When Positive Is Negative

Let's talk FIV.

First, the basics:

What it is - 
FIV is the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It is currently incurable. It does weaken a cat's immune system so they are more susceptible to secondary infections.

What it's not - 
It's not "kitty AIDS." It's not transmissible to humans. And it's not transmissible from cat to cat with casual contact. In other words, your cat will not get FIV from sharing a litter box, food bowl, water source, or furniture with an FIV+ cat.

If it's incurable, shouldn't these cats be euthanized?

Cats can live long, healthy lives while infected with FIV if some simple precautions are taken:

• Keep FIV+ cats indoors to reduce stress and exposure to sources of infection.
• Take FIV+ cats to the vet for regular checkups. 

Pretty simple, right? Why would an otherwise healthy cat need euthanized if the "special" care needed is that which we should do for any companion kitty?

I don't want my cat to be infected!

The good news is that FIV is basically spread through deep bite wounds - the kind that happen when cats are *really* fighting. If you fix your cat and keep it indoors, the chances of infection are practically nonexistent.

You can even have FIV+ and FIV- cats living in the same household without the negative cats becoming infected. If your cats are fighting badly enough that there's a risk of infection, it's behavior you'd need to address anyway.

You can vaccinate your cat against FIV, but there's not a consensus on whether this is beneficial or not. Since the current FIV test looks for antibodies, vaccinated cats will likely test positive for FIV. This can be a death sentence if your cat ever gets out and is picked up by animal control. Some states do not allow FIV+ animals to be adopted out, so many shelters automatically destroy infected animals that end up in their facilities. The vaccine also does not fully protect against infection, so it's a toss-up on whether the risks are worth the possible rewards.

Why should I adopt an FIV cat over a healthy cat?

First, there's no guarantee that any animal you obtain (whether as a baby or adult, through adoption or purchase) is truly "healthy." Shelter vets do all they can to care for the animals in their facilities, but just like people, some critters are more susceptible to certain ailments. 

Second, as mentioned above, FIV+ cats can live long, healthy lives if care is taken.

It's a sad fact of life that the animal you paid hundreds of dollars for at a breeder could develop cancer and die at a young age. Despite all precautions, your pet could escape and be hit by a car. There are just no guarantees. 

What is for sure is that a happy home is healthier for an FIV+ cat than the high-stress environment of an animal shelter. And, anecdotally speaking, FIV cats are some of the friendliest, cuddliest kitties around.

Ultimately it's not about adopting an FIV cat over a "healthy" cat. It's about not immediately ruling out an FIV cat. Not being frightened away by the scary-sounding three letter acronym. Not turning away from these amazing cats because of that little plus sign.

Boo (that's him to the left) came into our lives eight years ago and rocked our world. He was the sweetest cat I had ever known and we were so lucky to share our home with him for six years. He lived with two FIV negative cat siblings and, once we educated ourselves on FIV, we had zero worries about infection.

So give these FIV cats a chance. Don't let that positive be a negative and you may just discover the best friend you've ever known.

**Some of the cats featured in the FIV+ playlist below have been adopted**