Millions of cats are infected with the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) across the globe, but how much do you really know about it? FIV is a disease spread mostly through biting, so generally, indoor cats who grow up in loving homes are not super at risk. What’s more, it can take years for any symptoms to appear. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, 1.5 to three percent of kitties in the U.S. are infected.

Eventually, an FIV-positive cat’s body won’t be able to protect itself against other viruses as well as it did pre-infection. If you have an FIV-infected cat, you may notice her coat is in poor condition and that she has a fever, inflamed gums, and diarrhea.

So how do you know if a cat is FIV-positive? A simple test at the vet. If she does indeed have FIV, you’re going to want to keep her indoors so that she does not infect other cats and closely monitor her health. Have her spayed if she hasn’t been already, too. The good news is that your cat can live a long life with FIV, if you take the right steps.

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It’s pretty much inevitable: From time to time, you can expect your cat to get a hairball. After all, she spends most of her waking hours grooming her pretty coat, so it makes sense, right? And that’s especially true if your furry friend has long hair.

Hairballs happen when your kitty swallows loose hair while grooming. Normally, the hair is passed through the poop, but sometimes it’s vomited out instead. Hence, that hacking up a hairball sensation you’ve probably seen your cat go through. (We know, kinda gross.)

There is something easy you can do to make it less likely for your cat to barf out a hairball. Brushing your cat will get rid of any loose hairs before she can ingest them.

As far as treatments go, it’s always best to consult with your vet.

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It might seem like your cat is always ravenous, but before you let her lick the leftovers off your plate, you should know that there are some foods that could seriously harm her health. Keep her away from the following:

1. Onions
While this veggie adds a punch of flavor to meals, it’s actually really dangerous to felines. Onions (whether they’re raw, cooked, or even in powder form) can break down a cat’s red blood cells, causing anemia.

2. Dairy
Believe it or not, most kitties are lactose intolerant. So while you might have an image in your head of a cat lapping up milk from a bowl, it’s better to keep her hydrated with water because dairy can cause tummy troubles and diarrhea.

3. Alcohol
Okay, this one is pretty obvious, but it’s still worth repeating: Don’t let your cat anywhere near your glass of wine. According to PetMD, two teaspoons of whisky could put a five pound cat into a coma (and just one more could kill it). Yikes.

4. Grapes
This tasty fruit can cause kidney failure in cats, as can raisins. So stick to treats especially formulated for felines when you want to reward your pet.

5. Caffeine (and Yes, That Includes Chocolate)
You know that jolt you feel after your morning cup of Joe? Well, that can be deadly for a cat. And remember, caffeine isn’t just in coffee; it’s in tea, chocolate, soda, and even some painkillers.

6. Candy
Sugary sweets contain xylitol, which can cause your cat’s blood sugar to drop and cause liver failure. So keep candy safely stored in a drawer where you cat can’t claw her way in.

If you think your cat has eaten something it shouldn’t have, contact your vet or the ASPCA’s emergency line at 888-426-4435 immediately for help.