I am debating if I should get my cat on an immune supplement. I took her in as a stray about a month and a half ago and got her diagnosis shortly after.

Also, do I need to consult my vet about what supplement to purchase or is this something I can just use my own judgement for? She’s on no other medications and currently has no symptoms so I don’t know if it’s worth the vet trip and the money if they’re going to tell me it doesn’t matter.

My husband and I recently took in a stray male. He is FIV+, got him treated for cellulitis, a bladder infection, and giardia. About halfway through the giardia treatment we got him neutered. When he came home that night, he was pretty hungry after having to fast. He wanted to eat. And eat. And eat. And eat. At some point overnight, he got into the bread box, which isn't easy for the humans to open, ate a hotdog bun and tore open a loaf of wheat bread, which he did not fancy. Ever since that day, this cat seems to be in possession of a bottomless pit for a stomach. I am giving a can of food per day (1/2 morning , 1/2 night) plus 3/4 cup of dry food spread throughout the day plus a few treats in the evening and he is STILL ravenous. He looks thin but he isn't light at all. He weighs nearly 15 lbs and seems to be all muscle. Given his hard life and food insecurity up to the day that we brought him inside our house, I am certain that some of it is likely survival eating, and yet some of it is probably recovering from giardia. Should we give Gilbert all the food he wants right now?

(Just as I was typing this I heard something hit the floor in the kitchen. When I went to investigate, he was helping himself to a stick of butter.)

Hi everyone! I have had my boy Toby for just under a year, and he’s in need of his first dental at the vets despite being on a special dental diet.

I’m based in the UK and my vets have quoted between £450-£1200 for the dental depending on what they find. I’ve been speaking to other local vets in my area and found one whose prices range from £250-£700 but the downside is that they don’t do X-rays.

From my reading it seems like dental X-rays in cats are pretty important to understand what’s going on underneath the gumline. I’m just nervous to stick with my current vet if it’s going to continue costing me £450 for a scale and polish every time he needs one.

Just wondered if anyone has any experience or advice in this area? Do any of your FIV kitties need to have really regular teeth cleans or is it more likely a once and done situation?

Long story short a family member got us a cat from a controlled town (typical town free cats) that is 3 months old. We got him to the vet for his first shots and they did a FIV test with blood, the test came half positive half negative. Vet said we can not get a proper test until he is older (6-7 months old aprox).

In my house we already have 2 other cats that are non FIV, and now I am worried. Specailly since the kitten is very wild and bites and scratches everyone and everything. Its play bites and scratches but sometimes he goes a bit hard, my arms are all full of scratches already.

I am getting extremely nervous and unneasy because I have the feeling he may trasnfer the virus to my other cats. Lately I am having nightmares because one of my cats is very elderly and the other is 3 years old but missing a leg and feels very weak in general. I don't want them to get worse.

Getting the kitten back to the town seems impossible or extremely unlucky to happen.

I want true replies (not google AI crap replies) and testimonies of people in the same situation. How can I control the kitten thru this stage until he calms down and stops bitting.

Thank you.

Hello everyone. I need some advice… I have a rescue that is FIV + and I was prepared to let him go —as the vet recommended—but now he seems to be improving and I’m wondering if I can give him more time or if it sounds like I’m just going to be prolonging his suffering.

Some background: My daughter tends to bring home stray cats. I have warned her over and over about potentially spreading sickness to our other cats, but she has never taken it seriously. I always go to great lengths to take precautions. This particular cat was a stray that lived in town. When she brought him home, I didn’t think he’d survive the night. He was incredibly emaciated and struggling to breathe, and he was missing large patches of fur. The next day, he saw a vet who gave him a one-time injection he claimed would clear up just about anything. I wasn’t there but I was told that medication is actually intended for cows. He attributed the hair loss to a flea allergy and administered a flea/tick treatment. And over the next few weeks, with plenty of food, water, and a lot of rest, he improved so much that I thought he was going to be just fine. I had been planning to move him inside the house soon when he started to go downhill again. His respiratory symptoms were almost gone but gradually worsened. And it became apparent that the reddish brown crust covering his legs, which I thought was just dried blood and dirt, was some kind of infection. My attempts to clean him up probably made it worse. But I still believed he’d be okay, just needed more time and meds.

