AS YOU ALL KNOW, TO THIS DAY, MANY VETERANIANS ARE STILL EUTHANIZING CATS, WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR FIV/FELV, regardless of their medical conditions, just because of their positive diagnosis. MANY OWNERS TO THIS DAY ARE SHOCKED UPON ENTERING THESE WORDS INTO GOOGLE’S SEARCH BAR and panic ensues as soon as their cat tests positive. In worst scenario, it’s immediate euthanasia, while in better cases, the owner is desperate find the cat another owner or temporal adopter and upon failure to find any of them, chooses to euthanize his/her cat.
Despite all this, these cats can still live on for a few years, IF ENOUGH LOVE, CARE AND MEDICAL ATTENTION IS PROVIDED. Like high blood pressure, these things can be kept at bay. We don’t euthanize somebody just because his/her blood pressure is high, instead we use medications to keep it at bay.
I’M NOT A VETERANIAN AND I DON’T INTEND TO BECOME ONE, these are just pieces of advice & ideas, all of which were supervised by veteranians. I only typed this all out in order to help. There are many typical errors, that need to be consulted with a veteranian. If you wish for more information, please contact me at the following:
Tel. 0620-562-7449.
E-Mail: catrescueandsanctuary@gmail.com
CASES:
A woman found a pregnant female cat on her balcony. She fed her & called her, as she was acting feral the first time. She intended to have her spayed/neutered, so she asked us for a harmless trap, but in the end, she didn’t need it at all, as she managed to tame the cat enough to lure her into a carrier and close it up. She also provided us pictures & videos of the cat, who looked adorable, her condition didn’t look bad at all. She was pregnant & still looked like a typical stray cat. She took her to one of the veteranians we’re in contact with to have her spayed/neutered. She planned to have us take care of the cat while she gets better, but she didn’t want to pay 5000 forints every day. So in the end we leased her a cage and she had the cat recovering on her balcony. As she returned the retrieve her from the vet, the vet had a quick test performed on the cat, which tested positive for FeLV and the had to be immediately euthanized. That afternoon I got in contact with her, asking about the cat’s status. She was devastated to report, that the cat has died and the vet said, that it’s chances of survival were minimal, it shocked us all. This was just one of many cases like this. The poor cat’s only crime was the fact, that she stumbled upon her balcony and became friendly. As a spayed/neutered FeLV positive cat, who always preferred to be alone, the chances of infecting other cats was minimal.
CASE 2
A female owner had a FeLV positive cat. As she considered the “Állatorvostudományi Egyetem“ a trustworthy place, she took the afforementioned cat there, who showed no symptoms. She asked for a blood test and some ADVICE, what she could do to the cat, besides the „Vetri Dmg“ immune system-reinforcing supplement, to prevent FeLV from surfacing. The local veteranians convinced her, that her healthy looking cat’s condition is critical and immediately needs to be euthanized. She ended up complying to the veteranians, instead of taking it to a different veteranian’s office. SHE JUST COMPLIED. After that, she contacted her friend, who in turn contacted us about the case. We are still baffled, that things like this are still happening to this day!
THE OWNERS OFTEN DON’T KNOW, THAT THERE’S HOPE AND A SOLUTION, AND DECIDES TO GIVE UP ON HIS/HER CAT, THEY JUST COMPLY WITH WHAT THE VETERANIANS SAY, WITHOUT ANY SECOND THOUGHTS. While we agree, that in most cases, you should believe & comply with what the veteranian says, except in the case of FeLV or FIV, because THESE CATS ALL DESERVE A FIGHTING CHANCE, unless they’ve decided to give up on their own life. We must assisst these cats in their fight for their lives. These cats are often very friendly and cheerful, it would be a shame to leave them to die. Sometimes of course, these fights do not lead to a happy ending, but other times, they do. We are planning to write multiple case studies for both outcomes.
But now, my plan is to summarize all the typical illnesses, displayed by FeLV/FIV positive cats & and how to take care of each of them, how to provide medical care. THESE ARE NOT MEANT AS ALTERNATIVES TO A VETERANIAN’S ADVICE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE AFFECTED CAT CHECKED UP BY A VETERANIAN! In case the veteranian suggests euthanasia, it’s a good idea to take the cat to one or two different vets, just to be sure of it’s chances of survival.
