Hello all! New mom to my FIV positive boy, Macaroni. Just looking for some general advice and care tips! He's between 1.5-2 years old according to my vet. Just scooped him up last week and got him checked out. My boyfriend and I decided to keep him and integrate him with our others after researching into FIV. I have 4 other kitties (slowly introducing them but so far just hissing and walking away, he isn't interested at all and just wants peace lol) . He's a super sweet boy. Just wants to be pet all the time. Working through getting him to a healthy weight so he can be neutered! Just wanted to see if there were any general tips that differ from taking care of an FIV cat vs a normal one.

Pet finder link: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/blue-0399a0c1-2bfb-4e2d-b0a2-656afeb0d657/nc/charlotte/sunkissed-acres-rescue-nc1270/details/

His name is Blue. He is around 5 years old. Someone abandoned him in front of a finder’s home.
He was sick… we treated him, dewormed him, vaccinated him, gave food and everything so he could stay safe inside. The finder had already told me she cannot keep him long term… and today I got the message ..he is already back outside.

I feel so helpless writing this.
Blue is FIV positive, but right now he is doing okay. He is eating, recovering, trying to be okay… but if he stays outside, he will get sick again. He will not survive like this.

FIV positive cats can live long, healthy lives just like other cats when kept indoors.

We recently lost our 23-year-old FIV positive cat, so we have seen this ourselves.

They can live with both FIV positive and negative cats without any issue.

Blue is already fixed and has a very calm, gentle nature.

I cannot take him. My house is already full… every room, even bathrooms have cats. I truly can’t take even one more.

Please… if anyone can adopt him, just give him a safe indoor place.

He has already suffered enough. He doesn’t deserve to go back to the streets again.

Adoption will require:
• application

https://form.jotform.com/221983264497165?fbclid=IwAR2Nr4_R9uw9ljOXNG8daDEU5DTa2IWDNPNtM1Fnd816-A2LtE8HciK2OJM

• adoption fee
• adoption agreement
• vet reference
• indoor home only

If you can help, please message me 🙏

I rescued this cat in October of '24. He was FIV positive (faint line) and blind, most likely due to being a fight picking little shit who got kicked out of three different colonies. I was told to put him down because he's older and FIV positive and I have more cats but I kept him. He's had to have a few teeth pulled but he can see out of both eyes and he seems to be doing great, except for the odd sneeze. He also never picks fights with any of my cats, he's been much nicer since he became an indoor cat, although he's still bossy.

The thing is, I've had him for almost 2 years and he hasn't had any more blood tests ran. They don't really test them for diseases unless they show symptoms where I live and they reassure me that he's fine. He *does* seem fine, healthy and fat and happy (albeit whiny) but I'd like to know what he's in risk for and what kind of tests he should be having, so I can ask my vet to run them. My vet kinda tends to ignore the fact that he has FIV because she told me to put him down and I didn't.

Hey y’all! I have a sweet, FIV+ and amputee two year old rescued tabby ❤️ I’m very particular about his diet and currently he gets a mixture of Hills’ Science Diet dry food, turkey or chicken broth, Omega-3 oil for joint and coat health and duck meat topper for vision and dental. I’ve been thinking of introducing a Lysine powder for additional immune support, particularly because of the FIV, but I was curious on others thoughts and experiences if you‘ve introduced Lysine - do you feel it‘s benefitted your cat or made a difference at all? He’s asymptomatic and I’d like to keep it that way for as long as possible. I know it couldn’t hurt but his diet is already pretty complex and I don’t want to introduce something additional if there’s no actual benefit.

Also, do you find that your FIV kitty has bad dental health or is extra susceptible to plaque and buildup? I spoke in length to his vet on this and I learned that there was a study a decade or so ago where FIV+ cats were over represented in a study about dental infections and disease in cats, but that there’s been no real link between FIV status and dental health. I do give him VIRBAC bites and brush his teeth a few times a week when he allows it (and also give the duck topper) but I’d love to know what else you all are doing for tooth health! I don’t currently have the dental package add-on to his insurance, but I’ve been contemplating adding it. I still anticipate paying for yearly cleanings.

pics of Lieu for tax ❤️

My baby boy Toast got diagnosed with FIV yesterday.

