Does anyone have a cat with FIV?

[karinothing]

I have been looking at adopting a new cat(s) since our cat passed away in December. I found a bonded pair that look adorable, but they have FIV and I just went through a very rough 3 years with my prior car medically. I am not sure I want to have a medically fragile cat again. But I am looking for folks with experience.

[So_Fetch]

I had a kitty with FIV for 10 years (and she was already pretty beat up when I got her as a stray). I incorporated her into my household of 3 other FIV- cats and she did fine with them, though it doesn't sound like that's an issue. Medically her teeth were really bad, and she ended up with diabetes later in life (like 6 months before she passed); but otherwise she was fine. If the kitties will be indoor only, they would be lucky to have found you (and vice versa).

[klingklang77]

I’ve never taken care of cats with FIV. That being said, can you get cat health insurance for them? The symptoms may show up years later and secondary infections are what kill them. You also have to remember that you probably can’t get cats while you have these cats. I have heard they can live long and happy lives.

[cajunmom]

My sister has a cat with FIV. He's mostly healthy...he's a little more prone to catching kitty colds than her other cats but that's about it. I wouldn't let FIV stop me from adopting a cat that I was drawn to.

[tamarindy]

Two of my cats are FIV+ and the best cats in the world. One is about 3 years old and we rescued him from the shelter on his last day before being euthanized. That was about 1.5 years ago and we first fostered him through a rescue I work with (they were only able to take him out because we volunteered). We fell in love and kept him. Our other is 11 or so and we have had him a year. He was friendly and living in a trailer park and has many battle wounds but is otherwise in good shape. My vet thinks both are in good health currently, but the old one had a few teeth removed. Stomatitis (swelling gums in reaction to plaque etc) is more common for FIV cats. But yes, FIV is really no big deal, only spread through deep bites/cuts, and you would be saving a life! Please do it, you won’t regret it.

[So_Fetch]

I also wouldn't worry about having other non-FIV cats. As long as your FIV+ kitties aren't big into fighting, the chances of other cats in the household aren't likely to get it. My Minnie had a deep puncture wound on her tail when we found her. The vet said that she could have been newly infected because the wound was so deep.

[tamarindy]

May 28, 2020 14:31:14 GMT -5 klingklang77 said:

I’ve never taken care of cats with FIV. That being said, can you get cat health insurance for them? The symptoms may show up years later and secondary infections are what kill them. You also have to remember that you probably can’t get cats while you have these cats. I have heard they can live long and happy lives.

That is not true, FIV positive cats can live with FIV negative cats in the right environment, no problem. They can also live long lives and may never have any symptoms at all. There is a lot of misinformation out there.

[winecat]

I haven't had a FIV+ kitty that I know of but I've taken in a lot of strays and haven't had them tested. FIV cats can live long, healthy lives. Adopting a bonded pair of FIV+ kitties? I hope you can. They're harder to place.

[karinothing]

We would be adopted the pair together and we have no other cats. So that wouldn't be an issue. I just feel traumatized from my last cat

It only mentioned one of them was FIV+, so the other might be negative. I need to find out.

Here are the kitties:

www.lostdogrescue.org/cats/ashton/?status=for-adoption

www.lostdogrescue.org/cats/millie/?status=for-adoption

[tamarindy]

May 28, 2020 14:43:05 GMT -5 karinothing said:

We would be adopted the pair together and we have no other cats. So that wouldn't be an issue. I just feel traumatized from my last cat

It only mentioned one of them was FIV+, so the other might be negative. I need to find out.

Here are the kitties:

www.lostdogrescue.org/cats/ashton/?status=for-adoption

www.lostdogrescue.org/cats/millie/?status=for-adoption

Oh man they are absolutely adorable. I always thought it would be so fun to have a bro/sis who were bonded. Plus, they are very young still. I truly think you should take the chance on them, they will probably spend their lives thanking you for it.

[tamarindy]

May 28, 2020 14:45:42 GMT -5 tamarindy said:

May 28, 2020 14:43:05 GMT -5 karinothing said:

We would be adopted the pair together and we have no other cats. So that wouldn't be an issue. I just feel traumatized from my last cat

It only mentioned one of them was FIV+, so the other might be negative. I need to find out.

