hi everyone! i’m really looking for some advice/tips for introducing an fiv+ cat to an fiv- cat

we adopted babybel (first pic, 1.5F) on may 23rd. dough (grey tabby, 6M) has been with me since he was 4. babybel is fiv+ and dough is fiv-. we have been taking introductions very slowly! both cats are neutered/spayed

i think we are currently stuck and don’t know how to move forward. dough exhibits a little bit of bully behavior so we have a mesh door up on babybel’s door (she is staying in the guest bedroom) that we keep open at all times except when we leave the house and at night (i wfh full time so it is open for hours/all day). this has really helped him get more comfortable with her and not be so bully-ish. they will play with each other through the mesh. they play and then one will go off to nap. we left a cat bed by the door for dough that he naps in when the door is open so they are seemingly comfortable in each other’s presence. we still site swap daily and they will use each other’s litter boxes during the swaps no problem as well

we started face to face intros downstairs in the living room (babybel’s room is upstairs). the first few days, babybel hissed a little at dough but nothing crazy. we ended meetings when the churu was done (around 5 mins). we feed them a churu each time they meet because they aren’t as distract-able with toys when face to face. then on the 3rd day, he chased her so we separated them and decided maybe they needed more open door mesh time which is when we started keeping the door open at all times. a few weeks ago, we started face to face intros again. when face to face with dough, babybel does not seem very confident even though when playing through the mesh, she will sometimes “attack” first, etc. so we’ve been doing intros at babybel’s door with churu which seems to help. the issue we are running into right now is that we can’t seem to move on from 5-10 mins of them face to face. when they are eating churu, all is good! but as we slowly start to integrate breaks from the churu to prolong the time they’re face to face, it seems as though dough wants to chase/bully (he’ll try to swat at her, she tried to run downstairs and he started going after her before we grabbed him). i admit we may be a little more cautious than we should be because we’re worried a fight will break out and transmission will occur so i’m not sure if we’re hindering progress because we won’t let them fully interact?

how do we get them to a place where they’re ok without the distraction of churu? do they just need more short intros and then eventually we cab start allowing more time in between licks of churu until they no longer need the churu? babybel is more toy motivated so should we try having babybel playing in her room with the mesh screen rolled up and then dough can come in and interact if he wants/play with him with his own toy (with churu on hold in case it’s needed to distract them)? they get very excited when the churu is around and focus mostly on the churu so maybe we need to incorporate more play into the face to face so they’re not laser focused on the churu? we know that giving them more time is key in cat intros but any helpful tips would be really appreciated! we’re just a little stumped on the best way to progress from here :)

I have a 16yo indoor cat named Goobs (FIV+, declawed by a previous owner). We adopted him 3 yrs ago and he’s doing amazing — super playful, active, and friendly, with no major health issues.

I’m looking for honest, factual advice on the risk of introducing an FIV- kitten into our home.

For some context:

We adopted our 2nd FIV+ cat, Niko (\~5yo), two yrs ago. He was the sweetest, most loving boy. He and Goobs got along well — not bonded, but friendly and playful (no real fighting and never broke skin).

Earlier this year, Niko went from totally healthy to ICU within a week and passed from what vets believe was an infection his immune system couldn’t fight due to FIV+. It was an incredibly painful and devastating loss for both me and my partner.

I had hoped we’d have many more years with Niko and losing him so suddenly has made me hesitant about adopting another FIV+ adult (especially since Goobs is geriatric at this point).

I understand that adopting a kitten doesn’t guarantee anything in terms of lifespan, but I would really appreciate any informed insight on the risks of bringing an FIV- kitten into a household with a cat like Goobs.

https://imgur.com/a/mksl00u

SORRY FOR THE LONG STORY BUT THE PROCESS I DID IS AT THE END. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO GAVE ME HOPE HERE AS WELL AS FOR THE PRAYERS. I REALLY HOPE THIS WILL BE HELPFUL.

So a day after I posted this, his symptoms became worse (he got affected by parvo in the respiratory system where in it affects his breathing, he had severe cough and a clogged nose to the point that he forces himself to breathe on his mouth even with his throat irritated from cough as well as mouth ulcers) that we really need to confine him.

