! Only a mommy would find this cute!

The next morning I took Pee Wee to the vet who estimated his age at 4 weeks. I told him Pee Wee was walking funny on one leg, perhaps because he's a toddler and/or he's weak from malnourishment. The vet said both were good reasons but it ended up Pee Wee had a broken leg - not just a little crack, but almost broken into 2 pieces! The vet said his bones were too tiny and very brittle (because of malnutrition) and to touch them - they'd just break more. My eyes welled up with tears. He'd need "cage rest" for a month.

Pee Wee was also flea infested and would need baths in Dawn. He was too young for commercial/chemical flea treatments.

Cage rest? How on earth do you tell a little kitten to lay down and not to play or jump or frolick?!!! Even when alone in the bathroom, he attacked the print on the wallpaper!

So little Pee Wee came home and got his first bath in the kitchen sink. I ended up giving my other 3 cats (Ashley, Blue and Pepper) baths, too, just incase they got some hitchhikers. Poor Pee Wee got weekly baths for a month, just to make sure I got all the fleas. I also sprayed the carpets, sofa and curtains and washed all my bedding.

Back to the issue of "cage rest." I felt this little guy needed socializing and to keep him away from other cats for a whole month would be detrimental. It also broke my heart. I decided to bring him out of his bathroom world every hour for about 10 minutes. I held him mostly and let everyone sniff each other. He was so fascinated with the other cats! I'd let him walk a little, but running was a no-no.

Pee Wee's first shots were delayed a few weeks because of his ill health. When he was finally ready, Pet Guardian put him up on their website, noting him as a special needs kitty because of his leg. No takers! Usually kittens get instant responses and go fast. Mary thinks it's because people were scared off by the possiblity of high vet expenses in the future.

Well, after a month of loving little Pee Wee, I fell in love with him. I called Mary and asked if I could keep him. I sent her the adoption fee to help reimbuse the money she'd already spent on him, even though she said I could have him for free.

Pee Wee is now 2.5 years old. His leg healed completely but it's crooked a little. This hasn't hindered him a bit - he can jump onto the kitchen counters just fine. His favorite place to nap is the bathroom sink!

He still has a very strong survival instinct. It all started with his loud screams for help, rather than lying down and giving up.

Nowadays, he "covers" his kibble by pawing at the floor after he eats. He also does this right after I fill the bowl, even if he doesn't eat, wanting to save some for later. If the bowl starts looking a little empty, he'll tell me even if he's not hungry, to refill the bowl. His favorite way to get my attention is to wiggle the toilet handle until I get up and refill the bowl. I can get up, give him attention or whatever, and he'll start right back up with that noisy handle if I've failed to fill the kibble bowl.

Oh, I should have knocked on wood when we named Pee Wee. He's now about 2 inches taller and longer than my other cats and now weighs 17 pounds. The vet calls him, "Moose!"

He's my little boy and I love him!

Please Share Your Tails of Adoption

How Did You Get Your Kitties!

Here are my adoption stories-

My 4th grade teacher's cat had kittens and my mom said we could have one. I picked a little girl who had all white, long fur except for a little black dot on her forehead. I named her Puss-in-Boots because that was the only cat name I ever heard of. My mom started calling her Gertrude whenever she got into mischief and that name stuck. When she was little and could fit under the couch, she loved to get on her back, dig her claws into the lining and race back and forth as fast as she could. Us kids thought it was pretty funny.

In 6th grade my art teacher had to get rid of her red persian-tabby named Toby. Her huge dog kept chasing Toby into a corner and Toby ripped the dog's nose open (ha, ha!). Dad renamed Toby to Heathcliff. I was aware of Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. Later, I learned that the comedian Red Skelton had a running story about 2 seagulls named Gertrude and Heathcliff. Heathcliff was quite the lover boy (to Gertrude, too!)

When I was all grown up and moved into my first house, I was pulling weeds one weekend and I heard MEOW coming from under my car in the driveway. It was a longhair Tuxedo cat. I pet her and removed some of the burrs from her fur. I assumed she belonged to someone and that was that, or so I thought. The next morning she was under my bedroom window meowing. She actually learned the sound of my Datsun 210's engine and came running whenever I arrived home from work. The neighbors told me she hung out on my roof during the day! I started feeding her and put a Found Cat notice up but nobody responded. We took her to the vet for shots and spaying and renamed her Elise, after the heroine in my favorite movie Somewhere in Time.

A few years later we moved cross country with Elise. We were visiting a cat-themed store in New Hope, PA and there was a persian kitten hanging out on the counter. It was so darn cute. My husband really fell for it. It wasn't for sale but I asked my husband if it were for sale, and a cheap price, would he give in? He said Yes. Later on we were at a fall festival and they were giving away adorable kittens for free but all were spoken for. Darn! So I got on the phone with the SPCA and pound - no kitties! Darn! A few weeks later the pet store had a kitten for cheap - no papers or pedigree (rescues hadn't been "invented" yet) but looked like a purebred Himalayan. He was gorgeous and very laid back. And he was mine! We named him Heimie (think of the handsome robot/android from Get Smart). He was a very cuddly boy who slept by my neck every night.

Shortly after losing Elise, I called the SPCA and pound again. No kitties. Just before Christmas the pet store got in two Himalayan kittens. (Still no rescues!) We chose a little girl, lighter in color than Heimie so we could tell who was who, and named her Ashley. Sometimes I called her Lee Lee. She was a very gentle soul who loved to sit in the sunshine and sleep at the foot of our bed. She LOVED to have her armpits rubbed. Around strangers she was a Nervous Nelly and hid. Some of my friends never saw her so I put a picture of her in a frame in the livingroom.

After Heimie went to heaven, he got replaced by two sister tabbies. This time there were rescues to contact. We found Pet Guardian and visited their "nursery" for pregnant/new mothers. My daughter picked a gray tabby baby who was named Blue by the foster. She also picked a gray tabby with a little bit of brown on her nose and chest. This one was named Paprika by the foster but my daughter's friend suggested we change the name to Pepper since no one (in the world of kids it seemed) knew what a Paprika was. Pepper's brown eventually took over her whole body - now she's a brown tabby with huge almond eyes. Blue and Pepper sleep together, groom each other, and love to run around the house, sounding like a herd of charging buffalo!

A few months later I was out in the backyard talking to a neighbor who told me she heard meowing all night long. And all of a sudden it started again - right next to us from behind a chrysanthemum bush. I reached in and pulled out a tiny longhair black tabby kitten - he was absolutely beautiful but very bony and too young to be away from its mother. I called the rescue we got Blue and Pepper from and they said to take this baby straight to the vet. The little boy was estimated at 5 weeks old, was very malnourished and underweight and had a broken leg. I was his foster mom for about a month but nobody wanted him (probably because of the broken leg/future doctor expenses issue). I ended up falling in love with him and keeping him. Ends up the doctor ordered "bed rest" and there were no operations, just follow-up xrays. We named our new little baby boy Pee Wee because he was so tiny. I should have knocked on wood when we named him. He's now very tall, very long, and weighs 17 pounds! Our vet, Dr. Dave at Banfield, calls him Moose! Pee Wee is now on special food to lose some fat. Once he gets to normal weight he'll still be huge because of his skeleton size. He and Pepper love to groom eachother and wrestle. Pepper always wins even though she's several pounds lighter.

So now I have 3 cats, all just over 2 years old. Hopefully we'll be able to enjoy all of them for another 15 to 20 years!

Let me know your adoption tails!