FIV+ Cat
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| I've fallen for a rescue cat that is FIV+. Before I say yes to adopting him, I'm looking for feedback from anyone who has had experience with an FIV+ cat. Did you wind up spending more on medical care than you think you would have for a cat that wasn't FIV+? How long did your cat live? I'm leaning toward saying yes, but don't want to make a decision based on emotion vs. logic. |
Anonymous
| Could you call a vet’s office and ask? This cat might not have other takers if he’s FIV+. Glad you found a cat that you connected with. |
Anonymous
|
DH had a FIV+ cat before we met. He said he never needed any additional vet care, but that such cats usually only live 1-3 years. His lived 3, and began shivering uncontrollably one day. He took him to the vet, who confirmed that it was the end and he was peacefully euthanized. I don't know how much variability there is.
So the real issue seems to be whether you are emotionally equipped for adopting a cat that is guaranteed a short life span. I admired DH's willingness to take that on. He said he went into it with a realistic attitude, really loved the cat, and would have done it again in a heartbeat. Good luck with your decision, OP. |
Anonymous
| Sorry, OP, I now think DH's cat had feline leukemia rather than FIV. Judging from Wikipedia info at least, the prognosis seems much more optimistic for FIV! I hope some experienced posters will chime in. |
Anonymous
|
I adopted a kitty with FIV OP. She only lived to 6 but they were good years and just regular vet visits and shots until the end.
I never regretted adopting her. |
Anonymous
|
Omg, this thread is so sad.
OP, you have to adopt him. I feel sad now thinking of him alone in a cage, with nobody wanting him 
|
Anonymous
|
I have an FIV-positive cat that formerly belonged to an elderly relative. She had him about 3 years with no health problems (she found him as an adult stray). I've had him about 3 years myself and no problems thus far (he's estimated to be about 8 years old). He has the lowest grade (sorry, not sure of terminology but I mean the least problematic) heart murmur, which the vet monitors, but it hasn't caused any issues.
I took him in with a few other of her cats and I had them all combo tested to see if he'd passed it on to any others, since he'd been with them for a few years at least. All of them were negative for FIV and leukemia. My understanding per the vet is the only way FIV can be passed to another cat is through deep bites, not sharing food/water bowls, or even grooming. He has a "girlfriend" and they mutually groom, eat together, and cuddle all the time, and she's negative, so if you have other cats, and all are non-aggressive (especially the FIV cat), there should be a very low chance of transmission. He's a strictly indoor cat, of course, since that's healthiest for him and no chance of fights with any stray toms. I am pretty careful, though to make sure all the cats have low stress, to lower the chance that there is any fighting (plenty of litter boxes, no competition for food, lots of toys to share). He's very sweet, fluffy and healthy looking (a tad plump even, but he's more interested in cuddling with his lady friend than playing for exercise)! You'd never tell he was FIV positive. My vet says cats with FIV can lead perfectly normal lives, but can be more prone to dental disease than regular cats, and usually when they start to fail (due to old age or any kind of disease), their prognosis is not as good as a FIV-negative cat, causing them to fade more quickly. Hope this info is helpful, OP. Wishing you the best, whatever you choose. |
Anonymous
| NP here, I just adopted a great cat who is FIV+. From what I understand, he may live a long time or he may leave us soon. There’s really no way to tell. He’s really a great kitty so we’re hoping for the best! |
Anonymous
| OP do you have kids? If you do then its a resounding no. |
Anonymous
Why? Because it will die sooner? It’s not transmittable to humans. |
Anonymous
|
OP, we have an FIV+ cat, along with two non FIV+ Cats. I also grew up with a FIV + cat (also allowed to mingle with non FIV+ house cats in our homes). Honestly, for us it is no different. The only thing we do differently is sometimes space out his vaccines so he doesn't get too much at once. All three cats get along really well, love one another (clean one another) and we have had them all living together for the past 5 years with no issues. We have all three tested every few years to make sure that it has not been transmitted to the other two and no issue. My parents cat (the FIV+ one) actually was their healthiest cat and lived a long happy life until he was 17 years old.
Our vet is always very pleased with the health of our FIV+ cat. No negatives with having him be a part of our family (in fact, he is actually the sweetest out of all three!) |
Anonymous
|
Zero human transmission risk. Health effects - *IF* - you follow good vet advice and med-regimes - are surprisingly minimal. Med regimes are normally very light-duty. An FIV+ cat won't live quite as long as an FIV- cat. There are essentially no other material differences.
And you will be saving a forsaken little life. |
Anonymous
Actually there are no cases where its been transmitted to humans, but the possibility that it can happen, has not been ruled out conclusively. Take a risk with yourself, by all means but not with your kids. |
Anonymous
And yet, if you leave the house at all you are exposing your children to all kinds of infectious disease, including the flu, that actually has a well documented history of causing death in children. Are you concerned that the FIV virus will mutate? I really don’t understand what theoretical risk you are worried about. |
Anonymous
You clearly have no children. |