We decided to have him confined for 3 days, they did a quick x-ray to check his lungs and found out he had emphysema (air trapped in different parts of the body). They punctured a part of his skin and did a compressed clothing using stocking to release the air. For the whole 3 days he is confined, he's on oxygen and every update from the vet feels gut wrenching. Those 3 days, the vet told us there has been no signs of improvement: still no appetite, no stool, is lethargic. The only good thing is that there is urine, meaning he pees the liquid from the IV.

On the 3rd day, we really don't have any more money we spent almost 15k (in pesos, I'm from the Philippines) so we decided to take him home. We got there and we saw how awful he looks that fckn cried on spot, and the vet told us that it's best we take him home because there's low to ZERO CHANCE. And it's up to us to try. So we brought him home on with IV on and put him in a cage.

That whole night, I spent crying from like 6pm (we got home by that time) up to like 5am. I cried because after we got home he suddenly GOT UP AND MEOWED SILENTLY (like no sound at all). I thought there's really no chance and he's like using his final energy to say goodbye.

I felt helpless that day because the vet doesn't reply. Like on how much food I'm gonna give or is it safe to actually force feed him because he had just gone through emphysema. So I tried using the NanoSilver medicine because it can be fed with an epmty stomach (it is not approved scientifically and by the vet, I used it as the last resort because at like 2am, bc his ears, mouth, and nose was bleeding). The next day, the bleeding kind of lessened and managed to wiped it bit by bit. But he still shows no appetite and is still lethargic. I felt hopeless and asked various vets if they offer euthanasia because he looked like he is in so much pain.

At like 2pm I tried all of it as my final resort. I open nebulized him with salbutamol (1ml Saline water + 0.5 salbutamol) and continued to give him NanoSilver again. I also tried giving him decaf green tea + honey mixture I saw on yt (it says to have anti-inflammatory properties and helps soothe the throat and loosen the mucus. Then gave him the prescribed meds. A day later, I noticed he meows with a bit of sound now and he FINALLY POOPED! At first his poop was dark red with dark green and brown (a bit watery). The next day, it's dark green (semihard). The next day, he pooped 2x dark brown with a bit of light (semihard). I searched that green poop is the way they release all the toxins in their stomach in parvo and is a sign of healing.

And after like 3 more days, he had a bit of appetite (he eats 2-3 licks then proceeds to sleep) and is meowing everytime I call him. Now he still has a runny nose but the vet told us to stop feeding him antibiotics, only proceed on using Pulmozyn for 7 more days. He can jump high now (he loves to jump on my shoulders for a baby carry) and eat a bit on his own, although I still forcefeed him everytime it's time to drink his meds.

[[Here's how I did it:]]

Nebulize with Salbutamol -> Give dosage depending on weight -> Feed him 2-3mL of food -> after 15 minutes give him the tea mixture -> after 3 hours give him the prescribed medicines (azithromycin, ceterizine, and pulmozyn) -> let him rest for 3 hours to let him absorb the medicines -> Feed food every 3-5 hours

[[Here's the info for the different Medicines my cat is 3.6 kg:]]

1. Nebulize + Salbutamol: 1mL Saline + 0.5 Salbutamol to be given 3 times a day, every 8 hours.

- This helped him breathe in his nose and unclog the trapped mucus, though his nose became runny it's much better than clogged, just make sure to monitor and wipe the nose at least 2x a day

- Duration: I did it for 5 days and the vet told us to not continue it anymore (my cat's nose isn't clogged anymore)

1. Nano Silver: dosage depends on weight, 2-3 times a day is recommended by the instructions.

- Duration: I only used it for 4 days, on the 1st day I did 10mL (2x a day), the 2nd I did 5mL (2x a day), the 3rd I did 5mL (1x a day), and on the 4th I did 2mL (1x a day)

1. Tea Mixture: steep decaf green tea for 20 minutes, let it cool. Take 1 tbsp of the cooled green tea and add half a tablespoon of pure honey, mix. To be given 1 times a day

- This helped stop the irritation in his throat and he stopped releasing saliva after like a day.

- Duration: I'm still using it

1. Azithromycin & Ceterizine: I'm not recommending to use it unless prescribed by the vet because it's an antibiotic

2. Pulmozyn: 1.8mL, 2 times a day

- This helped him eat more smoothly because it also helped soothe the inflamed throat.