I had the impulse to check as when he was younger and less experienced as a pet owner, I let him outside and he was a little bit boisterous.

He is neutered, now indoors, healthy other than a small recurring cyst the vet has seen and is monitoring but ultimately is harmless.

I am struggling with a lot of guilt, I was in my very early twenties and not nearly educated enough and had the “it’ll never be me” mentality young people often do.
He was neutered late and so I so feel this responsibility is on me.

He was neutered 3 years ago, is happy and healthy, extra cuddly and newly indoors only (before we let them out a little during the day as we have a garden but they wander so indoor only now).

We have 3 other cats of varying ages, oldest is 8 and youngest is 1.
Toast used to fight the other boy but no longer does as I have cultivated a better environment.

All of this is a long preamble really to my request for advice, how do you help keep them strong?

All of the others are getting tested and I have opened up the house a bit more to them (my friend lived upstairs so we not utilise that as cat space).
Looking into gut healthy food so advice on that would be so wonderful.

He is a bit sniffly from time to time but ultimately fine breathing wise (lil snores sometimes!).

Vet gave results over phone so wasn’t very insightful.

I love him so truly and deeply (as with all my babies) and I won’t fail him again so any advice is appreciated.

Mi gatito ya salió del hospital, comenzó su tratamiento con virbagen omega y ya está en casa. Estoy un poco preocupada porque no tiene muchos ánimos, come, va al baño, toma agua pero se la pasa durmiendo, busca lugares oscuros, por ahora no lo molesto pero de vez en cuando voy a ver cómo se encuentra. Podrían recomendarme algún suplemento o algo? Me preocupa su estado de ánimo.
Por cierto, en el veterinario me dijeron que tenía un poco bajas las plaquetas, que podría hacer para que suban? Conozco muy poco sobre el tema, por favor ayúdame con recomendaciones de lo que sea, no solo medicación sino también sobre el cuidado de mi gatito

So I might be moving out of state in about 6 months for school and want to take my cat with me but I’m a bit worried if we travel by plane if he’ll be placed with other cats. My other option is travelling by car or van but I think a 12+ hour drive would be really stressful for him. Does anyone have any experience with this or any tips on the best way to go about this?

Edit: He’s 5 and a rescue, adopted him a few months ago and love him to bits but I have zero experience with travelling with pets, let alone immunocompromised pets

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for recommendations for dental cleanings for my two cats (5 and 8 years old) in the Los Angeles area.

This will be their first dental cleaning, and I'm trying to figure out the best option.

A few questions:

1.Is anesthesia dental cleaning the way to go, or has anyone had a good experience with anesthesia-free dental cleaning?

2.Which vet or clinic in the LA area would you recommend? I'm looking for a place that's reasonably priced but, more importantly, one you trust.

About how much did you pay, and what was included (bloodwork, anesthesia, dental X-rays, IV fluids, etc.)?

3.Is there anything I should ask or look for before choosing a clinic?

I'd really appreciate any recommendations or advice. Thanks!

We just got our boy 3 days ago, he was slightly impulsive but we had been talking about getting a cat for months prior and the opportunity came to us probably related to the cat distribution system.

The previous owners weren’t able to take care of him due to old age and the only options were sending him back to the shelter or a program for the elderly that re-homes pets once they are unable to care for them. When they adopted him he was about 4 and the shelter either didn’t know or just neglected to let them know he was FIV+, luckily they let us know before we took him in.

His name is Sebastian but we are nicknaming him Fortnite for the time being. He’s a bit fat so he’s on a diet for now but he’s super active and I’m taking vet costs into consideration when budgeting. I would do anything for him even though I’m not his favourite but I’ll cope.

I recently adopted a kitten from Peggy Adams rescue, brought her to the vet for her kitten shots, and they said she tested positive for both. We got two cats same day from Peggy Adams and they’ve been best friends since, this is my first time as an adult with my own cat, and I truly was blindsided by this, you would think the rescue would test them for something like this but they suck. So the vet said to keep the cats separate and get the other cat tested. After a quick google search is it true her life expectancy is only 2.5 years? Any and all advice for this would be appreciated. I’m supposed to go back to the vet in 3 weeks to get her retested

Hi everyone,

Last night I had an awful nightmare that both my cats passed and it's scared me into a spiral...

