Has anyone rescued an FIV cat?

[littlemachine]

I'm annoyed. I rescued my cat from a centre last year. She's 11 and she'd had a crap life and managed to contract FIV. I was willing to home her, because God love them, nobody wanted them! Now I do love her, she's a beautiful cat and has a gentle nature, but I asked the rescue centre if it would cost a lot to keep her, would she need medical treatment etc, and they said no, it would just be like having a normal cat.
I have had to take her to the vets at least every 8 weeks since I've had her. She suffers from bladder and bowel problems as part of her condition, that the rescue centre didn't tell me about, and she's had to have a lump removed from her neck, which the rescue centre told me was a cyst, had been checked by a vet and it was fine. It's costing me an
absolute fortune, as obviously I couldn't insure her. So far I've spent well over £1000.
Now, once again, I've come home to shit all over my carpet, she's got diarrhoea yet again, so another trip to the vets tomorrow and a night of baby wiping her bum, which she obviously hates.
I'm so annoyed at the rescue centre. I don't believe for a second that these problems started once I got her home.
Just needed a rant and wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience, or could offer any advice.

The rescue centre were wrong to say 'having an older cat wont cost more money', cats are more likely to have problems as they get older, but i also think 'if you want a cat you need to consider the fact it might be poorly and cost a fortune'.

We got our cat as a kitten, in the first year he has cost me £1000 in vets bills, we spend a lot of time at the vets with him and i never thought getting a cat would be so expensive.

Have you thought about insurance?

Have you phoned the rehoming centre?

I spoke to a couple of insurance companies before I got her, so I knew that I couldn't insure her. I'd already seen her then, and the other cats with FIV, and just really wanted to give her a nice home, which I do!
I've had a cat before, I had her my whole life and sadly had her PTS at 19, but she wasn't ill until right at the end...I suppose I didn't know what I was letting myself in for, which was why I asked them what to expect.
I haven't contacted them. I'd feel mean with them being an over stretched charity. I suppose I'll just have to suck it up and maybe put off having anymore DC for several years

I know the feeling i am petrified that our cat will end up costing us more than the kids, he's cost us £1000 in the first year and the thought of having to pay that every year is scary. Most cats get through life with not much wrong with them but others dont. Your cat probably has a history of illness but the rehoming centre may not have known this (as they probably only knew her for a few weeks of her life). We cant get insurance for our cat now as he's been to the vets so many times in the past 6 months, i'm dreading the next trip to the vets.

It's scary isn't it marne I feel so sorry for her, and she really is part of the family. It's a good job DP has financed it all though, or I'm not sure what I'd have done, as I've been on maternity leave this year, so obviously earning buttons.
I hope your cat is ok from now on.

Is it the food? mine gets awful runny tummies if he is on biscuits or wet food with cereals in them, I use pouches with no cereal and he's ok at the moment.

Just a thought, we had to sort it out as the vet didnt know what to suggest and the cat was shrinking before my eyes.

Actually fluffy, we did change her food and it's happened before with the same one. She's terribly fussy and goes through phases. She'll only eat felix and we changed to as good as it looks before the problems. I'll look at the ingredients. She's better now thank god!

Have you considered a more natural based diet, it's more expensive but some cats stomachs are aggrivated by the pouches they tend to have a lot of salt too

FIV does cause them more problems and it can be expensive, I would speak to the centre again as they shouldn't have rehomed an animal with long term health problems and FIV should have been picked up by them.

In regards to insurance, could you speak to your vet about any charities which could help? or a research vet?

The FIV was picked up by them, and my cat was in with other cats with FIV, they just weren't honest about the implications I feel. I think this is irresponsible - some people wouldn't have the money to pay for so much treatment, and if she hadn't had the lump removed from her neck, or her more serious UTIs treated, she'd probably have died by now
A more natural diet is worth considering I think. Thanks

I think that they should hav been honest with you that FIV is the cat aids and therefore these cats are far more likely to suffer from infections etc than the average cat.

i have an FIV cat from Cats Protection league. they cover all of his vet bills relating to his condition, because there are many health needs that FIV exacerbates, such as poor teeth, liver and kidney problems, skin problems.

Which rescue did you get your cat from? if it was CPL, then give them a call. AFAIK, they offer this to all FIV rehomed cats because they want to give them the opportunity of being rehomed, rather than PTS.

I had two originally - one died nearly two years ago aged 15/16 which is very old for an FIV cat. Over the 7 years I had him, he had treatment on three occasions - steroids and anti bs.

His brother is about 13/14 and has just had some extensive work on his teeth, but otherwise has had very little, except for occasional check ups.

I'm sorry you have a poorly cat and such high bills. Looking after FIV cats is harder - not least because you have to keep them in all the time and their dietary needs are tricky to manage.

My cat has a renal diet dry food and felix pouches - this balance seems to work with his sensitive gut. the dry food is from the vets and not too expensive. the dry food is also good at cleaning his teeth, which protect them a bit more from further damage.

I know nothing about cats - but read the OP as "Has anyone saved an IVF cat?" - and of course wondered how or why anyone would have an IVF cat...

Thanks TheMysteryCat - my cat's from a small local shelter called Animals in Need. I asked them specifically about extra costs but they said there would be none and it would be like having any other cat.
She only has one tooth but does sometimes need treatment on her gums.
Since my first post I've got her some dry food for sensitive tummies, which seems to be working well with the felix pouches. She has to have wet food as she doesn't drink enough and then gets cystitis!

Gin somehow the thought of cat IVF makes me feel a but sick!

You need to talk to the shelter. Fiv cats definitely have complex health issues. There's a leaflet, cpl I think, that outlines them. I'll see if I can put some info together for you.

Thankyou TheMysteryCat. I've always found info to be limited even online. It makes me sad for all the wild or neglected cats with FIV

FIV leaflet

this is a link to the leaflets page and there's one for FIV.

you might want to start a thread in The Litter Tray section on here for some more advice fromother FIV cat owners.

so cross with the shelter for not being honest with you!

Thanks very much for the info. I'll have a read through now. Thought I had posted in the litter tray!