fiv + cat

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jessica. My 6 year old cat was diagnosed as fiv + about 6 months ago. She has been eating a lot more than usual and has been very needy. I was wondering if this is normal for an fiv + cat. I was also wondering what needs to be done for her to keep her healthy and happy as long as i can. Thanks so much! :)

ANSWER: Hi Beth,

This is not behavior that is typical of FIV alone. Sometimes it's seen in cancer patients, cats with chronic, severe diarrhea, or early stage renal failure patients, which can all be more common in FIV+ cats than in negative ones. But it can be a sign of other conditions like diabetes, hyperthyroidism or even a severe case of parasitic worms. I recommend that you get her in for another check up. A full blood panel will probably be necessary.

In order to keep her healthy, the best thing you can do, in my opinion, is to feed her a reasonably healthy diet. It doesn't have to be a super premium diet, but if you can feed her mostly canned food, this is great. Or if you prefer dry, I highly recommend a grain-free diet. Try to encourage exercise. For now, stay away from additional vitamins, unless she becomes deficient in some way (anemic or experiences chronic diarrhea, for instance). Immune boosters like Immuno-DMG or Viralys can always be helpful, however.

Best of luck!
Jessica

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks! the problem i have with getting her different food is that i have another cat who lives outside instead of inside. i was wondering if i could change his food to the same thing as hers so it wont be too costly. Also how can u encourage excersize in a cat who lives inside with a fairly large dog? thanks again!

Answer
I would feed both cats the same thing. The grain-free food isn't actually a "special" food. It's more like what most cats should eat as a general rule. In their natural habitat, cats don't eat grains. In fact, the only vegetable matter they really get is the predigested stuff that's in the stomach of their prey, and the occasional blade of grass or catnip leaf. Grains were initially added to dry cat food to help the kibble keep its shape, not really for much nutritional purpose. We have discovered over years of use of dry cat food that at worst, grains can cause digestive disturbances and allergies, because they are not part of a cat's natural diet. Over time, this can weigh on a cat's immune system, especially if they're already immune compromised. In better cases, grain-fed cats tend to be carb "addicts" that are always hungry, and very often overweight. Cats fed a diet free of grains are receiving foods more like nature intended. They receive more protein and fewer carbs (cats operate optimally on a nearly 100% protein diet). The digestive tract doesn't need to work so hard to digest their food. Energy can go to other systems of the body, like the immune system. While no diet suits every cat, grain-free is a great way to feed most every cat, and many pet owners are starting to switch to grain-free. However, you will probably need to purchase the food at a pet store. I feed my cats Earthborn Holistic food and also like Taste of the Wild. There are lots of grain-free foods. These are the least expensive that I've found. Whichever you choose, make any changes slowly to avoid stomach upset.

To keep kitty active, I recommend interactive toys like Da Bird (search online), or feather wands and ribbons, etc. My cats also like the Turbo Scratcher, but I need to start the ball rolling. Definitely pick up some good catnip. There's lousy stuff and good stuff. Cosmic Catnip is a good brand. Most cats respond to catnip with increased activity. To avoid her becoming too used to it, used it only a few times a week.

If the dog becomes excitable when the cat plays, see if you can put the dog in a bedroom or outside during playtime. A good 15 minutes of play twice a day is really all that's needed for an adult cat to stay healthy.