The Truth About FIV
The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus which attacks the immune system.
In itself, it doesn’t cause illness, but it makes the infected cat more vulnerable to other viruses, bacteria and parasites.
How does it spread?
The FIV virus is usually passed from one cat to another through a serious bite. It’s rarely transmitted through sex. It’s also very unlikely to spread through casual contact like sharing a food dish or litterbox, or through mutual grooming. Most of the time, an infected mother won’t even pass the virus to her kittens. The cats at greatest risk of contracting FIV are unneutered, free-roaming male cats who spread the virus when they fight.
Is it dangerous for a healthy cat to live with an FIV positive cat?
It’s natural for cat owners to be cautious about exposing their healthy cat to potential infection. However, FIV doesn’t spread through casual contact. One of our volunteers shares her home with two female cats, sisters Sissy and Coco. Sissy is FIV positive and Coco is negative. The two have been together since they were kittens, sleeping and playing together, without sharing the disease. At nearly eight years old, both cats are happy and healthy. Sissy’s biggest issue so far has been bad teeth. As long as cats are introduced and socialized properly, they won’t fight. If they don’t fight, they won’t transmit FIV.
Read more about FIV on the Much Love Animal Rescue (Los Angeles, California 90034) web site.
