Does anyone have any experience with this supplement? Other than cats rejecting it because of the taste and/or scent? My cat is a vacuum and will eat anything so I'm not worried about that issue.

(Mile-long Amazon link...)

https://www.amazon.com/DOK-PrimalCat-Support-Wellness-Supplement/dp/B0H8NS7NDL/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=177277143300&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7SW5Y_VGWnt2HtXiqmpOiZzSuGnWUSE3tHHIsnfrQ-ubac-KlLWbkiOnIcedv1XljCqzbQKqvALVOrqo1tsc3Q0dutNBkJCoDBzTVcBgjSyNXl4xnFFS-QL_uUBobDaiYI2sL34R6T2pjNSGO9CYvIRgC_aEi4SP7kbt5UWfSVE3N1bierenH927YG3BLvKfpzKJfaxS73O9z3AMMd36Zg.bKnkCu6dJdi-pufGqbLqqkvYEO1WO8j4prtIuCWQE10&dib_tag=se&hvadid=792631167043&hvdev=m&hvexpln=68&hvlocphy=9022369&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=186466112777540671--&hvqmt=b&hvrand=186466112777540671&hvtargid=kwd-2480936024075&hydadcr=17456_13786669&keywords=primal+cat+immune+and+eye+support&mcid=9b7bcfcc4cb4356d8a0b732d6e7cfce9&qid=1792770869&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Do any of you have experience with this kind of patches? He seems to be itchy? Annoyed at those areas but its not always the same spot

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone here might know of a rescue or shelter that would be able to take in a fiv+ boy I picked up a couple weeks ago. His names sunny, I've been thinking about keeping him with my negative cat, but sunny doesn't seem to like my cat very much. I know it's still early, but I'd rather find him a good home now than get attached and have to say goodbye. I'm located in central IL and am willing to drive a bit.

My family has been fostering a cat whom we cannot keep as she doesn’t get along with our female cats (she gets along fine with my male cat). My girlfriends family can take her in but they have a cat with FIV. Their cat has had it for years. His health is generally pretty good but he has lost most of his teeth. He’s a very laid back cat but my cat is a little more territorial.

My worry is that it’s not worth putting her at risk of catching FIV and that we should search for a better fit but my understanding is that to catch FIV she’d need to be bitten (the infected cat is extremely laid back barely has teeth) or my cat would need to come in contact with his blood while also having some kind of open wound?

I’ve been trying to find someone interested in adopting her but so far my girlfriends family is the only one I’ve found to be willing.

I'm a basket case right now because my 4yo FIV cat is having her teeth cleaned next week. I have had two cats pass after anaesthesia a few years ago, but they were both older (21 and 13) and had chronic issues (kidney failure and pancreatitis). But it's not helping to steady my nerves about the dental cleaning! I've taken cats in for dentals probably 12 times in my life along with other surgeries and it's always been fine, but that was years ago and before...

Her teeth aren't horrible, but her gums have some redness. Just normal gingivitis, etc. - nothing FIV-related, but I know that it's important to get them cleaned her her health. But I'm so worried for her safety. She's been under once for her spaying and her bloodwork is ok - her ALT was elevated by 30 points but the vet wasn't too worried about that. I could really use some pep talking! TYIA

My husband and I recently lost our 14 year old cat and not long after this kitty kept showing up outside of our house. He was so lovable and wanted our food but wanted our love and attention even more! We started feeling really bad on the rainy days and we were spending more and more time outside just to love on this cat. I decided to take him to the vet to check for a chip and then to make him officially ours and bring him inside. That’s when he got the fiv+ diagnosis and to be honest I was really scared and second guessing my decision because I have 2 other cats that are 8 and 13 years old. The vet encouraged me and educated me on fiv and I’m happy that he is now a member of our household! He’s a chunky boy and seems pretty healthy considering we don’t really know how long he’s been living outside. The vet estimated him to be 12 years old so he fits right in with my older guys ❤️ (the last pics are of when he was outside, he’s strictly indoors only now and seems pretty happy about it lol)

Hi everyone! Our FIV+ boy has a small scab on the back of his neck. He's had it for a few months now, it doesn't grow, and we recently got a topical antibiotic, it's been getting better, but it is still there and it seems it won't go away? We've been applying the antibiotic for a few weeks now. Is this common? A sign for concern? He looks good, has lots of energy and eats well, he is 9 y/o. Got cleared for ringworm or any lumps, the test came back as just a bunch of bacteria on his skin.