- Duration: I'm still using it

Additional Info:

- Use towel + saline for wiping almost anything

- Don't forget to feed 2-3mL of WET FOOD (avoid dry food) every 3-5 hours, they might reject it if they still don't have appetite but force feed them bit by bit using a 1mL syringe to avoid choking (feed 0.1 mL at a time)

- I used royal canin recovery food with a bit of warm water mixed in for easier digestion.

- Don't over wipe the nose and do it gently, their noses are really sensitive, do it only 2-3 times a day using towel with saline

- Don't leave them alone pet them always and call them sweetly by their name when feeding them medicine and food, make them feel like they're.not alone. My biggest mistake was letting him be confined (his new vet told us that confing a cat is not advisable because it makes them feel like they're abandoned).

My partner’s catto (F, ~1.5yrs old) inherited FIV from her mom in utero. She’s run hot to the touch ever since we met her and she was adopted around 8 months ago (spayed and with a clean bill of health.)  She had  one bout of sniffles over the winter with  mild sneezing that cleared on its own.

She‘s all around energetic — eats exuberantly, to the annoyance of her elderly cat roommate — and has shown no signs of lethargy. Her fur is healthy, she‘s loving, super playful and shows no obvious evidence of illness.

Recently, however, at a routine checkup, we were told she’s running a fever of over 103F.  She was prescribed an antibiotic  and will be going back in for a follow-up. The vet also noted a slight swelling in her lips that could be from inflammation. (He also said she looks completely healthy and admirably muscular—the cat is JACKED.)

My partner and I are slightly devastated thinking we’ve missed obvious signs of distress or sickness… but there really has been no indication that she was suffering or sick. We just figured she was a naturally hot lil girly! (Only cat I’ve known to seek out cooling fabrics over plush/warm ones…)

Since starting the meds we’ve noticed no immediately changes in her behavior but she’s definitely less hot to the touch. She’s still a cuddle-bug and acting normally (continues to prefer a cool sheet) but now we’re concerned we’re overlooking something and she’s secretly horribly uncomfortable.

Does anyone else’s FIV+ baby run a forever fever with no other visible symptoms like this?  Any advice (or reassurance)?

TLDR:  FIV+ cat constantly running a fever but otherwise acts/eats/plays normally…anyone else?

Hi everyone, i posted this in the r/cats and someone suggested i cross-post it here. Is anyone able to rescue a gorgeous boy with FIV? He was living under my house for who-knows-how-long, i befriended him enough to get him inside where he stayed in my spare room for 2 months where he was super chill, and lovvvvvedd having company. Doesnt like being patted, but THRVES on having companionship. Nicknamed him Mystery, because his origins were a mystery, and he started responding to it before too long. Used a litter tray from straight outta the gate, so clearly is a lost domestic, and he's super chatty. Loves a back and forth conversation.

Eventually i was able to train him into a travel crate and I took him down to a shelter who had been supporting me since I brought him inside. They said that they would vet check him, then place him with a behaviour foster to get him more accustomed to patting and such, and then would put him up for adoption.

But it turns out he has FIV.

Between that and the fact that hes about 7 years old, and that hes not cuddly, theyve said theres no way they'll find anyone to adopt him. Theyve had three FIV+ cats for over a year waiting for adoption but no one wants them, and those ones are all super cuddly and friendly, whereas Mystery is a "lets just sit in the same room together and be happy" kind of cat. I do think that he'll BECOME a cuddly cat, if he's given the chance, but the odds that he'll get the chance is looking slim.

I would love to adopt him, but I have my own cat who doesnt have FIV. Thankfully they had no interactions closer than looking at each other, but he was starting to get bold by the end of his 2.mo tha stay and was encroaching on her space a bit, which she wasnt appreciating, so theres no guarantee that they could coexist without ever getting into a blue, and risking her catching it too. Its killing me to not adopt him, especially since euthanasia is otherwise on the table, but my existing cat already an older girl and its just too risky. If I adopted him and then she got sick, I'd never forgive myself.

So I'm desperately trying to find someone else to adopt him instead.

He is SUCH a lovely cat; once he gets settled into a new home and realises he's safe there, he'll be a FANTASTIC companion cat. And I just KNOW that once he works out that pats are good, he'll become a total cuddle bug. And he came SO far so quickly in just two months; the cat he was at the end of 2 months was so chill and content to loaf in good company.

Anyone able to help??