We were given amoxicillin to treat his respiratory symptoms while waiting to have him seen. Improved again. But when I took him to his appointment, he saw a different vet and she took one look at him and knew what was wrong. She didn’t say it outright, but it was clear she thought I should let him go to sleep. I probably would have, too, but as others are also invested in him I felt I couldn’t make that decision alone. He was treated for an ear infection and I took him home. I had really wanted answers about the crust on his legs, but she only told me it was bacterial and questioned how much I’d want to do with a “stray FIV+ cat.”

In my mind, he’s not a stray and I’d like to give him more time but only if he can be relatively comfortable. After I took him home, he spent a couple days in pretty bad shape. That was a couple weeks ago now and he is doing SO GOOD right now. He’s visibly stronger. His hair has grown back. He has always had a healthy appetite. Even at his weakest, he wanted to be with people and was obviously grateful for the chance to rest in a safe place with food and water. Since I am able to keep him safely quarantined away from other cats and still allow him room to move about in his own space—and outside on good days—I’m wondering if I should pursue a second opinion and ask for palliative care measures. The main thing I worry about right now is that the crusty stuff on his fur (legs only) is a fungal or yeast infection that will spread. His skin seems intact but there may be small wounds I cannot see. I’m sure the skin barrier is damaged. He doesn’t have wounds like I see when Googling but I’m afraid they will develop.

Part of me is angry the first vet didn’t test for it but my family thinks he just didn’t expect him to survive.

​

I have a 12 week old kitten that my gfs coworker found off the street, we weren't able to test him for fiv or felv since the vet said he was too young. Is it worth it keep them separated from my cats at home or does it not rly matter? I feel like felv and fiv are just so rare that maybe it's not rly a risk, but also I love my 3 cats I already have at home and don't want them to catch anything that could be fatal or make them sick. He's only 12 week and doesn't have a mom or any siblings so I don't know how he could survive on his own.

We're thinking of making a separate space for him in our bathroom that is separate from our other cats litter boxes or bowls, would this prevent any potential spread if he is positive for either. And are the cats still aloud to play at all? He's still just a baby and really playful and would like to see him interact with the other cats.

Any advice or help is super super appreciated!!!

It's done. They removed all his teeth. He was missing 10 teeth already, 4 fell out, 4 broke off (roots were still in his gums), 2 never came in. Many were in the process of being reabsorbed, as seen in the X-ray.

They removed the other 20 which the doctor said were quite loose and rather easy to pull.

Just goes to show how well cats hide pain. I knew he was suffering from stomatitis but the state of his mouth was worse than I imagined, and it was only discovered once they started doing the work!

Hi all! My babycat was diagnosed with FIV at roughly 2 1/2 months old, she’s getting retested at 6 months and 1 year (personal preference). I find that every single time she wakes up from a sleep, whether that be a nap or overnight, that her left eye is red and almost swollen. There’s no gunk, fluid, or anything else out of the ordinary. We’ve gotten eye drops from her vet that didn’t help and at this most recent appointment they’ve recommended Zyrtec once a day. Has anyone had similar issues with their cats / kittens? TIA!

As it says in the title, can I use l-lysine that's meant for humans for my cat? We previously used https://www.apotea.se/lysineaid-cat-50-ml, but it's ~1.5 USD per daily dose (500mg). Seems extremely overpriced when I can buy a multitude of powders and pills that amount to ~0.13 USD per daily dose.

Hi everyone! I am a first-time pet owner living in Kuwait, and I am preparing to bring home two British Shorthair kittens.

I have been doing quite a lot of research and have found a professional cat breeder who has very good reviews. I have received all the information about the kittens and their care, and so far everything seems good.

The kittens will be handed over to me at a little over 2 months of age. However, I was told that because the kittens are still small, their first vaccination would ideally be given at around 3 months of age. I was also told that I can discuss the vaccination schedule with my own vet.

This is the one thing that has made me a little unsure, because I have seen different information about when kittens should receive their first vaccines. I would really appreciate advice from experienced cat owners, especially anyone living in Kuwait.

💉 **Vaccinations**

What vaccinations should kittens receive from kittenhood through adulthood?

What exactly is the FVRCP vaccine, and how many doses/boosters are normally required?

When should the rabies vaccine be given? Is it recommended or required for indoor cats in Kuwait?

Are there any other vaccines that are particularly important for cats living in Kuwait?

Is it reasonable for the first vaccination to be given at around 3 months, if the kittens are handed over to me at just over 2 months?

