Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: symptoms, prevention & care

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) belongs to the genus Lentivirus of the family Retroviridae. Cats infected will suffer from Feline Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, commonly known as Feline AIDS (FAIDS). Although it is called feline AIDS, unlike human AIDS, feline AIDS is not transmitted through sexual intercourse. It is mainly transmitted through wounds during fights and virus-containing saliva. Another difference is that the mortality rate of cats infected with FIV is not as high as that of human AIDS. Usually, even if they are sick, they can still live to a normal life span without the use of drugs. There is a vaccine against this virus. Cat owners must pay attention to whether cats are infected with FIV. If infected cats fight with uninfected and unvaccinated cats, they must be isolated. When families with cats pick up stray cats, they must isolate and quarantine the domestic cats and stray cats first, and then contact them only after confirming that there are no infectious diseases such as FIV. The FIV virus does not infect the human body, but the name "feline AIDS" can easily cause ignorant people to abandon cats. This virus only affects felines, including cats, tigers, jaguars, leopards, lions, etc. However, unlike domestic cats, other felines do not develop symptoms when infected.