FIV positive 11yr old barn cat. What to do

[Obsidian_Fire]

[QUOTE=Ruth0552;8718749]
Oh dear.

10 years ago, last time I worked at a vet’s, there was no way to tell if the cat tests FIV positive because of vaccine or because of infection. The FIV vaccine is RARE. Most vets do not give it because of that exact reason. Are you sure he wasn’t given a Rabies booster or a distemper/combo vaccine- that might read as FVRCCP or some such letters on your bill. Most states require a Rabies booster when a pet comes in with a wound of unknown origin.

It’s possible that the FIV is finally starting to affect him but it’s hard to tell while he’s recovering from a fight and fighting an infection.

I’m very surprised that they did not do bloodwork if you asked for it. Maybe call and ask why it wasn’t done?

Are there other cats outside that do not come from the hoarder colony? If he got it from them, he’s not going to give it back, and they probably all already have it anyways. Is there anyway to erect a fence in the direction of those cats so he can stop getting into fights? Can you contain him in an are outside with a high fence or kennel?

For trying to transition him to inside only I’d have him blocked off from his regular point of entry/exit. Is there anyway to lock him in some larger rooms away from the door with some nice windows he can’t get out of? Maybe on the 2nd floor?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Lieslot;8718793]Oh, DUH on me, yes, thanks for bringing this up, I’m clearly not familiar with cat vaccines.
I checked again, he got the FeLV vaccine as well as Rabies.
His previous vaccines were also FeLV, no mention of FIV.
Apologies, I thought Fe leukemia & Fe Immunovirus were one and the same thing. Now I read it is not apparently.

I’m going to give him a week to settle from this wound/infection, finish his antibiotics and then take him back for bloodwork.
Perhaps she thought bloodwork wasn’t the right thing to do at present since he’s fighting an infection from this bite wound & abscess he had.

As for neighbors’ cats, there are 2 out there that I have spotted which are (just like him) huge & fat, clearly well fed and wear a flea/tick collar, so those must be owned by someone. The others are skinny, raggedy looking, definitely strays.

We can look into sectioning off a part outdoors for him, but this won’t happen overnight. We have a standard size dog kennel, but that seems so small.
I will not carry him in there now, I don’t trust myself being able to hold onto him. Perhaps my husband can do so tomorrow.

If only he uses one of the litterboxes any time soon, he’ll feel better instead of holding things up.
I’ve put him in there twice already, but he races out of it.
I may lock him in my basement with a litterbox, see if he goes there, perhaps he wants total privacy.[/QUOTE]

Wait wait wait…now I’m confused. I thought Feline Leukemia IS FIV? and my cats have been vaccinated for it (after blood testing negative as kittens).

??? Now you all have me very worried.

[BUSY]

He would benefit from a quiet room with his food and water and litter box and a place to hide / carrier with towels / bed to hide under and rest time.

He feels terrible and is stressed - needs quiet !

Visit him * after a few hours / every few hours - sit on floor near him - just ‘be’ - allow him to come to you when he desires - talk in a low slow voice - saying his name repeatedly.

He is sick and exhausted.

Support him with a quiet home - allow him to eat / drink / by himself.

And he needs time to himself to use litter box …allow him privacy please - he needs to ‘GO’ . .

Quiet - comfortable room = a bedroom or perhaps ( a large bathroom) - time.

& Close the door to whichever room … quiet and time…

Jingles !

Call vet ask for her/him to call and go over ‘this’ again - a huge situation for anyone
who loves a cat !
This will take time for everyone to adjust to -

((Hugs))

[Lieslot]

@Obisidian Fire

Wait wait wait…now I’m confused. I thought Feline Leukemia IS FIV? and my cats have been vaccinated for it (after blood testing negative as kittens).

??? Now you all have me very worried.

I’m sorry, I don’t know for sure, I don’t know enough about cats :no:. Perhaps some vet or other person in the knowing can help with this.

I looked thru his history and yesterday’s vet bill, he has been vaccinated for FeLV in the past and again yesterday, so what does that mean? Could this cause a positive FIV or not?
And is Feline leukemia the same or not the same of FIV.

Thank you all!

@BUSY

He would benefit from a quiet room with his food and water and litter box and a place to hide / carrier with towels / bed to hide under and rest time.

He feels terrible and is stressed - needs quiet !

Yes I agree, he’s in my basement now, there are all kind of hiding spots there, empty storage/moving cardboard boxes with moving blankets, stacked horseblankets, garden furniture etc. It’s a full house basement, so he has plenty of space, plenty of soft hiding spots and it’s cool.

I’m going to ignore him for the rest of the morning and check in later.
He does not want me around anyway at present.

[Zu_Zu]

[B]FIV and FeLV are two completely different feline conditions!

When you have some time … ask your vet to go over your cat’s FIV condition with you again.

Just make sure he has his litter boxes and some extended time to himself to recover from the last few days… that’s the first step here.

