Jen,

You article sounds real good. I got your pm and I will give you more details hopefully later on tonight after I get my work done(I am at work right now). I would add about these shots that can be given at the vet that hopefully keeps them in remission so that they might live longer. Some vets give interferon but my gives a medicine called egstim. Ivy started out getting it once a month, but now has to get it every two weeks. The shot costs $20.00. The thing with it though once you start it you need to keep it up and not be late with it. If the person adopting a FIV+ cat isn't willing to do this or isn't able to afford it then it would be better off if they didn't adopt the cat. Also there seems to be differing views about giving an FIV+ cat yearly vaccinations. Mine has always siad to but I know a person with an FIV+ cat that there vet says NO don't give vaccinations at all. Also there is differing opinions about whether it is safe to put them with negative cats even if they don't fight etc. My vet strongly believes that they shouldn't ever be put with healthy cats but then other vets say it is ok as long as they don't fight. I guess only GOD knows for sure about that. But I have known people that put FIV+ cats and Negative ones together and seem to have had no problems. The thing with FIV+ cats is that their immune system is bad to none existant to where I think it is more dangerous for the FIV+ cat to be with the others. And I say that because for example, my so called "healthy" cat are always sick with allergies and URIs. If Ivy lived with me and my other cats I would be more worried that Ivy would get something from my others and die because his immune system couldn't handle it. That is why I think that is a very personal decision that the person has to make whether or not to put an FIV+ cat into a home with healthy ones. I will give you more details of my experience later.
Melissa