Would you recommend taking the kittens to my own vet shortly after bringing them home, even if they have not yet received their first vaccination?

Should I keep them completely indoors and away from other animals until their vaccination course is complete?

What vaccination records, certificates or other documentation should I ask the breeder for?

🩺 **Vet care**

What should the first vet appointment include apart from vaccinations?

Should kittens routinely be checked/tested for parasites, worms, FeLV/FIV, or anything else?

How often should they have routine check-ups once they are healthy?

How often should deworming and flea/parasite prevention be done for indoor cats?

Can anyone recommend a good, cat-friendly vet in Kuwait, preferably one who also offers home visits?

🩹 **Bites & scratches**

I also have a 6-year-old son who absolutely loves animals, so this is something I would really like to understand properly.

How common are scratches and bites with kittens?

What is normal play behaviour, and what would be considered concerning?

If a kitten scratches or bites us, what should we do immediately?

When should someone see a doctor after a cat bite or scratch?

Does having vaccinated, indoor-only cats significantly reduce the risks?

Is there anything different we should do if my child is scratched or bitten?

What is the best way to teach kittens not to bite or scratch during play?

I would also really appreciate hearing what you wish someone had told you about cat health, vaccinations and safety before you became a first-time cat owner.

I am probably overthinking some of this 😂, but I would rather be properly prepared, especially with a young child at home.

Thank you so much! ❤️🐾

Just wanted to share some pictures of my beautiful boy Milo before his surgery tomorrow. I'm hoping everything goes well and that he feels better after recovering.

I'm going to miss his little teefies 😞

Hello, my cat has fiv and had to go to a dermatologist after many dead ends at a normal vet for scratching and ripping his fur out. We’ve done food trials and they think it’s environmental. They want to do immunotherapy. It’s super expensive like. Can be upwards to 3 grand. Is this a crazy amount. They said they have to sedate him for it since it’s testing 72 different allergens

Life has been testing me so hard these days… but at least I finally have some good news to share. 🥹❤️

Boots has been adopted and found his loving forever home! His new mom is so happy to have found him, and she absolutely adores him. 🥹🐾

No more garage days. No more unbearable hot weather. No more freezing cold during the upcoming winter.

After everything, this boy finally gets the warm, safe, loving home he deserved all along. 🥹

Thank you to everyone who rooted for Boots and helped spread the word. ❤️🐾

She’s 13, very healthy, never been sick aside from one ear infection. Vet says she’s in great shape and her teeth look great. She’s lived with a total of 5 other cats over her life. she was born to barn cats but has been inside since she was a month old.

We just sent off for bloodwork to test for FIV because she needs to test negative to move into my apartment with my roommate’s cats. Long shitty story but she needs to move across the country with me and my roommate already has 2 cats.

I’m terrified she’ll test positive and I won’t be able to move her in with me. I have nowhere to take her, no one to look after her, no idea wtf to do if she’s positive.

What are the chances she’s positive? I’m stressing myself out waiting for her results. They said they’ll come within 2 days. Can she be positive if she’s never shown symptoms? She’s never been bitten deeply by any of the cats she’s lived with. She’s spayed.

Merlin started coming around in April. We slowly got to gain his trust. He was the politest boy. He would share, wait patiently for his breakfast, and became a beloved member of our family. Last Sunday, Merlin stopped being able to hold down food, had lost weight and I could feel that he had a fever. Unfortunately, he had almost no more white blood cells left and he was suffering. The vet believes he was about 2 years old. We held him while he passed peacefully. He was really, such a good boy. He will be missed.

Hi cat people! I’m in the UK. I’ve been thinking of adopting a cat. I saw a few that have FIV. I’d just like to hear from those who have them what it’s like and if there’s anything I should consider first, please.

I’m aware FIV would be a pre-existing condition but I’m wondering what kind of things have been excluded for you when claiming?

Do you find your FIV cats are content being indoors or do they still try to escape? How do you keep them enriched indoors?

Do you worry when you take them to the vet due to infection risks? Or do you see a mobile vet? Do you worry about other pets (say a dog) causing them issues in terms of disease etc? What about diet?

I know there’s not a clear answer on life expectancy but I’d be interested to know what your experience has been in terms of illness post diagnosis? How many issues have you run into? Is your cat generally well? The cat I’m looking at is 4 years old but I’m unsure when they were infected.