Jingles & AO for everyone to get some rest and recovery … think Sunday… Sunday will be a better day for all of you.

This is not an easy assignment … pace yourself ((hugs)) laced with some extra patience and comfort for ALL !

[/B]

[Lieslot]

@Zu Zu

FIV and FeLV are two completely different feline conditions!

Thank you!

I just picked up one of those pheromone collars & room diffusers, hopefully that’ll help him too.

I don’t know of more I can do for right now.

[Zu_Zu]

[B]FIV - feline aids

FeLV - cancer as in Leukemia

[/B][B]You have and are doing everything possible for him ~ take comfort in that !

BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT ~ you on the right pathway ~ just support with a home environment and love ~

JINGLES & AO !

((Hugs)) for you worried heart ~[/B]

[Perfect10]

FIV and FeLv are NOT the same. People rarely vaccinate against FIV. People sometimes vaccinate against FeLv. FIV is spread through deep bite wounds. FeLv is spread through cat to cat contact.
FeLv is feline leukemia. Many vets will put down any cat who tests positive. Cats with FeLv live shortened lives and are often sickly. Eventually, they usually succumb to cancer. The ones I’ve known died of a mass in their chests. They cannot live with FeLv negative cats or they will pass on the virus through shared bowls and litterboxes.
FIV is feline AIDS. Cats can live long healthy lives with other FIV negative cats. FIV is only spread through deep bite wounds, so cats that get along have no risk of contracting the virus. Cats who test positive for FIV DO need to be kept inside so they cannot fight with other cats. They are immunocompromised and may get sick more easily, but they are not living a death sentence like FeLv.
A combo test tests for both these viruses. FVRCP/FVRCCP is basically the distemper virus. It is also the herpesvirus/calcivirus/panlukopenia/ vaccine. Cats get it and rabies as their only core vaccines. Depending on lifestyle, the vet may vaccinate against FeLv, but almost never FIV.

[betsyk]

We brought home a barn cat who had been in a fight and found himself at the vet for treatment of the absessed wound. He was very, very sorry for himself for four or five days, hid in our basement, did figure out the litter box and once he felt a little better he made contact and started acting like himself again. There are pain meds for kitties - maybe check your bill and see if he got any, or ask your vet if he can have some (there’s nothing in your OTC collection of household stuff that cats can have, so you have to get it from the vet - that’s important - cats are crazy sensitive to drugs with little room for error).

If he doesn’t use the litter box and you can’t find evidence that he’s gone elsewhere in a couple days, that might indicate a problem and could be part of why he’s so miserable. Stressed out cats can get urinary blockages and those are a really big deal.

Anyway, I was trying to be encouraging by saying that our guy was really miserable at first but also really resilient. AND, he decided that being an indoor cat was a pretty good gig and now I don’t think we could make him go outside without a fight! He owns the screened porch, monitors the birds and squirrels and dogs walking by and runs into the house when we let the dogs into the yard. Here’s hoping your guy recovers as well!

[DrBeckett]

I’m not sure how one can say that a cat that tests positive for FIV is “perfectly healthy.” Kind of a oxymoron, don’t you think? Maybe state, not showing any symptoms, but can’t possibly be perfectly healthy.

[Zu_Zu]

[B]How is your dear gentleman this Saturday morning ?

Jingles & AO ~

• please offer his name … only if you are comfortable with that ~

((hugs)) laced with more patience and comfort and rest & recovery time ~[/B]

[Lieslot]

Thanks for checking in Zu Zu.
He’s not all that happy as was expected.
He is doing his business, but not in the litter boxes, carpets & horsey fleeces seem more appropriate.
I’m now putting earth in the boxes.
He keeps pushing into the screendoors trying to get out. We have to be ever so quick & careful not having him escape us when going out.
I’m surprised his vocal cords haven’t gone sore yet after all this meow meow.

Time will tell if this is work-able at all.
Husband not impressed with him not using the litterboxes. I don’t want to keep checking under tables, chairs & beds where he may have gone.

[BUSY]

Perhaps contain him in a bathroom or smaller tiled floor area till
he uses his boxes appropriately - mistakes are easier to clean up that way.

More time - more Jingles !

[Zu_Zu]

^ [B]Yes … smaller room without carpet …

Let’s make this ‘smell’ like his ‘home’

1. Add a trace of barn smell to each litter box .
   2.Keep litter not dirt - it’s the smell/ scent he needs.
2. Any accident should be put in his litter box … inside back corner slightly cover as cats do.

• He just needs some ‘help’ knowing where …

Smaller room / add barn scent and his scat or urine scent to box.

He feels lousy and confused - tell him where you want him to ‘go’ by containment and scent.

Jingles - you two can do this ! Really !

He does not want to soil in the wrong spots : he’s looking for his old home = barn scent / horse blankets .[/B]

[Lieslot]

He does not want to soil in the wrong spots : he’s looking for his old home = barn scent / horse blankets .

