Kitty Hiv

[shais_mom]

A nurse at work told me last night that a friend of hers is coming for a long weekend and bringing her cat that has kitty AIDS. She has a cat and a dog. Her friend said they will keep it locked in the bathroom or in its carrier the whole time they are there but Mary Ann expressed concern over her cats health. She said her friend told her it is only spread by blood. I don't know anything about it. Does anyone have any info? Or websites I can give her?
Thanks in advance!!!

[lovemymaltese]

I have never heard of that. So sad to keep the cat locked up though, what a terrible way to live.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I don't know much about this either, but I know there were others on here that had HIV positive cats along with non-infected ones and as long as they kept them separate it was no problem. I'm thinking the bathroom would be ok but I'm not sure about the carrier since claws can still get out of that. You might want to check this site for more info Merck Vetinary Manual

I think Zippy first found it and others have said it's a great site. I've only done a little searching on it and found it quite easy to use.

Hope this helps!

[Fuzzy317]

I am by no means an expert, but I think it can be spread by them licking each other. Also, it can be carried from one cat to another cat on a person's clothes and such. My fiancee used to foster, and was told that the infection could live in her house for a few months after the infected cat left.

I strongly suggest calling your vet about this.

[Kater]

Here are some reliable informational links I found:

http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/fiv.html

http://www.fabcats.org/ & search for "FIV"

Hope this helps!

[WendyW]

A cat can live a very long time FIV+. Most will never develop full blown feline AIDS. Like the human AIDS, it is spread mainly thru the blood. If a cat tested positive for FIV, it is unlikely it will infect other cats unless it bites another cat. That has not been absolutly proven, but see http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/fiv.html.