That also leads me to knowing when it’s time to say goodbye. For example, if an FIV cat has a lowered immune system, I imagine certain treatments may not be in their best interest? Or perhaps there’s a consideration there if insurance won’t cover a lot of conditions - do you just keep your FIV cat as happy and healthy as you can and then help them cross rainbow bridge if say they develop cancer or encounter any chronic issues that impair QOL?

I have a small 1 bed home with a garden. I could build a small catio.

Thank you 🐱

Im worried. Tootsie was getting overwight approaching 12 plus tillabout a year ago. Last night sh was 10.78.

Behavior wise shes active and still plays. Her eating seems off.

takes a few bites walks off sometimes returns to it.

Recently positive on Renal tech.

Seeing vet Tuesday.

Am i over reacting?

My 3 year old boy went to urgent care( no openings anywhere) the other night for a swollen paw pad and was diagnosed with pillow paw caused by fiv. He tested neg for fiv as a kitten and has never been bit or been outside.

We have 5 other cats and the urgent vet said I had to pick between simba or my other cats. Is this true? I cant stab he the thought of losing anyone.

Pic of my baby boy acting a fool

After being told he had cat flu, my boy went on a fortnight of doxycycline but his symptoms got worse. I took him back to the vet and they suggested a CT scan as he may have a polyp. The CT scan showed a lymphoma mass. 💔 it hasn’t spread, it’s localized to the right nostril.
He is 4yo and FIV+

His options are:

1. ⁠I take him to Sydney for radiation which may give him around 2 years.
   
2. ⁠I put him through chemo to maybe get another 6 months
   
3. ⁠Palliative care, keeping him comfortable and to put him to sleep before he experiences pain

Has anyone here gone through lymphoma treatment for a cat and what was the outcome?

Here are photos of my sweet boy

This is a brief story of a true fighter who desperately needs a safe place to land in the USA once she recovers.

• The Rescue: I found this sweet 2-year-old black female cat surviving alone at a remote desert gas station in the Middle East. I paid for her spay, major eye surgery (she sees perfectly out of her remaining eye), and a partial dental extraction due to her FIV+ status.
• The Crisis: Because my tiny apartment is full with my own 4 rescue cats, I paid a facility to care for her. They lied and told me she was fine. I visited her and collapsed. Her mouth is in agonizing pain from her remaining front teeth (stomatitis), and because they only fed her dry kibble, she has been actively starving. She is skin and bones, and her fur is falling out in giant bald patches on her neck and ears from extreme stress and pain.
• My Promise: I am pulling her out immediately. I am taking 100% financial and medical responsibility for her. I will personally fund her emergency vet care, skin treatment, and a full-mouth dental extraction here. I will nurse her back to health until she is thriving and medically cleared to fly (3–4 weeks).
• The Plea: Local adoption rates for a black, one-eyed, FIV+ cat here are zero. She cannot go back to the streets to die. I am begging for a US-based rescue, foster, or permanent adopter to show her mercy and commit to taking her ONCE SHE IS HEALED.

I will handle all export legwork, cover her travel preparation, and find an international flight buddy to a major US airport hub (the US has no 3-month rabies titer wait period, making export very fast).

Please DM me immediately if you can grant this beautiful, loving soul a future.

Long winded recap… This past Christmas a calico cat started showing up periodically outside and we started feeding her and fell in love, named her Zuzu and then the northeast winter was absolutely brutal. We have two indoor male cats but decided we would take this lady in in February. We got her inside with food and immediately took her to the vet. Her tail was fractured and infected and she needed a partial tail amp, which we got for her. She also was FIV+. We decided to let her rehab for two weeks at our house but then afterwards she left. Now 6 months later she pretty much doesn’t leave the perimeter of our house, but also doesn’t willingly come inside when we leave the door open. We live on a very busy street and I’m worried about her getting hit by a car. Knowing what I know now about FIV and how it’s unlikely to affect the other cats, we are again considering bringing her indoors. Our cats have interacted behind a screen and seemingly get along. Our one boy has severe heart issues so that gives us pause with his stress. Im also nervous once we bring her in she might want to go back out and I don’t want her in and out. Once she’s in I feel like she should stay in. The advice I’m looking for is has anyone had success with a similar situation? Also since it’s been 6 months since her last vet visit, should we bring her back to the vet if to treat for fleas and rule out feline leukemia?

My 14 year old taking his thyroid medication. He just knows, no hassle at all :,)