Viral perils for tomcat

Our five-year-old rescue, neutered tomcat lives indoors.

- DR DAVID GRANT

He is positive for the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), has regular checks and remains well. Is there anything new on this virus, such as how long positive cats can expect to live and whether there are any effective treatments or vaccines?As you have no doubt been advised by your vet, a previously incorrect myth is that FIV is a death sentence, with cats not living very long after diagnosis. Cats that are positive for FIV do have an increased risk of developing certain cancers, and need regular check ups for early signs of illness, so that prompt treatment can be given.

There have been several recent studies showing that many FIV positive cats can live a normal lifespan without significant early onset disease.

There is also a general consensus that there is not a great deal of lifespan difference between positive and negative cats, especially with very good care and regular veterinary checkups.