"Feline AIDS" is the common name for Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV. FIV is a widespread viral infection that occurs in cats, and has been found in every country that has tested cats for it so far. It is, in fact, estimated that between one and fourteen percent of cats are infected with feline AIDS.

Feline AIDS got its nickname because it is similar in symptoms and degenerative nature as that of the AIDS virus that attacks human beings. In fact, the virus that attacks the cat is even from the same family as the human AIDS virus. However, the feline AIDS virus is specific to cats, so under no circumstances can it be contracted by humans.

Cats usually contract and spread FIV through bite wounds that occur during fights. If your cat is outside, exposed to other cats, and tends to get in fights where there is bloodshed, there is a much greater risk of contracting feline AIDS. So far, it has not been shown that the disease is spread through cats' sharing common food and water bowls, so these are safe to keep outside.

At the outset, the symptoms of feline AIDS can include infections of the mouth, slow-healing and infected fight wounds, respiratory infections, and diarrhea. Over the progression of the disease, this may last several years, feline AIDS leads to widespread organ failure, and eventually death. There is no known cure for FIV, although as with the human AIDS virus, there are a number of treatments that can help to slow its progression.

If you suspect that your cat has feline AIDS, you can find out with a simple blood test from your veterinarian. However, in adult cats, a positive result may not appear for up to two years after infection. So if you and your vet still suspect the virus, you may want to test for it at a later date--particularly if you think your cat might have been at risk to contract it more recently. Also, in kittens under six months old, a false positive may occur because of normal antibodies passed on from the mother. Test again after the kitten is older, and a negative result means the kitten probably doesn't have feline AIDS.

So should you get your cat euthanized after receiving a diagnosis of feline AIDS? That is a personal decision, and one that depends on your willingness to take care of a cat that will eventually develop symptoms. Even after being diagnosed, however, it is still possible for your cat to live many years without major health problems. The disease can remain dormant for a number of years, and the symptoms can be combated with treatments like antibiotics, nutritional therapy (to fight dehydration), and parasite control medications.

Additionally, take into consideration whether your infected cat will be a threat to the health of other cats, either cats that belong to you or your neighbors. The best idea is to keep the cat indoors and away from other cats, especially if it is prone to fighting. It wouldn't be fair to your neighbors' cats or your other cats to put them at risk for feline AIDS, so you should do whatever you can to keep your sick kitty out of these kinds of situations.