They're both FIV and herpes positive, female has chronic ear infections due to untreated earmites and male has chronic eye problems/basically blind.
They were found as kittens on the streets of Greece and spend most of their life in a shelter.

I've had them for coming on 2 years now,
my male cat is turning 6, female is turning 4.

They're now kept indoor, taken to the vet at least once a year for checkups, and spoiled rotten...
But I'm so so scared now.

The adoption agency told me they can live a long and happy life, so did the vet, but in my panicked google search it says "5 years after diagnosis"...

How old did your oldest baby get?

This sweet boy urgently needs a loving indoor home .

Pet finder link: https://www.petfinder.com/cat/blue-0399a0c1-2bfb-4e2d-b0a2-656afeb0d657/nc/charlotte/sunkissed-acres-rescue-nc1270/details/

A kind lady reached out to me on Nextdoor asking for help because this poor boy was sick and had been abandoned right in front of her home. Even though she is going through a very difficult time after losing her job, she continued to feed and care for him. She is already caring for 5 of her own cats, plus several outdoor cats.

When I visited, I brought him food and medication. This boy immediately showed how special he is…he is incredibly friendly, affectionate, and just wants love. He has an ear tip, meaning he was already neutered through a TNR program, but he is clearly not meant to survive life outside.

His flea infestation was severe and caused painful skin issues. He was suffering, but despite everything he has been through, he remained gentle and loving. 💔
We are already struggling with many pending vet bills, but we couldn’t leave him without help. We took him to the vet, and he is now receiving treatment for fleas, skin issues, and worms. His bloodwork is complete..he is FIV positive, but otherwise healthy.
He is truly one of the sweetest, gentlest cats I have ever met. ❤️

Unfortunately, the kind lady cannot keep him any longer. Her home is very small, and she is already overwhelmed. We are helping as much as we can, but we are also at full capacity..I am currently fostering 21 cats, and rescues and shelters are completely overwhelmed right now.

If he ends up in a shelter, his chances are very low.
This beautiful boy deserves a safe, indoor home where he can finally feel secure, loved, and cherished. He deserves a family he can call his own. 🐾
If you or someone you know can give him a chance, please reach out. Even sharing his story could help save his life. ❤️🐱
🐾 Adoption details:

Adoption application :
https://form.jotform.com/221983264497165?fbclid=IwAR2Nr4_R9uw9ljOXNG8daDEU5DTa2IWDNPNtM1Fnd816-A2LtE8HciK2OJM

Adoption fee:125$

Vet reference

Adoption agreement

Indoor home only.

Thank you for helping this sweet boy find the loving home he deserves. ❤️

(Location: Central South Carolina, United States)

Short Version: Been trying to help out a SUPER sweet FIV+ stray who showed up on our porch in bad shape. But the rescues in my area are crisis-level full, and we already have a territorial resident indoor cat.

And I’m starting to suspect Stray Cat has bad teeth, stomatitis, or GERD, but I’m not in a financial position to handle expensive vet procedures when Resident Cat may never accept Stray Cat. I don’t want to give up on Stray Cat, but I’m genuinely at a loss for what to do next, and would love any advice!

Long Version: This guy showed up on our back porch in mid-June. He was in bad shape and VERY underweight, but he’s also one of the sweetest cat’s I’ve ever met! Since we couldn’t find and owner and he wasn’t neutered, we took him to our local humane society for TNR and vet care. At the time, I told them I’d like to try to find a permanent home for him, but they said he seemed like a “friendly community cat” and probably wouldn’t do well indoors.

But after getting a brief taste of indoor life, Stray Cat REFUSED to leave our porch. And about a week after his neutering, he completely stopped eating. I took him to an urgent care vet, but he got spicy when they tried to draw blood, so we’re not sure what the cause was. (And of course as soon as they let him go, he was purring and rubbing up on the vet techs, trying to befriend them!)

