Fiv

[Cataholic]

I have a friend that adopted an outdoor cat from an apartment complex where she was living. Well, she is moving now into a house (Yay for her!!), and has gone through the steps to take this kitty with her. Turns out, this kitty is FIV+. This is what she has to say:

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I would like your opinion on something, if you don’t mind. The outdoor “apartment” cat that I’ve brought in with me, Harlequin, and I plan on taking with me when I move, tested positive for FIV. Now I am unsure what to do. I cannot leave her behind. She’s is the pariah cat – by her own choice. She doesn’t clean, fight or play with the others. They all eat together and use the same litter boxes but that’s the extent of her interaction with my other five. Obviously, I am worried about the five I had before she came into the picture. As my vet said that it’s transferred via saliva, and since they don’t play or anything, she said my options are: a) segregate her, b) find a new home or c) take what I have considering it’s the best possible scenario (her being the pariah).



Any thoughts? Trey and I are inclined to keep her. She’s spayed, not declawed, around 8 years old and a total gem. She doesn’t mark, scratch, etc. Just wants a warm place to lay and food. A few pets. Seriously, she is zero maintenance.

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What would you tell her?

TIA,
Cataholic

[Pinot's Mom]

My thought would be to keep the kitty. The saliva transfer of FIV, from what I understand, is through saliva entering an open wound. If the kitty is aloof and keeps to itself, I don't see the harm. The testing itself COULD also be a false positive; there are many factors. My opinion....

[Cataholic]

^^ that was in line with my advice...but, I always like to hear others. THX!

[smokey the elder]

FIV+ and FIV- cats can comingle as long as there is no fighting. The virus is only transmitted via blood (in altered animals.)

[snakemama]

I had a pair of foster cats for a year or so - one FIV+ and one not. They were actually the best of friends and spent a lot of time playing and grooming together, and the FIV- kitty is still negative to this day, three years later in her new home. I'd say if they aren't scuffling to keep the FIV+ kitty.

[phesina]

Yes, keep her. That's what I've learned about FIV transfer too, it's from saliva entering an open wound. And a false positive is indeed possible. Your friend might have her retested in another month or two.

Also, just because she tested FIV+, she won't necessarily come down with the disease, I don't think.

Best wishes to your friend, and God bless her!

[Freedom]

KEEP KEEP KEEP!!!

My Bobby is FIV+. He has lived here for over 3 years now, and is the sweetest boy ever. He only loves, never fights. None of my others are at risk.

Feline IV, unlike HIV, never mutates into full blown AIDS, so Bobby will never get sick and die of "this." His immune system is compromised, so he may die of something a stronger cat could fight off. Even a "kitty cold," aka URI, upper respiratory infection. When I decided to keep him, I stopped bringing ferals through here, to limit what ailments he gets exposed to. He and all my kitties are indoor only, so they are not bringing stuff in on a regular basis, as an outdoor kitty could do.

Any time the kitty goes to a vet, be sure to remind the vet this one is FIV+. They do treatments a bit differently. AND the annual rabies vaccine is a killed virus, NOT the live virus our other cats get.

GO FOR IT!

That's my response.

[jennielynn1970]

Same thoughts here, keep the kitty. My Honeybun is FIV+ and has been with me for at least 4 years. He's a dear boy, never would hurt a fly and just wants to be loved.

I hope the kitty gets a home where she's safe and secure.