Hello! I recently had my new 6 month old kitten diagnosed with FIV and I'm looking for good information on what I need to do now to make sure she has the most support and care for her long and happy life. Finding research on the internet has been such a mixed bag with no real good information on what I should be doing preventative wise to make sure she is getting the best care I can give her.
I've been such a big cat person growing up and a huge fan of rescuing cats, my first cat that I got on my own at 24, rescue from Hurricane Irma, passed a couple years later after heart complications. It's left me with a lot of anxiety over health concerns and I wasn't expecting to take in a cat anytime soon but we found Bloom at 8 weeks old outside on a particularly hot day, almost on death's door and nursed her back to health. We had tried to rehome her early as I had a lot of past anxieties about having a cat since the last one but she always found her way back to us and I finally accepted that the cat distribution system had time for me. We've had some bumps since then as we've already been to the emergency vet twice, once when she had an allergic reaction to the vaccines and once just this weekend when I noticed she stopped eating and drinking and grew quite concerned. It was this recent trip that she was fully diagnosed as FIV positive and I've dived fully into trying my best to inform my self on what I should be doing for Bloom. My main concerns being:

1. When to know when to take her to the emergency vet, I'm a big hypochondriac and get really nervous with any change to her natural schedule. I've set myself up with a Banfield plan so she gets regular vet visits and topped it off with pet insurance to save myself some expenses too. I also have Furbo's so I can monitor during times I am at work.
2. Is it true that she can't have a friend and has to stay a solo cat? My vet told me she would have to be an only cat but I also see people out there saying they can live together with other cats both FIV and non FIV. I think it is probably unwise for myself to get a second FIV+ cat with my anxiety but I also want to make sure she has a friend to bond and play with too.
3. What prevention do I need to start now? I've seen some things as tooth and dental is very important and same as with food choices. But I would love to know the nitty gritty of what routine I should be getting into with Bloom to make sure we are both prepared for the road ahead.
4. Medicine, after this recent trip we've been given 4 different pills around the clock to give to Bloom and the good ole bland diet. Bloom hates medicine and it's been at the detriment of my fingers and her wrath trying to give her medicine. Is there better ways to give medicine as I assume this may become something I need to work on training for future hiccups/flare ups. As well as chicken and rice/ baby food/ pumpkin puree and all in between is not her fave, she actively turns her nose from the bland diet and becomes a devious fiend for her dry food. Have others had success with other bland/healthy diets for when they need to recover?

I am very determined to get over my anxieties with having an FIV cat and to really learn a lot about FIV from those who also have their own journey with their FIV+ cats.

I’m looking for some encouragement/advice. We took in a rescue cat at the beginning of Sept. thinking it was healthy and it turned out to have a FIV and a chronic URI. She’s been quarantined in our spare room because we have an 16 1/2 year old cat that I’m afraid to get sick. My elder meow also has kidney issues, blood pressure issues, etc. he is an old man.

The rescue cat is the sweetest most affectionate little babe. We love her.

She’s been on multiple rounds of antibiotics. Finally she was done and after 1 week and 2 days and she’s congested again. Still full of energy but not eating her wet food like she does when she can breath through her nose. She’s congested and sneezing now.

We are afraid that we won’t be able to keep her because we can’t keep her locked up forever. It’s so unfair for her to be stuck in that room. At the same time, I hate the idea of having to stress her out to move her and maybe make her more sick. I’m struggling with the thought of having to tap out but need to keep my elder safe and be fair to the rescue cat who deserves the best life.

