FIV

Several weeks ago a cat began to come around. It seemed used to people but would move away when approached. It would often cry.

About three weeks ago Sue was able to pick it up. I brought it in and called my neighbor. He took one look and declared that it was his Tom. He said that Tom had kidney failure. Tom was very weak, he could barely pull himself up onto the coffee table where I have the cat food. (I have trouble bending down so I keep things up where I can reach them.) He seemed to like the Iam's lamb and rice. (I keep three or four different dry foods available.) After a few days Tom seemed stronger. I had asked about the diagnosis, but did not really get an answer.

I took him to the vet (we use the same vet) and found that he had lost half his former weight and he had a terrible case of fleas. No blood test had been done, so I ordered that. Well, he has FIV and anemia.

I bathed Tom and the water ran red. Then I used the new Frontline spray. Today Tom is strong enough to easily hop onto the table and counter tops. He is eating large amounts of the lamb and rice formula. He is extremely fond of milk, it does give him diarrhea, but I hope some strength also.

I had thought that my cats were vaccinated against everything possible but the vet said that the FIV vaccine was new and that they had not been given it. I took Reba and Nemo in, they tested negative for FIV and got there shots. Sam had packed his bags and moved out a couple of days after Tom moved in. They were long time enemies. The next day Sam came by and I was able to grab him. I expected that he would test positive for FIV since he has been in many fights, a number of them with Tom. But he was negative to he was immunized.

Sam has had weeping sores on his chin that the vet diagnosed as acne. So he is under house arrest for the next several days getting antibiotics and salve.

It turns out that another of my neighbors cats that he trapped some four years ago was tested for FIV at that time and was positive.

OK, tell me what you know about FIV and how it progresses.