Date of details/update: Dec 2014
Country: USA
Owner: Kimberly Hurwitz
Cat name: Muffin Crumbcake
Gender: Female
Neutered?: neutered
Colour: Dilute calico
Character: Confident, curious, affectionate to humans, open, easy going, tolerant. She and my other cat (not FIV+) co-exist, but they are not particularly bonded, and they do spar a bit.
How does the cat live?: Indoor only
Single or multicat household: Multi-cat
if multi cat, how many others: One other cat -- FIV negative
What do you feed your cat?: Wet food, grain free. She is on a prescription wet food for allergies, but I'm not convinced it has been all that helpful. She's eaten wet, grain, free since about a yr. old.
Do you give any regular supplements?: 250 mg. daily of Bovine lactoferrin (split into 2 doses) and a daily probiotic. Both are mixed into the wet food and seemingly not noticed by the cat.
When was the cat acquired?: 1 Nov 2009
Cat's age when acquired: 8 weeks
What was the cat's condition when acquired?: Her fur condition was a little off, but otherwise she seemed healthy.
What is known of the cat before you acquired him/her?: I adopted her from a local shelter, but she had come to that smaller shelter from a bigger one further away that was overcrowded. When we adopted her, there was one other calico sister with her.
Was the cat known to be FIV positive when acquired?:
When was the cat diagnosed FIV positive?: Approx. 10 months old
Why was the cat tested?: The kitten had tested negative at one of the shelters prior to being adopted. Severe juvenile gingivitis drove us back to the vet. Eventually, a Western Blot was done to ascertain the possible cause of the mouth disease. The Blot test showed FIV positive, which was also confirmed a few yrs later with a 2nd ELISA test -- done because I had conflicting results earlier.
Is the cat living (or passed away)?: yes
if passed away, how long did you have the cat?:
when did he/she die, and do you know the cause of death?:
How would you describe the cat's general health over the time with you?:
The cat has been overall healthy, despite a few periods of illness along the way. We are currently in a crisis of some degree that we are trying to treat.
The following are details of the ailments the cat suffered
Health details:
First, feline herpes virus diagnosis -- seemingly affecting almost all shelter cats in the us, and treated with lysine to combat sneezing fits.
Then the gingivitis -- this was diagnosed at 10 months and at 1 year old she had a full mouth extraction. She healed well from that and her mouth has been clear ever since.
But she also has had intermittent bouts of intestinal upset, and we have alternately given her Tylosin and then settled on a hypoallergenic food, after consultation with a veterinary allergist. She has tested positive for allergies to Oak Flower and Ragweed and frequently has some type of allergic reaction which cause her to scratch a lot around her ears and neck.
Currently, although clinically healthy, Muffin's recent blood work showed very low white blood cell counts and we have started her on a regimen of LTCI injections. To date, she has had 4 weekly injections and she her blood will be re-tested soon. The plan is to continue to give the injections bi-monthly for the next month and then monthly thereafter, but some of this planning is dependent on the next blood results.
Then the gingivitis -- this was diagnosed at 10 months and at 1 year old she had a full mouth extraction. She healed well from that and her mouth has been clear ever since.
But she also has had intermittent bouts of intestinal upset, and we have alternately given her Tylosin and then settled on a hypoallergenic food, after consultation with a veterinary allergist. She has tested positive for allergies to Oak Flower and Ragweed and frequently has some type of allergic reaction which cause her to scratch a lot around her ears and neck.
Currently, although clinically healthy, Muffin's recent blood work showed very low white blood cell counts and we have started her on a regimen of LTCI injections. To date, she has had 4 weekly injections and she her blood will be re-tested soon. The plan is to continue to give the injections bi-monthly for the next month and then monthly thereafter, but some of this planning is dependent on the next blood results.
General
Is there anything more you can tell us about your cat that might help us understand the overall picture?:
Muffin, fortunately, has been very tolerant of the multitude of procedures she has endured. The current state of her health is a puzzle to me, my vet and the FIV online community of which I am a part. At only 5 yrs old, she has been through a lot. I've been told more than once that she is an unusual case.