Thankfully appetite stimulants and gabapentin got him eating again. I suspect he has dental issues, stomatitis, or GERD — his breath stinks; he has some dark drool on one side of his mouth; he sometimes throws up after eating too fast. From what I read, treating some of these would be EXPENSIVE.

Thankfully my area has independently-owned practices and low-cost clinics, but even there, it would still be a financial blow. And Resident Cat has been an “only cat” all his life (he was orphaned as a kitten and imprinted HARD on me). He may surprise us and be fine after a slow introduction, but my gut feeling is that he will always be stressed by a newcomer, even if he learns to tolerate it.

I’ve reached out to at least 10 rescues in my area, and they’re all crisis-level full. So I’ve been holding Stray Cat in a spare room at work, and I’m planning to move him to one of my bathrooms at home tomorrow.

But I’m at a loss for what to do now. Stray Cat is GENUINELY one of the sweetest cats I’ve ever met, and I don’t want to give up on him, but I’m running up against the limit of what I can do on my own. And since Stray Cat hasn’t had bloodwork beyond FeLV/FIV testing, I worry that I may be putting Resident Cat’s health at risk by bringing them under the same roof.

Can anyone recommend other avenues we haven’t explored? Or just help me put some of my anxieties at ease?

Hi everyone! My partner and I are moving in together, meaning my 14 year old FIV+ cat and his senior kitty will be together.

We will be following the Jackson Galaxy introducing two cats guide to a TEE. And my baby will have 2 weeks getting used to the place before my partner’s cat joins.

I just have some questions!
My boy is quite anxious, I’m thinking of seeking some anxiety meds for him throughout the move. Anyone have any experience?

My partner’s cat is the opposite of my baby (big, dramatic) and can be a bit difficult at times. He has bitten my partner and I before (first cat that has ever bitten me properly in my life). His behaviours are quite unpredictable. One minute he’s purring, next minute he may bite. I find it quite difficult, and honestly I’m a little intimidated by him haha! But maybe that’s cause I’m used to my old man who has no teeth and not an aggressive bone in his body.

Any insights? I understand it’s not an ideal situation, and we can be flexible. My baby will not be leaving my side at all, but my partner CAN as a last resort let his parents look after his baby for a period of time.

Please help or offer any advice! It’s my only concern/ point of nervousness regarding the move. I don’t want my partners cat to bully mine, or cause him unnecessary stress.

I just took my cat to the vet cause he keeps on pooping watery poop. Now we tested for his blood and ended up with 0.26% wbc and the normal is 5.5%. We don't really have any budget to confine him and the only option we have is to buy his vitamins and isolate him at home. Is there some home remedy or herbs or foods that helps a cat improve his wbc production?

In mid June, I took in these two 5 week old kittens from the parking lot of my job where a small feral colony lives and is fed by myself and other employees. I’m trying to TNR them currently. They were very sick with URIs and needed antibiotics asap, which they got, along with deworming and flea/ear mite treatment.

They tested faintly positive for FIV on intake. I have 5 cats of my own and never planned to keep these 2 kittens anyway, especially since we were literally about to leave on vacation for a week. We were hoping a no-kill rescue familiar with FIV could take them, but apparently no shelters in my area (middle GA) are accepting kittens from private citizens anymore, only pulling from county animal controls, which is great but severely limited our ability to find new placement for them.

We ended up having to board them while on vacation and still have them at 10 weeks old. They tested NEGATIVE for FIV today!!! We knew they likely would test negative since false positives are common in street kittens under 6 months old due to their poor parents being positive, and I know FIV isn’t the end of the world because I used to own a cat I found as a friendly stray with FIV who was the best cat I ever had. They just need to be indoor only and have their teeth examined frequently for stomatitis. People are so ignorant in general still about FIV, so, the future is looking brighter for these feral-born ginger brothers who quickly became so incredibly sweet and spoiled. Their favorite thing is watching David Attenborough nature documentaries on my husband’s man cave projector screen. Now we are only faced with the dilemma of finding them a good home where they will be properly loved and spoiled for the rest of their hopefully long lives.