Aww Pony

I had a cat with it too. He also had another health issue that meant he had an overactive immune system, but with the feline HIV he had a supressed immune system (yeah - try getting your head around that one!!) but he lived for 5 years after he was diagnosed - waaaaaay longer than expected. He even got attacked by a possum in the middle of all that and got sceptacemia (sp?) and nearly died!

Good diet is certainly something to consider. I had two cats at the time and the other needed the hypo-allergenic Hills Prescription diet which they both ended up eating. The Vet told me after the HIV cat was still surviving beyond their expectations that he thought the food was really alot to do with his optimum health. So if you can afford it, perhaps talk to your vet about one of those foods - they are very expensive though!

Make sure your friend understands the implications of the HIV and that she deserves lots of hugs and cuddles and attention.

So, my message is it isn't always the instant death sentence you imagine it could be, I remember very well being told and thinking he only had a few months to live.