1. WHAT IS FeLV/FIV
FeLV & FIV are both illnesses caused by viral infection, which permanently resides in the affected cat’s genetics, therefore it cannot be eradicated or cured. Both of these viruses primarily attack the CAT’S IMMUNE SYSTEMS, WEAKENING IT. It can either lead to damaged immune reactions, or complete loss of them. Therefore FeLV/FIV is not the primary reason of the infected cat’s death, but instead it’s secondary conditions, such as an infection or because their immune systems failed to respond to cancer. Sometimes, the veteraninan’s just cut it short, and say it was the FeLV/FIV infection’s fault, that the cat had to die. It’s best to avoid veteranians like these and choose a different veteranian’s office instead. These cats require more care than other cats. Professional veteranians always look for the causes behind the infection.
VETERANIAN’S OFFICES IN HUNGARY, WHO PROVIDE CARE FOR FeLV/FIV POSITIVE CATS. (We’re open to expand this list, just send us the names of other vet’s offices who are confirmed to provide care, including the names of veteranians.)
- Klapka Állategészségügyi Központ (Budakeszi)
- A.H.O.K. – Állatorvosi Hematológiai és Onkológiai Központ (Budapest)
- Wladár Kisállatklinika (Budapest) – hétköznap délelőttönként – Dr. Wladár Zsófia
- Városközponti Állatorvosi Rendelő (Érd)
- Supervet Állatorvosi Rendelő (Budapest)
2. FELV/FIV HAS SURFACED ON THE CAT
As afforementioned, FeLV/FIV are not the primary cases of death, but instead, it can be something like cat flu, to which it’s immune systems fail to react, or something like bone marrow damage, anemia, lymphoma or cancer, the list can go on. It’s like the immune system is an army, which for reasons can not respond to a war threat, it’s inert. If your veteranian responds to things like not eating, mouth pain or anemia, because it’s FeLV/FIV infection has activated, IT’S ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAT TO A DIFFERENT VETERANIAN. It’s always possible to find out, WHAT HAS ATTACKED THE CAT’S IMMUNE SYSTEM, and for example, what exact type of anemia the cat is suffering from. WE WILL GIVE FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THESE ILLNESSES BELOW.
If in this case, your VET REFUSES TO GIVE YOUR CAT PROPER CARE, and instead just says, that the virus is manifesting and it’s over for the cat, try taking to any of the afforementioned veteranian’s offices. This doesn’t mean you should cut contact with your current veteranian, as we’re sure that they can handle other illnesses just fine! Sadly, this whole FeLV/FIV thing is so specific, that we think only about 10 percent of Hungary’s veteranians would even begin taking care of FeLV/FIV positive cats.
3. INSTANTBLOOD TEST, ON THE DAY OF RESCUE
We just can not guess around, a blood test explains everything, similarly to a map. Even if the cat seems completely healthy, an IMMEDIATE BLOOD TEST IS NECESSARY. If the cat isn’t sick, a follow-up blood test is required after about 3-4 weeks, as it can explain various tendencies inside the body. If the cat is sick, retesting is required every 2-3 days. (Follow the veteranian’s advice!). If we wish to learn more, for example, kidney sickness, there’s an inflammation going on in the body, it’s advised to search up on various types of blood tests, for example: HT, HCT, CREATININ. These are where I learned many things from.
4. IMPORTANCE OF DIAGNOSIS
As it follows, all these cats tend to die from secondary infections, so it is important to convince your veteranian to do multiple types of diagnostic check-ups, if he/she doesn’t give advice. For example, in case of a cat flu, try doing an X-ray…. It’s useful to ask the vet, what types of check-ups he/she would do in case the cat tests negative and ask him/her to have those examinations performed. It is often the lack of proper care, and general ignorance, that lead to the death of the affected cats. They’re very sensitive to this and if we give up on them, they will begin feeling the same way, they end up giving up on their life too, massively decreasing their chances of survival. On the other, if all of as fight till the end, it can lead to fantastic results and teach us valuable lessons!
X-RAY, ULTRASOUND, NASAL FLUID TEST, FECAL MATTER TEST, URINAL TEST, ENDOSCOPIC TEST… – None of these are pointless, deatils below.
