southport oakisland animal rescue

This common cat condition is misunderstood to the point that sometimes prospective cat adopters will not consider adopting a cat with this condition. We hope that thru this website we can provide education and awareness about this condition and dispel some misconceptions.

Below is a very short discussion and then some links for those who would like more detailed information.

FIV was discovered in 1986. It is suspected that it existed for years before being discovered. There are some similiarities between human HIV and cat FIV and the main one is that they both involve a weakening of the immune system. Cats with FIV have impaired immune systems and extra care has to be taken to help them avoid such things as infections. FIV cannot be transmitted to humans, or vice versa, but it can be transmitted to other cats. The most common method of infection is via a cat bite in a cat fight. It passes via the saliva. Because of this ability to transmit to other cats it makes sense that a cat that has FIV should be kept with other FIV cats, or alone, so that the chance that it will infect another cat is lessened.

If you want to adopt an FIV postive cat you should plan to keep your cat indoors and away from things in the outdoors that will make your cat sick. Remember, the immune system is weakened. Also, by keeping them indoors they will not be able to infect another cat in the neighborhood. If you already have a cat that has a healthy immune system there is a vaccine that you can give this cat that will protect it from contracting FIV.

FIV cats often live long, normal, healthy lives. They are very loving and friendly and make excellent pets. SOAR, and all animal shelters, has some very wonderful cats that are FIV positive and they really need for you to give them a chance at a good life. If you will do this you won't be sorry.

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