Why do Fiv cats have to be the only cat in the house? Can't they be with other Fiv cats since they already are both positive for that cancer? I can understand why they can't be with FIV negative cats...
2007-07-27 14:37:45 · 9 answers · asked by beachgirl111982 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
FIV isn't cancer, it's a virus. And no, they don't have to be the only cat or kept separate, that's old information. There's been a lot of new research on FIV and it's not passed very easily, an FIV cat has to bite a nonFIV cat to give them the virus, so if your cat isn't a biter, they can coexist just fine. We have two FIV guys here and three non-FIV and there has been no spread of FIV in 9 years with our others.
The old information was wrong on a number of things, and unfortunately online articles still give old information unless you're looking at the newer sites. A LOT of new research has been done in the past 5 years.
There's some very good FIV cat owner sites on Yahoogroups, I'd recommend signing up for one or more of them, you'll find lots of cat owners with FIV cats mixed with their regular cats and no transmission. A FIV cat has almost a full lifespan too, a couple of the people over there have cats who've had it for 15 years and are doing great. My own cats are 10 and 7 and have had FIV most of their lives (former tom cats, got it by fighting).
It's not spread by casual contact with other cats, not spread by sharing food/water/litter boxes, and not spread by sneezing on another cat. A lot of people confuse FIV with FeLV which is Feline Leukemia, and that one IS spread sometimes by sneezing and is much easier to give to other cats. And FIV is not FIP which is a completely different disease.
2007-07-27 14:55:20 · answer #1 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
FIV is not a cancer. It is a virus that causes immunodefficiency in cats just like HIV does in humans. It is CONTAGIOUS to other cats and is spread by saliva when cats are bitten by an infected cat or in other body fluids (It is NOT contagious to humans). If you have two FIV positive cats then you have nothing to worry about but if you introduce a FIV negative cat into the house and they fight, the new cat can contract the virus.
FIV itself rarely kills cats but it makes them very susceptable to other diseases that they normally wouldn't die from. I.e. a simple "cold" can kill them because they have no immune system and can't fight off the infection.
2007-07-27 14:51:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can have all the Fiv positive cats you want, you just don't want to expose non-fiv cats to one. They had a really wondeful cat at the vet who was to be adopted to an Fiv positive home only so the kitty would have company...
2007-07-27 14:45:24 · answer #3 · answered by ibbibud 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it relatively is an exceedingly sturdy question and that i'm undecided regarding the FIP section. The Western Blot try is the sole relatively sturdy try for FIV, yet keep in mind that the vaccine has been out for over 3 years now so if somebody vaccinated him for FIV he will try useful for it his finished existence, devoid of actually having the ailment. It complicates issues. i've got have been given FIV cats residing with my non-FIV cats 24/7 and there is been no ailment flow in 10 years (all of them had blood artwork finished at present, nevertheless unfavourable). What you're able to do is connect the FIV communities on yahoo communities and ask over there, or ask the vet this question approximately FIP. i be responsive to it somewhat is contagious, yet i don't be responsive to if it somewhat is extra contagious to kittens and older cats or to all cats oftentimes.
2016-09-30 22:43:16 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FIV positive cats can live with other FIV positive cats. There is actually a sanctuary here that has a hundred or so together so they can live out their lives without harming other cats.
2007-07-27 14:51:18 · answer #5 · answered by starbreezetarot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you are correct. You could have another cat with FIV in the house.
2007-07-27 14:40:35 · answer #6 · answered by angpharo16 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FIV cats are fine with other cats that have FIV but you don't want them to be with cats that are healthy and have it spread.
2007-07-27 14:49:09 · answer #7 · answered by Marlou 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i too have fiv positives and non positives living together. i also have one felv positive cat living with everyone. i test my cats every year for felv and fiv and the results are always the same. no spread of either illness, but i also vaccinate for felv since it is highly contagious.
2007-07-27 17:13:55 · answer #8 · answered by bob © 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should ask a few local vetrenarians. they will know
2007-07-27 16:12:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