VEGAN DIET IN FIV (FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY) AND FELV (FELINE LEUKAEMIA)

Cats infected with one or both viruses do not necessarily have to be sick animals. In fact, the ideal is to test each new cat that arrives, as to whether or not they have any symptoms, always following the protocols to avoid false positives and false negatives, and then start providing them with the care they need.

A cat that tested positive doesn't need to live in a bubble, but it is always advisable to know its condition in order to avoid stressful situations as much as possible, for instance, an unpleasant or conflictive cohabitation with other animals; temperature stress, we must avoid them getting too cold in the winter, most of all; avoid environmental stress if it is a sensitive animal (care with relocation, household alterations, etc.), and, in general, we must avoid anything that might weaken their defences.

If the cat is symptom-free, and taking into account all of the above, the management guidelines are those of any cat that is tested negative. If the cat shows symptoms, each mismatch should be addressed individually to try and improve their life quality.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD

What better way to maintain the cat's high defences than a complete plant-based diet, with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to keep their body running at full speed? Cats that have tested positive need to be fed high quality food that does not strain their bodies with the elimination of excess toxins, as is the case with meat-based feed, or having to deal with a deficit of nutrients, as is the case with low-quality feed.

The most common in cats that have tested positive (and sometimes negative) is gingivostomatitis, either due to virus infection, because, in addition to FIV or FeLV, they have other viruses such as herpesvirus or calicivirus, or due to an autoimmune condition. Gingivostomatitis requires medical, sometimes surgical, treatment and very specific nutritional management - this varies with each cat, depending on whether they lose their appetite or not, whether they stop eating because of pain or not, etc. As far as I am concerned, I've had many pleasant surprises when rescuing cats with gingivostomatitis which didn't eat out of pain, and when I offered them plant-based feed, they started eating with less difficulty, since it didn't contain as much salt or flavouring, and, over time, since the food modulates the inflammatory mechanisms, the gum ulceration process was corrected in some of them, to the point that the episode was finally under control. In other cats the situation is quite different, and they require a very specific diet that we cannot currently offer as a plant-based diet.

In both viruses, infections are common because their immune systems fail due to the presence of the virus, a complete plant-based diet will help keep them in good body condition and help their immune system cope with these infections, and sometimes it is convenient to give them a vitamin supplement in certain periods or occasional treatments for those infections. In both cases, a vet can best advise you on what the cat needs in particular.

WE MUST ADAPT TO THE ANIMAL AND TO ITS DISEASE

Animals that tested positive for leukaemia often develop tumours, and in both of these viruses, other types of illnesses can occur that greatly weaken their health, such as anaemia, kidney failure, digestive disorders, etc. Each case must be studied individually and be treated in a way that adapts to the cat; they must never stop receiving the best food they can tolerate. Unfortunately, sometimes their palate becomes quite demanding and the only food they will tolerate is the worst food available on the market: our obligation is to try to help them to eat a food that is as complete as possible for them, we can try to make their plant-based diet more enjoyable by moistening it, heating it, adding brewer's yeast, seaweed in flakes, or raw vegetable oils (coconut, sunflower, olive oil, flax...).

If you live with a cat that has tested positive and you need advice, do not hesitate in contacting us: www.veggieanimals.com/gb/content/11-consultations

María González.
Founder of Refugio La Vida Color Frambuesa and vet for VeggieAnimals.