FIV

FIV Facts

FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s a lentivirus,
meaning that it progresses very slowly, gradually affecting a cat’s
immune system. It is passed through blood transfusions and through
serious, penetrating bite wounds – mainly by stray, intact tom cats.
The most well-known lentivirus in humans is HIV. But the two are not
at all the same, and you can’t get FIV from a cat. In fact, the only
thing about FIV that you can catch is a bad case of the rumors.

As long as cats with FIV are not exposed to diseases that their
immune system can’t handle, they can live perfectly normal lives.
And they can only pass the virus on to other cats through a serious,
penetrating bite wound. So unless your cats at home routinely tear
each other to pieces, it’s not a problem. (And if your cats are
tearing each other up, that’s probably a bigger problem!)

  1. The Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus is a slow virus that affects a
    cat’s immune system over a period of years.
  2. FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other
    non-felines.
  3. FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal
    lives with no symptoms at all.
  4. FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread
    casually – like in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when
    snuggling and playing. It is rarely spread from a mother to her
    kittens.
  5. The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly
    infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of
    this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, unneutered
    tomcats.)
  6. A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other
    cats, if properly introduced.
  7. Many vets are not educated about FIV since the virus was only
    discovered 15 years ago.
  8. FIV-positive cats should be kept as healthy as possible. Keep
    them indoors and free from stress, feed them a high-quality diet,
    keep and treat any secondary problems as soon as they arise.

The life span of FIV cats is quite long and they have a lot to give
us. FIV should not be a death sentence or a stigma that prevents a
delightful feline from coming into your home. It’s time to end the
fear and misinformation about this virus and to spread the truth
about FIV so that these healthy cats can find the homes and the love
they deserve.