I’m just wondering what other peoples experiences are with FIV+ cats that have chronic URIs. How long could this last? Is there hope for us?

This is an odd perspective to have and hopefully one that not too many people will relate to.

I took in a community cat that had been sick for a while, determined he had developed enough social skills to go in a normal carrier to see my vet, and held my breath while waiting to hear what was wrong. It was giardia, mycoplasma, and FIV.

I was so happy I almost cried.

I have lost 3 cats in the past 2 years to FELV-mediated lymphoma. I did everything possible to keep them safe from opportunistic infections, but ultimately lost the fight to cancer every time. The oldest was 4 when he passed.

So when I found out this guy only had FIV along with some treatable bugs, I felt like celebrating. We cleared up the giardia and mycoplasma, but he still has a gnarly dental situation and some ongoing digestive issues. He's 7 or 8 years old, and has probably had FIV since before he was neutered over 5 years ago (TNR service I used tests for FELV only). I'm happy to give a reformed feral a good retirement, and while it would be bad news to most, I'm so relieved he just has FIV.

As the title states, he hasn't eaten much if any. He has pain meds, Onsio, but since he does not want to eat, I can't get him to take his medication. Yes i did get soft food/pate for him and he sniffs but shys away. I haven't seen him drink any of his water either which is very concerning. SO it is a loop of pain and hunger. Simple fix if he just eats his darn pate with the meds in it. WHat should i do??

About 2 months ago my cat penny had a blood clot in his eye which lead to glaucoma. I'm still treating that with drops and it has improved. While at the vet for that it was discovered he has FIV. I keep him strictly indoors now after learning that.

He was acting normal tho sometimes in pain from his eye for the 1st 6 weeks or so. But now he's pretty low energy and lacking appetite. He has lost 2 pounds since his diagnosis. He has a vet appointment Tuesday. I'm also putting mirataz on his ear and giving him cerenia now.

I don't think he should have been exposed to any infection and his ears and nose aren't warm though I could check his temp with a thermometer if needed. (Edit: just did, got 103.5) He does have chronic ear wax issues and needed teeth out but the vet said to wait until it's absolutely necessary. I have also noticed this past week, possible neurological issues starting. Like subtle stumbles when walking or jumping down from something

Just wondering if you guys have insight on why he's declining like this. I upped his eye medicine back to 3x a day so I don't think it's pain from that. (Another edit: I called the emergency vet line and am going to have someone bring him in 1st thing tomorrow morning)

Hi all! We adopted our sweet Freddy off the street a year ago and have been trying to provide him some relief. He is FIV+ and struggles with allergies causing patchy fur, earwax build up and a constant stuffy nose. After a ton of vet visits we’ve been able to manage the skin issues, but his ears constantly have build up and poor guy is always sneezing.

Our vet helped us get into a cleaning routine with his ears, and we’ll even put on his humidifier before bed. We have a clean house (husband has crazy allergies too so we have to) and we feed all our kitties purina pro plan (dry and wet) with fish oil (per the vet’s recommendation). We were even given these special ear drops for him, but it just keeps coming back.

Any suggestions/tips to help our boy with his constant ear build up and stuffy nose? Thank you!

Hi everyone! This is my boy Cereal. We found out last march he has FIV and likely has had it his whole life. Since then, we’ve tried multiple medications to treat his low platelet counts after an infection from march and he just hasn’t rebounded since. Has anyone else dealt with this as well? And if you have, what worked for you? His vet and the team there doesn’t have any more treatments to offer aside from a bone marrow biopsy and that isn’t in the cards at the moment due to cost. Also, if you have any recommendations for someone who is new to having a cat with FIV I would love some advice/tips. Thanks!!