5. INCREASE THE TIME OF ANTIBIOTICS ADMINISTRATION
Another case, where people tend to mess up, is that, when a cat tests postive. In this case, antibiotics need to be administered for about 21 days. Many of these people tend to do the antibiotics care for only 7 days, whereas, if the cat starts getting better, it is important to go on with the care, otherwise, it can lead to the resurgence of symptoms.
7. VACCINATIONS
All cats should be vaccinated with Leukofeligen. It doesn’t posess any risk, and in some cases, it helped with diarrhea & cat flu. We don’t recommend the usage of Purevax vaccines, as they contain too many components, and in some cases, it lead to FIP or in other cases FeLV.
If the cat is diagnosed with feline parvovirus or cat flu, and it’s too late for vaccinations because of the cat’s worsened state, then either CANGLOB P (for feline parvovirus) or CANGLOB DHLaPPi (other illnesses) are required to be administered. It’s an antiserum, that immediately administers the necessary antibodies against feline parvovirus (version P) or cat flu (other version). Many of these medications are labelled to be only used on dogs, but to me, it was recommended by a veteranian, and in both cases, ended up working.
Below, there are details about some typical illnesses that are common in cats. This is followed by articles about FIRST AID.
TYPICAL FIV/FeLV SYMPTOMS/ILLNESSES IN CATS:
HEAVY BREATHING, BRONCHITIS OR PNEUNOMIA
If there is nasal fluid, it’s important to take sample to be studied & tested. It’s the veteranian’s job to recommend you the proper type of antibiotics. Usually, it’s amoxicilin/clavulanic based medications, that are administrated the first time.
It’s also important to administer Fluimucil powdered medication (diluted in water) against fluids & water buildup. This needs to be administered 2 times a day, a third of a 100g dose, dilution needs to be repeated in each administration, otherwise, it would lose it’s active ingredients, in case it sits for too long in water. A reliable alternative is the Bisolvon vaccine, which needs to be bought from a veteranian.
IN CASE THE CAT’S FLU DOESN’T GET BETTER, nasal lavage needs to be performed. This means, the cat’s nasal cavities have lots of small chambers, where antibiotics can not enter in adquate doses. First step is to take sample of the nasal fluid (while the cat is under general anesthesia), then the fluid needs to be sent for testing & studying. Because this procedure requires at least 5 days to be performed, it’s important to have the cat’s nasal cavities with Fluimucil based solution, the lavage needs to be performed with proper type of antibiotics. Before the medical reports are completed, the lavage is performed with either Gentamicin or Tobrex, which is then followed by antibiotics based lavage. This needs to be repeated every 5 days, until the cat’s flu has completely healed, usually, this takes around 4-5 repeated procedures.
IN CASE OF CAT FLU, immune strengthening by Lyzin Viral is required, along with antibiotics prescribed by the veteranian, for at least 21 days. The afforementioned Canglob VACCINE is also required.
ANEMIA
In many cases, it’s important to check, whether it’s an acute or chronic anemia, which means if the drop of hematocrites (percentage of red blood cells) happened suddenly, or it’s levels have been already low for some time. Some FeLV/FIV positive cats happily live around with hematocritic levels of 20-22. (35 is considered nominal). In these cases, it’s important to pay attention every 3-4 days, whether the hematocritic levels stay the same, or do they decrease. If it’s dropping, then it’s possible, that it would drop even further. In this case, either blood transfusion, or care with Steron/Interferon are almost always required!
It’s also important to have the cat tested for blood parasites, as they often tend to be mycoplasmic, which can also lead to the decrease of hematocritic levels, because they get attacked by parasites, caused by damaged immune system. In this case, their bodies are constantly fighing against FeLV/FIV & can not fight against all viruses/parasites/infections simultaneously, additional help is required.
Testing for Mycoplasma is immediately required, but because the results need 4-5 days to return, in case of suspicion, administration of Doxicyclin is important, because if the case turns to be Mycoplasma, the cat would die before the results arrive.
In case of anemia, usage of either Omega Virbagen Interferon, or steroids is recommended, but because these have mutually exclusive effects, so these medication must not be administered simultaneously! If bloodstain test is performed, then it can be confirmed, wheter steroids or Interferon should be used.