Thank you, that makes sense. I will keep trying :).

[Zu_Zu]

[B]* Also take away the spots he has mis-soiled … clean / vinegar / newspaper to pull smell out / and place a big object on top so he can not ‘go’ there again.

It’s all about scent …

tell him where by putting his poop in that litter box … and taking the wrong spot out of play .

Do you have a big / huge wire dog crate ?

That or a bathroom would ensure going in box and not trying to escaping - as it would mean he was two doors away from running out .

Try to set him up for success ~ everyone will be happier.

I know this is not easy .

You’re doing fine - just some fine tuning and time ~

Hang in there !

He’s worth it !

[/B]

[Lieslot]

Now he has diarrhea from the antibiotics.

My God what a mess.
Trying to fight a not-so-domesticated cat on my own with his backlegs all covered in yukh… so I can wipe him clean… argggg, not sure how long I can take all of this.

But I shall hang in there, even if I’m puking myself in all of this :(.

I will stop the antibiotic I guess and keep up the probiotics? Should I continue to feed as normal? He has a good appetite.
I noticed with each dose his stool was getting softer/looser until of course now he has the runs.
He’s not acting poorly nor sickly anymore, just feisty & p’d off with me for being locked up, which we’ve never done to him. Clearly doesn’t understand why he’s being punished.

[Zu_Zu]

Oh! I’m so sorry !

Ok … just dedicate a pair of sweatpants to this job … warm water towels and do the best you can to clean him up … he will help too.

I would stop everything but food and water until you can speak to the vet.

Are you using wet food or dry … should return to using whatever he is/ was getting before … IMHO.

I would just let him ‘transition’ with the least interference ( no meds & prob) until you can talk to vet.

SO many changes for him and YOU !

Is he going in the boxes ??? Is he contained ??

Keep a schedule … feeding and visiting so he has somethings he knows will happen.
[B]

***** socks old socks slightly wet and on both your hands to get a bit of a cleaning swipe as you handle him …once soiled turn inside out and start again… slowly and methodically while sitting on the floor.
[/B]

I wish I lived close I would offer to keep him a week or at least bring some supplies ~ that I know work and show you how …

You are doing great … step at a time …

** appetite back and not feeling poorly …all good news !

Pitch some fluffy bath towels in his bed and let him self clean a bit over night…

This will get better … it will !

((hugs)) for your worried heart and exhausted anxiety level ~

Jingles & AO ~

*please his name ?

Lastly… settle him in for the night and have some [B]wine !

Sunday will be a better day ~[/B]

[BuddyRoo]

You can vaccinate against this for your other cats. I don’t think keeping him indoors is wise as he’ll be miserable. If you’re going to do that, euth.

Else…test everyone else and vaccinate those who are not already positive.

FELV and FIV are usually tested at the same time. FELV vaccine is pretty standard, FIV is not.

[Lieslot]

Thanks Zu Zu!!!
Sorry I forgot, Felix.

Yes locked in the washroom. I spread newspaper all around with shavings, he’s sort of going in there, since I pretty much covered the entire space, then I will put the newspaper in a litter box.
I’ve come to think he doesn’t like the idea of having to climb over the edge into a box or so.

He has only ever tolerated wet food. He has never been able to handle dry food, because he never chews anything he eats, he bites and immediately swallows without chewing. As a result with dry food he will puke it straight back out. Once we started the wet pate food only, it’s been much better.
He gets mostly Blue, Wellness & Spot’s grain free. He’s been having those for years, so the feed is the same.

The wound is looking pretty clean, scab fell off, no swelling, and no open skin, just light pink closed skin. So I’d like to think the antibiotic is not necessary anymore.

I’m thinking if no more antibiotic, this runny bottom should clear up ever so quick.

I’m trying to handle him by wrapping him in a giant towel, so he can’t fight me and just took out one backleg to disinfect.
Socks,… brilliant idea, I will try that.

I’d love to handle him lovingly & gently, but when trying to get this job done, I have little choice but to force him a little. My husband should be able to help me in the mornings, I’m sure he will have soiled himself again by then.

His life is sure a little upside down right now. As the saying goes, it never rains, it pours; just hoping the sun to come out soon!

Two of the strays were in my barn tonight, I chased them out. Not sure how I can stop having those hanging around here. Now that my cat won’t be out anymore, I’m guessing the strays will be coming closer & closer to the house and in the barn.

[Lieslot]

Thanks BuddyRoo.
I have no other cats, the other cats that are hanging out here are strays, he likely got it from one of those :mad:.

I’m giving the idea of turning him into an indoor cat a try, but if it’s really is a no-no for him, because he just can’t get used to it, then yes I will euthanize him.
It’s only been a few days, too early to say if he will adjust, right now it’s not looking like he thinks indoor life is fun, but it may well be too soon to tell.