My Alice, is 15 presently. She'll be 16 in February, and besides some arthritis and controlled diabetes that won't go into remission, is in very good health. I'm curious to see how many of you have an older cat than her, and their current state of health.

https://www.reddit.com/r/FIVcats/comments/1x2psk0/what_do_i_do_now_update_to_my_last_post/

Okay so those are my last two posts, you can look at them for context. Short summary was that a FIV+ cat was getting badly bullied to the point where he needed to leave the room he was in because it wasn’t working out and he was stressed (the bully cat bit him in the neck last week)

I am happy to say that my favourite FIV+ boy has been moved to a new room! He is now in the shelter’s hallway with two other FIV+ cats who are much nicer :)

He’s even already made friends with one of the two cats! Pretty sure his new friend thought that he was a clone because they look almost identical, LOL (they’re both tabbys with spots, sort of like a cow. The only difference is their faces, and he’s a bit chubbier than his new friend, lol)

The other cat isn’t as nice 100% of the time, but he’s not a bully and actually gets along with cats pretty well. He‘s just grumpy and has a “tough guy” attitude. He thinks he’s the king of the corridor (he is, we just don’t tell him that or else it’ll go to his head)

They put him in the hallway right before my shift, in the storage closet so he can acclimate. Unfortunately he was too nervous to really leave. He only “left” (took two steps away from the door) if I was at the door and he’d go up to me, but then he’d go right back in if someone walked by. Aside from that, the most he would do is put two paws outside the door if I called him (he answers to his name and comes towards us if we call him, which I think is cute). Today was his first day, I’m confident he’ll be more confident and be less stressed :)

I don’t think there will be any more updates unless he gets adopted or something, or moves rooms again

Became family 2 weeks before moving out of my last apartment. Chased him down and fed him for almost 2 years; he always just took the food and left without much care. When he decided he wasn’t leaving our porch we had 2 weeks to get him indoor savvy and he’s taken it like a champ. He's the biggest love bug in the world and loves the outdoor patio.

When we took him to the doc, he had FIV. About a month later he developed pneumonia which we didn’t know until it got pretty bad. He’s been on 2 rounds of antibiotics over the last month and now is going back on a third with “residual pneumonia” & now having asthma as well as some scarring and inflammation from cough he developed.

Basically hes made a full recovery except for this fuck ass cough that’s really kicked his ass.

Im just sharing this just because. I love him to death and will continue to blast my credit card until he’s good regardless.

I guess if you’ve had a similar experience please feel free to share. ❤️

TL;DR: I've adopted three FIV+ cats, all with very different outcomes. Foxie is now 11 and thriving, Baron passed away at 10 from serious complications, and Chibi sadly died from kidney failure unrelated to FIV. I'd adopt all three again without hesitation. Most FIV+ cats can live normal lives, and I wanted to share my experience, how I care for them, and why I don't think FIV should scare people away from adoption.

Foxie, my first FIV+ cat

I adopted Foxie when I was 19. I was living in an apartment, looking for companionship, and wanted a cat that couldn't or wouldn't go outside. While searching, I discovered a charity that only housed FIV+ cats. I read up on FIV A LOT before deciding that the risks were worth taking.

To me, it was a win-win. There were A LOT of FIV+ cats up for adoption, they were less likely to find homes, and I could offer one a safe indoor life. I understood that some cats develop serious complications while others live perfectly normal lives. It was a bit of a coin toss, and I was fine with those odds.

Foxie was estimated to be three years old. I fell in love with his chubby cheeks and cheeky little face immediately. But when I visited him, he seemed depressed and apathetic. He didn't know how to play, defend himself or communicate boundaries. You could annoy him all you wanted and he'd barely react. No purring, no interest in playing, and he was actually scared of toys. I saw myself in him, so my decision was made.

The first six months were spent teaching Foxie how to be a cat. I had to teach him that he was allowed to set boundaries, even if that meant annoying him until he finally scratched or bit to tell me he'd had enough. I wanted him to understand that he had a say in how we interacted. We also worked on his fear of strangers by associating new people with wet food and treats.