If hematocritic levels drop below 14, most veteranians would advise blood transfusion. In case your veteranian deems this pointless, you should see a different veteranian, as this procedure never proves to be pointless, it’s advised to try it in every case, as it’s impossible to find out the results in advance. Blood transfusion can win precious time, the body takes a few weeks to use up all the newly transfused blood, it needs to be forced to get back to producing red blood cells.
IN CASE OF IMMUNEMODULATED HEMOLITIC ANEMIA, which means the cats body begins attacking it’s own red blood cells (Similarly to autoimmune diseases), the steroids need to be administered. If the blood test provides different results, then Omega Virbagen Interferon should be administered, as blood transfusion only partially helps, for lasting results, the cat’s body needs to be forced restore & maintain it’s balance.
IN EACH CASE OF ANEMIA & BLOOD TRANSFUSION, it helps to give the cat VITAMIN B, FOLSAV AND IRON. In the first few cases, I ask the veteranians to administer these nutrients in the form of a vaccine, and later, if the results of the blood test do not get better, then I continue administering these nutrients orally, in the form of Amino B Plex.
- Mild case – Amino B Plex – 2 times
- Strong case – Vaccines: Neovit B, Catosal & Neo Ferro Folgamma 1 pill. every day
- ARANESP vaccine 10 micrograms, this contains an active ingredient/hormone called darbepoetin alpha
- Quamatel/Pantaprazol – For stomach protection
- To increase appetite: Mirzaten 10 mg, 1/4 every 2-3 days
Blood transfusions are performed at the Klapka Veteranian’s Office, along with the A. H. OK. and the Veteranian’s Office of Érd’s City Centre.
INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION
It’s another common illness. A type diarrhea, that doesn’t seem to get better with time. Extensive testing needs to be performed to rule out parasites or bacterial infections. Quamatel stomach protection medicine needs to be administered regularly, and the cat needs to drink about half deciliters of caucasian kefir, as this can restore it’s intestinal flora.
If the color of fecal matter is dark, it could possibly mean a bloody diarrhea, which means K1 vitamins need to be administered. In this case, NEVER GIVE THE CAT PROBIOTICS, as some bacteria can get through the walls of the intestines and if it gets to the blood flow, it can lead to SEPSIS! It’s important to have the cat not eat anything for about half a day, infusion can also help in this case, and in some of these cases, caucasian kefir also worked very well for us.
Synolux/Klion pills can be also administered (Follow the veteranian’s advice!).
MOUTH ULCERS
THREE FORMS ARE KNOWN
- FORL (Inflammation of teeth & root canals)
- STOMATITIS (Infection at the back of the jaws, usually caused by calicivirus)
- GINGVITIS (The ulcer is located on the tongue)
It’s important to administer Quamatel/Pantaprazol stomach protection medication in each cases, supplemented by using STOMODINE gel. Because in these cases, the stomach tends to produce acidic fluid, there’s a risk of damage to the cat’s teeth. Asides from these points, OXYFRESH solution can be used to disinfect the cat’s drinking water, in order to prevent further infection to it’s mouth.
DETAILS:
FORL
In this case, many of the cat’s teeth need to be extracted, as eventually, all of them can end up being FORL-infected, which then will lead to further infections to the mouth, so it’s advised to have all of it’s teeth extracted as soon as possible.
In case the cat doesn’t have kidney problems, an anti-inflammation painkiller, Meloxidyl can be used. In case there are kidney problems, only Onsior can be used, along with antibiotics (synolux, stomorgyl). However, these do not cure the problem, dental extraction is required, because bacteria are constantly found on the teeth, and the bodies of FeLV/FIV positive cats can not properly defend themselves against the bacteria located on the teeth at the same time, this is why the situation tends to worsen very quickly in the case of inflammation.
STOMATITIS
It’s usually a typical illness, that happens along with FIV, and it seems, antibiotics have no effect on it, neither anti-inflammation medications. One exception is the Synolux medication, which however needs to be administered for 21 days, at it’s maximal dosage.