First, it is the general belief that many kittens test positive early and then sero-convert and later test negative. Muffin's case appears to be the opposite, unless the first test was done incorrectly, or was contaminated, or the like.
Second, if not for this most recent blood, we would not know the depth of the Muffin's current immuno-compromised state -- her vet, at the yearly check up, prior to the results, said: 'She looks as good as I've ever seen her.' Temperature, ears, eyes, mouth, coat all looked great. In the 2 months since then, Muffin continues to eat, sleep, play normally. Her stools are very soft but that is not unusual for her.
and finally - does your experience of FIV match what you were led
to believe when you first heard about the virus ?: When I first heard the words FIV positive, coupled with being told she would need to have all her teeth extracted, I was shocked, and expected her not to live very long. I did believe that FIV was a ticket to a very short life. I have since learned differently, and we have very much enjoyed all of the 5 years Muffin has been a part of our family.
Her case seems to be somewhat of an anomaly, and it is my understanding that FIV can be much tougher when a cat is born with it, as it appears Muffin was. However, as much as we have battled, medically, Muffin has also continued to surprise us, and I will be interested to see if the LTCI has been of any help. (My vet, who did finally procure it for me, has been very skeptical about its use, though my FIV group includes in its files some compelling evidence of its benefits.)
I am lucky that I can afford the very expensive care Muffin has required, and am also lucky to have a vet. who though not exceptionally knowledgeable about FIV has been willing to listen, at least, to what I have learned and has remained open to some possibilities to help Muffin. I know that not every FIV owner has both of these assets.
Finally, after reading in my group for a few years now, I have come to learn that most FIV positive cats can have a very long, healthy and happy life, if treated well with good food, a safe environment, and quick attention to any health issues that crop up.
Is there anything more you can tell us about your cat that might help us understand the overall picture?:
Muffin, fortunately, has been very tolerant of the multitude of procedures she has endured. The current state of her health is a puzzle to me, my vet and the FIV online community of which I am a part. At only 5 yrs old, she has been through a lot. I've been told more than once that she is an unusual case.
First, it is the general belief that many kittens test positive early and then sero-convert and later test negative. Muffin's case appears to be the opposite, unless the first test was done incorrectly, or was contaminated, or the like.
Second, if not for this most recent blood, we would not know the depth of the Muffin's current immuno-compromised state -- her vet, at the yearly check up, prior to the results, said: 'She looks as good as I've ever seen her.' Temperature, ears, eyes, mouth, coat all looked great. In the 2 months since then, Muffin continues to eat, sleep, play normally. Her stools are very soft but that is not unusual for her.
and finally - does your experience of FIV match what you were led
to believe when you first heard about the virus ?: When I first heard the words FIV positive, coupled with being told she would need to have all her teeth extracted, I was shocked, and expected her not to live very long. I did believe that FIV was a ticket to a very short life. I have since learned differently, and we have very much enjoyed all of the 5 years Muffin has been a part of our family.
Her case seems to be somewhat of an anomaly, and it is my understanding that FIV can be much tougher when a cat is born with it, as it appears Muffin was. However, as much as we have battled, medically, Muffin has also continued to surprise us, and I will be interested to see if the LTCI has been of any help. (My vet, who did finally procure it for me, has been very skeptical about its use, though my FIV group includes in its files some compelling evidence of its benefits.)
I am lucky that I can afford the very expensive care Muffin has required, and am also lucky to have a vet. who though not exceptionally knowledgeable about FIV has been willing to listen, at least, to what I have learned and has remained open to some possibilities to help Muffin. I know that not every FIV owner has both of these assets.
Finally, after reading in my group for a few years now, I have come to learn that most FIV positive cats can have a very long, healthy and happy life, if treated well with good food, a safe environment, and quick attention to any health issues that crop up.