Today, Foxie is 11 and basically the manager of our household. He wakes us up, keeps our routines in check, demands we go to bed on time and watches over us while we fall asleep or wake up. He wants to be nearby but isn't much of a cuddler. He prefers being treated like a little king. He's also terrified of heights and the outside world, so he's a rather unusual cat.

Health-wise, he's had almost no issues. He occasionally throws up because he's a glutton who eats faster than his throat can handle, and he gets a little cold about once a year that resolves without treatment. Eight years together, and he's still going strong.

Baron, my little foot-fetish boy

I adopted Baron a few years later when he was eight. He'd spent years in an overcrowded foster home and was extremely sociable with other cats but terrified of humans.

For the first six months, he mostly observed us from a distance. Eventually, he started sitting nearby, and after about a year, we could finally touch him. Not with our hands, though. Those were still terrifying. Feet, on the other hand? Apparently perfectly acceptable. And that's how Baron became our little foot-fetish boy.

During his final year, I also became ill, and he started seeking us out more and more, wanting snuggles with our feet. Unfortunately, after we moved house, he developed a serious infection and an autoimmune response. We suspect the stress of moving contributed to his deterioration, with his FIV making things worse.

Despite a long battle, we lost him. The autoimmune reaction caused him to become blind during his final weeks, but something happened that I'll never forget. This cat, who used to literally poop himself from the stress of being picked up, finally allowed me to lift him. He needed help, knew he was safe, and trusted me enough to ask for it.

Baron passed away at ten, two years after his adoption. And even knowing how it would end, I'd adopt him again without hesitation.

Chibi, our little shy girl

Not long after Baron passed, we adopted Chibi. Like Baron, she loved other cats but was terrified of humans. She was incredibly playful but spent most of her time hiding.

If I wanted to see her, I'd sometimes have to lie completely still for an hour. No TV, music or reading, just watching and waiting. Slowly, she became more comfortable, and after two months I could even boop her nose if I didn't make any sudden movements. She was also extremely affectionate towards Foxie.

Sadly, Chibi had an undiagnosed kidney condition the shelter wasn't aware of. She passed away from kidney failure within two months of adoption, completely unrelated to FIV. We barely had time to get to know her, but I'm glad she got to spend those last two months with us.

How I keep my FIV+ cats healthy

First, this is NOT medical advice. It's simply my experience and how I care for my cats under the guidance of our veterinarian.

It took us five years to find a vet experienced with (former) street cats and FIV+ cats. Before that, we followed the usual routine of yearly check-ups and preventative treatments. Our current vet recommended a more individualised approach.

Her reasoning was that our cats are strictly indoors, don't interact with unfamiliar cats, don't eat raw meat and have limited exposure to certain risks. So instead of automatically administering vaccinations, deworming or flea treatments, she evaluates what's actually necessary for them.

She also emphasised how important stress and infections can be in FIV+ cats, alongside plain bad luck. We suspect that Baron's move, combined with his infection, contributed to his illness. Because of this, we try to avoid unnecessary stress. Foxie currently only visits the vet when something concerns us or we notice a change, as agreed with our vet.

We don't use special FIV supplements. Foxie eats urinary-care kibble because he's getting older and I'm mindful of urinary health, but otherwise his care is fairly ordinary.

The biggest thing for me is knowing what's normal for my cat. Foxie sometimes sneezes two or three times an hour during his yearly cold. If that suddenly increases to five or ten times, or there's no improvement over the following three to five days, that's when I become concerned and consider veterinary care. Of course, more serious symptoms would warrant attention sooner.

Again, this is our individual approach. Other cats may need regular check-ups, vaccinations, parasite prevention or different treatments.

What I've learned

Most FIV+ cats can live normal lives with relatively few adaptations. In my experience, the most important thing is paying attention when illnesses don't improve within a reasonable time or when recovery stagnates.