There are two ways STOMATITIS CAN BE cared for, with steroids or Omega Virbagen Interferon. First, a piece of blood stain needs to be tested & analyzed (the following link contains some information, how blood stain tests are performed & what details to look for: STEROID OR INTERFERON). In case the cat has immunmodulated hemolitic anemia, then IT’S IMPORTANT NOT ADMINISTED ANY INTERFERON, AS IT CAN LEAD TO MULTIPLICATION OF CELLS AND LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUMOURS. One of our cats, Misi was suffering from IHA, and when he was given steroids, his condition was getting better, his hematocritic levels increased from 8 to 22. But later, steroid care was stopped and he received a dosage of interferon, it ended with him developing a tumour in his larynx and he almost died from suffocation.
One of our other cats, Jánoska is likely also suffering from IHA, as it doesn’t seem to get better. He had a Coombs-test, which returned positive, and he also had gingivitis, which lead to him having interferon injected into his mouth. Furthermore, he also received a 5-day long interferon cure, after which he developed lymphoma in his kidneys, which fortunately was curable. Another case was with the cat Zolika, whom suffered from a tumour in his bones, which got much worse after a long interferon-care. Of course these facts are not backed by veteranians, but these were some of our experiences.
All types of medications need to be taken seriously & handled with care, otherwise they can easily lead to death. Interferon is a very expensive medication, not many people use it, so knowledge about it is still limited. It’s official desciption says, that it wasn’t tested/analyzed on cats, who were suffering from late-stage FeLV/FIV, or cancer, or whether, in the case of liver/kidney problems, some parameters need to be checked up on again. We all know what this means.
Just think about a medicine, that can reinitialize bone marrow, when it fails to produce blood & remove a large scale ulcer of the tongue. But, according to the link above, if the cat is not suffering from IHA, then Interferon proves to be a wonderful medication, it helps a lot. It cured a large ulcer in Harcos‘ mouth and it also helped with Zsálya, who also suffered from multiple ulcers, that were caused by calicivirus infection.
ONLINE VETERANIANS INSTRUCION BOOK – 121 pages of details about stomatits & gingivitis
LIVER PROBLEMS
Sadly, it’s common for cats, who test positive to develop liver problems. In the case of jaundice, then it’s urgent to have it’s bilirubin level checked, and if they’re high, then it needs to be force-fed with renal type food, as 3 days of not eating can lead can lead to the development of liver fibriosis and due to the presence of toxins, can lead to the eventual death of the cat.
Like in other cases, follow your veteranian’s advice on which type of antibiotics you should use. Most of the time, Enroxil & Veraflox are recommended. SEE BELOW – FIRST AID DETAILS
KIDNEY PROBLEMS
Kidney problems often tend to go along with FIV, as FIV often has a tendency to attack the cat’s liver. In case of liver problems of FeLV-positive cats, it‘s usually kidney lymphoma, which can be cured, our best local veteranian for this is the A. H. O. K. Many of our cats, who suffered from kidney lymphoma have been successfully cured there.
Unfortunately, the FIV virus really loves the associate itself with the liver, and, even in the case of only mild liver problems, the cat’s condition tends worsen quickly. Be alert of the cat’s creatinin level, as the level of 120 already means problems, in which case the cat should be only fed special, kidney-care type of food. Furthermore, the following check-ups should be performed:
- TEST OF URINE (particles, TP/KREA, bacteriology) – Ask your vet for all these. This will be followed by further details about further care.
- BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK – It’s common for high blood pressure to go along with kidney problems, but the cat’s blood pressure levels can be kept at bay FOR YEARS with the proper type of medication. Follow-up testing is required every half a year.
- HEART ULTRASONOGRAPHY – It’s also common for heath problems to go along with kidney problems, which means, further medications are needed to be administered regularly. Your veteranian will give advice about these medications.
More information in ENGLISH: IRIS Kidney
Because severe cases of kidney failure can lead to ulcers & other problems in the intestines & stomach, it’s important for the cat to be administered with stomach protection medication 2 times a day (Quamatel or Pantoprazol, in 1mg/kg dosage) followed by a half deciliter amount of caucasian kefir. Ipakitine (Phosporic adhesive) is also recommended, along with Semintra. Amino B Plex can help with increasing the cat’s appetite, and because it also contains iron and phospor, which help with the assimilation of Vitamin B. Besides all this, it’s recommended to give the cat a quarter of a Mirtazen 10mg pill every two days. In case the cat stops eating, it should be force-fed, but in the case of kidney-problems, it’s important to also provide adequate amounts of infusion, 50ml/kg, intravenously, at the rate of 20ml/hour if the cat is not suffering from heart problems. In case the cat is suffering from heart problems, the rate of administration should be lowered, in order to prevent oedemas in it’s lungs. If the cat is eating properly, Ringer Lakta or Salsol are adequate, but in case the cat refuses to eat, it’s IMPORTANT, that the infusion contains Dupholite. Dupholite CAN NOT be administered directly under the skin, it needs to be administered intravenously.
