From Reddit: "I got this little floof 4 years ago for free from a shelter that said he had Feline AIDS and wouldn’t live much past 2 years old..Happy 4 year adoption day Kip!"
Cats with feline leukaemia (from feline aids) can live longer by taking corticosteroids twice a week, then every second day later. Also, antibiotics every second/third week as needed, up till every week in the end.
However, these cause eventual kidney and other organ failure.
As the disease progresses, their gums become more and more infected, they get more sleepy, and they may suddenly become limp and stop breathing for periods throughout. Then, their hair (especially on the legs) start thinning and fall out, and any injuries they may have will have difficulty healing.
You also need to put them on a highly specialised diet, and as their gums become infected more often you need to closely monitor their food and water intake, as well as their excretion. Make sure they pee and poop often, for kidney stones and constipation (from antibiotics) can occur, causing them pain and can possibly be fatal.
Finally, you have to be able to put them out if they are in pain, even if you love them.
My cat had this as well... She needed medication once in a while and got some infections but she managed to live to the age of 17. I've had her since I was 5.... I miss her every day
We helped a three legged cat with FIV get adopted, he made it a year and a half. We were never sure how old he was and he lived with a compound fracture for months before I got him to a vet, so I think he did pretty good.
However, these cause eventual kidney and other organ failure.
As the disease progresses, their gums become more and more infected, they get more sleepy, and they may suddenly become limp and stop breathing for periods throughout. Then, their hair (especially on the legs) start thinning and fall out, and any injuries they may have will have difficulty healing.
You also need to put them on a highly specialised diet, and as their gums become infected more often you need to closely monitor their food and water intake, as well as their excretion. Make sure they pee and poop often, for kidney stones and constipation (from antibiotics) can occur, causing them pain and can possibly be fatal.
Finally, you have to be able to put them out if they are in pain, even if you love them.
Omae wa mou shindeiru