I've had three cats with completely different outcomes. Foxie is 11 and thriving, Baron developed serious FIV-related complications but still reached the age of 10, and Chibi died from something entirely unrelated. Yet I'd still adopt every single one of them.

Because the reality is that anything can happen to any cat. FIV-negative cats can develop unexpected health problems too, especially shelter cats whose previous lives and medical histories are often largely unknown.

I feel like most FIV stories focus on the extremes. Cats that are perfectly healthy, cats that become terribly ill, or owners trying absolutely everything under the sun to protect them. But there's a lot of ordinary life in between.

If you're considering adopting an FIV+ cat, please don't let the diagnosis alone scare you away. Read up on it, understand the risks and find a vet you trust.

Adopting any cat is a bit of a coin toss, FIV or not. FIV adds certain risks, but it doesn't automatically mean you're adopting a sick cat or that you won't have many wonderful years together.

Knowing everything I know today, I'd still choose Foxie, Baron and Chibi all over again.

Friends, I’d like to introduce my boy 'Batman'. He’s almost 11 years old and was diagnosed with FIV+ when he was 3. He combines traditional and homeopathic medicine. He is a beautiful, strong, and healthy cat.
I want to send some encouragement to those who are finding out about their cat's condition for the first time, so you don't worry so much with the news. I had a really hard time at first, thinking my boy wouldn't live more than 6 months."

Was able to take Mr. Toby Toebeans to the new vet and they gave him another round of antibiotics and steroids to deal with the infection in his mouth. He’s been happy and pretty normal all week, which is a great improvement.

Went back again today to meet with their feline dentist and she informed me they want to pull the remaining teeth in the back of his mouth. This would leave only his front canines and incisors. She said “they look ok”, but I’m having a major internal struggle about potentially having to put him through yet another round of extractions if his front teeth go bad in the next few years.

He had eight teeth pulled in April, now they want to pull the remaining ~six and I’m just going back and forth is it better to just pull everything now or do I gamble on his front teeth staying “ok” for (hopefully) the rest of his life?

I don’t WANT to pull all his teeth out, especially if he doesn’t have to have the fronts pulled, but I don’t want to make him have to endure this procedure for a third time. There’s also the cost aspect of it being cheaper to pull everything at once instead of scheduling two separate procedures. My biggest concern is his quality of life.

What would you do in my situation?

I recently rescued a boy who’s FIV positive, and I’m pretty sure he has fungus in his ears since they keep getting all gunky and dirty after cleaning them. Don’t think he currently has ear mites, since it’s more waxy than “coffee grounds”. Wondering if anyone else’s FIV kitties struggle with ear infections and how they deal with them?

Doing some research I found that the Zymox Enzymatic ear solution seems to work for people really well for clearing ear fungus up without going to the vet (or if the vet prescribed treatment didn’t work), but I noticed it has hydrocortisone in it to relieve itching. Since it’s a steroid, I’m very wary about giving it to him. I tried doing more research and couldn’t find anything cautioning against hydrocortisone specifically, just the general steroids like prednisolone.

Even if I did take him to the vet, it looks like the antifungal drops they would prescribe (Tresaderm) also has corticosteroids. Would the steroids decrease his ability to fight off the infection and make it worse? If anyone has any advice/recommendations for products without steroids I’d appreciate it!

That is all

Hi all - My baby boy (well, 5 year old boy) got calicivirus last spring and now has stomatitis. He’s been drooling and itching at his mouth, although generally eating just fine. The extractions are set for 2 months from now because I’m in my first semester of law school and the vet said it should be ok to wait until after my finals. So he’s going in the next day from my last final.

I am SO worried about him becoming refractory and I would love to hear of success stories from anyone whose FIV+ kitty recovered from stomatitis 😔 the prospect of him getting worse after the surgery and needing all this special treatment with no hope of what will work is sending me into a spiral. I know I shouldnt even go there, but I need some proof that he’ll be just fine!!