It’s possible to administer some types of infusion directly under the skin, but it’s important to monitor it’s amount, otherwise it won’t work, as it would fail at cleaning the kidneys completely. This amount is 50ml/kg, but ONLY THE TYPE SALSOL (NA/CL) CAN BE ADMINISTERED DIRECTLY UNDER THE SKIN!!!
TUMOURS/CANCER
Unfortunately, it’s very common in the cases of FIV/FeLV, due to the weakened immune system, to tumours/cancer to develop. Only certain types of lymphoma can be cured. Other ones can be kept at bay, A. H. O. K. is a place, where professioncal care is reliably provided.
SKIN DISORDERS
The skin is effectively the outer shell of the cat’s immune system, therefore, fungal/bacterial infections are common for cats, who test positive. A dermatologic test is highly recommended. There are many, over the counter types of shampoo and creams available (i.e. Phyodern, Coritizne or Chlorexiderm), which can help. Your veteranian will provided advice on which of these you should use. A Nizoral-shampoo based bath can also provide a big help.
If the cat’s skin has wounds, that would not heal over time, then laser therapy is recommended.
FELINE PARVOVIRUS
It has details further up in this article. Recommended care: intravenous infusion, medication with Canglob serum & Viroplazin. Paragraph 6. (Vaccinations) gives further details about administration.
FIP
Sadly, in some cases, cats, who test positive also end up suffering from FIP. Our group, “FIP MAGYARORSZÁG” provides various case studies & information about proper care, what medications should be given and where to obtain these medications from.
Do not be scared, many of our FeLV positive cats went through FIP, and IT IS POSSIBLE TO COMPLETELY CURE FIP.
PARASITES:
Unfortunately, these cats can not simultaneously defend themselves against parasites & viruses. This means if the positive testing cat shows any symptoms, the proper antiparasitic procedures should be immediately repeated.
It’s important to know about GIARDIA, if it surfaces in a colony, it’s VERY HARD TO ERADICATE IT, the medication needs to be administered for 10 days, followed by a 10 day long pause, which is the followed by 10 ADDITIONAL DAYS. When we tried administering it only for 5 days, it failed it’s job at eradication.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KEEPING FIV/FELV POSITIVE CATS WITH NEGATIVE-TESTING ONES
FIRST AID FOR FIV/FELV POSITIVE CATS, for example, it’s night & the veteranian isn’t available:
THE CAT REFUSES TO EAT
If the cat hasn’t been eating for at least 1-2 days, it could be a massive problem. In case the cat has not been eating for only a day, you could try giving it Amino B Plex to increase it’s appetite, or Mirzaten pills. Nevertheless, it’s very important find out the cause why the cat had stopped eating. Extensive blood testing is required!
THE CAT IS SUFFERING FROM DEHYDRATION
Infusion needs to be administered immediately! The best option is intravenous, if it’s not possible, the infusion can be administered directly under the skin, it depends on the body weight of the cat. For example, 4 kg cat needs about 100-150 mls of Salzol each day. It’s very important, because if we fail to stabilize the cat’s fluid balance, his/her entire circulation could fail!
A common mistake in case on intravenous infusion, is when the rate of administration is too high, which often could lead to the development of oedemas in the cat’s lungs, or, in the case of heart problems, it could be dangerous, the maximum rate should be 20-25mls/hour tops. In the case of anemia, the rate of dosage should be 10mls/hours tops, any rate higher than that would lead to too much dilution of it’s blood.
THE CAT IS SUFFERING FROM FEVER
Never give your cat any type of fever medicine, as, in the case of kidney-failure can lead to death (Due to Meloxidyl). Take the cat to a vet for further advice and used cold, damp towels to keep the cat cooled!