Pet Care  Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)  orange cat  Cats
who are infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may
not show symptoms until years after the initial infection
occurred. Although the virus is slow-acting, a cat’s immune
system is severely weakened once the disease takes hold. This
makes the cat susceptible to various secondary infections.
Infected cats who receive supportive medical care and are kept
in a stress-free, indoor environment can live relatively
comfortable lives for months to years before the disease reaches
its chronic stages.   Many people confuse FIV with feline
leukemia virus (FeLV). Although these diseases are in the same
retrovirus family and cause many similar secondary conditions
FeLV and FIV are different diseases.  What Are the Symptoms of
FIV?  An FIV-infected cat may not show any symptoms for years.
Once symptoms do develop, however, they may continually progress
–or a cat may show signs of sickness interspersed with health
for years.  If your cat is demonstrati