How long do 12-year-old FIV+ cats with health issues typically live?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mi! When kittens are diagnosed with FIV we tell the owners that they can live well in to their geriatric years. FIV is like HIV in people. The pet will do fine until the immune system is compromised then the pet gets sick with secondary infections or cancer. If Mi is otherwise healthy I would recommend full mouth extractions for the stomatitis. He could have nasal discharge due to dental disease. While he is under anesthesia the vet can get skull X-rays to look at his nasal cavity. But the nasal discharge can also be due to lymphoma (cancer), bacteria, viral or fungal infections. If the stomatitis can not be managed and he is too painful to eat then I wouldn't expect him to live comfortably very long. If your Vet can control the pain and inflammation then I don't see why he couldn't have more time. I don't think I can give you an exact time frame with out examining him or knowing more about how he is feeling currently. I hope this helps and I wish Mi the best!

Yes, I definitely recommend taking George into the vet. He should have his vaccines updated, and given that he is FIV positive, he should have regular visit with the vet (at least yearly) to make sure he isn't suffering from any ill effects from the virus. Give the vet a call tomorrow to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!

Aspects of these disease can be painful, such as stomatitis (severe, painful inflammation of a cat's mouth and gums) that is caused by FIV, but Bones's symptoms can be managed symptomatically by his vet. With these cases, it's very important to have him seen by his vet whenever there is an issue.

I agree, those symptoms are concerning for intestinal, oral, or kidney disease. Unless the test was falsely positive, cats don't outgrow FIV. There is also no cure for the virus, though not all cats that have it will develop disease. I would recommend that Tiger get checked out by the vet. After a thorough physical exam and review of his symptoms, the vet may recommend bloodwork, urinalysis, or x-rays to see what is going on. Here is more information on FIV in cats: https://www.petcoach.co/article/feline-immunodeficiency-virus-fiv-in-cats/

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats with FIV can live a very long and healthy life! If he has dental disease and needs teeth removed I recommend doing it. The dental shouldn't cause progression of his FIV and will likely improve his quality of life. Leaving diseased teeth in the mouth of an immunocompromised animal isn't good either! i hope this helps!

I'm so sorry other that! It sounds like he's been through a lot. a lot depends on what the biopsy results show, unfortunately its very hard to speculate without that information, other than to say that his prognosis is more guarded since he is FIV +. Sorry I don't have more to offer you right now; please feel free to post again with the results once you have them, or request a consultation with an expert once you have results and we will do our best to help you more. I'm so glad to hear that he is feeling well. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. FIV is a very serious disease that is often fatal. We sometimes will aspirate the effusions , but for the most part it is a very uncomfortable process that is very temporary at best. The effusions come back very quickly. You did nothing wrong. You cared for your friend until the very end, but the virus was just too overwhelming for his system. I am so sorry for your loss, but you honestly did nothing wrong. Please accept my condolences on your loss & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.