Here are the kitties:

www.lostdogrescue.org/cats/ashton/?status=for-adoption

www.lostdogrescue.org/cats/millie/?status=for-adoption

Oh man they are absolutely adorable. I always thought it would be so fun to have a bro/sis who were bonded. Plus, they are very young still. I truly think you should take the chance on them, they will probably spend their lives thanking you for it.

ETA - I know it is so hard to lose pets (for me, they are the only “children” I have) and working with rescues I have seen a lot and lost a lot. It never gets easier, but we are all they have for the time they have. You sound like a great pet parent no matter what you decide. Sorry about your loss of your previous kitty.

[klingklang77]

May 28, 2020 14:40:26 GMT -5 tamarindy said:

May 28, 2020 14:31:14 GMT -5 klingklang77 said:

I’ve never taken care of cats with FIV. That being said, can you get cat health insurance for them? The symptoms may show up years later and secondary infections are what kill them. You also have to remember that you probably can’t get cats while you have these cats. I have heard they can live long and happy lives.

That is not true, FIV positive cats can live with FIV negative cats in the right environment, no problem. They can also live long lives and may never have any symptoms at all. There is a lot of misinformation out there.

Sorry. I just get concerned because my cats tend to fight and I’d be worried about bites. But like I said I have no experience with it. 

[karinothing]

May 28, 2020 14:45:42 GMT -5 tamarindy said:

May 28, 2020 14:43:05 GMT -5 karinothing said:

We would be adopted the pair together and we have no other cats. So that wouldn't be an issue. I just feel traumatized from my last cat

It only mentioned one of them was FIV+, so the other might be negative. I need to find out.

Here are the kitties:

www.lostdogrescue.org/cats/ashton/?status=for-adoption

www.lostdogrescue.org/cats/millie/?status=for-adoption

Oh man they are absolutely adorable. I always thought it would be so fun to have a bro/sis who were bonded. Plus, they are very young still. I truly think you should take the chance on them, they will probably spend their lives thanking you for it.

They are pretty cute . I know that I 100% want a bonded pair. I feel like they missed out on a good opportunity to name these cats Millie and Vanilli

[winecat]

They're adorable! If they were tested when they were kittens, it might be a false positive for Millie.

[MDmomof2]

I have no experience with FIV+ cats but they are adorable and you need them

[waverly]

We had a cat with an immune problem and needed daily doses of prednisone and blood draws. She was later diagnosed with FIV. Honestly I don’t know if that was the correct diagnosis because the previous vet didn’t diagnose that way. She passed at only 12 years old. I don’t know if it was caused by the medicine or the disease since we constantly had to adjust it and do blood draws. But from my experience I personally wouldn’t recommend it. But reading on here it sounds like my experience was different from others, so maybe she did ultimately have something else.

[Beagle]

If they're the only cats, you should have no problem.

And DID YOU SEE THE SNUGGLING? YOU NEED THAT IN YOUR LIFE.

[winecat]

waverly- Maybe it was FeLV? I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty.

[winecat]

May 28, 2020 16:28:26 GMT -5 Beagle said:

If they're the only cats, you should have no problem.

And DID YOU SEE THE SNUGGLING? YOU NEED THAT IN YOUR LIFE.

Even if they're not, it would be okay.  FIV+ kitties can live with FIV- kitties.  The type of wounds it takes to transfer FIV are pretty deep.  Most squabbles between indoor kitties wouldn't result in wounds that would transfer FIV.  

But I totes agree about the snuggling! 

[karinothing]

May 28, 2020 16:28:26 GMT -5 Beagle said:

If they're the only cats, you should have no problem.

And DID YOU SEE THE SNUGGLING? YOU NEED THAT IN YOUR LIFE.

I keep thinking how one cat snuggling is adorable, but two? Amazing.

[lucygoosey]

Another person chiming in to encourage you in adopting an FIV+ cat. My FIV boy is 6 yrs old, toothless and takes a daily medication for anemia. You would never know he has any illness. He plays normally, has no symptoms and is an all around great boy. We have 4 cats and they share water bowls/food dishes/litter boxes with no problem.

[So_Fetch]

They are so cute. I love that they are a bonded pair.

[cajunmom]

I love them...please adopt them!! And yes, FiV + and - cats can live together just fine

[justemily]

I currently have an FIV+ kitty who is about 10, in my herd of 8 cats. He's healthy besides the occasional goopy eye and I don't worry about him transmitting to anyone else as he gets along great with other cats. I had an FIV+ kitty a while ago who lived to be 10 before he had any health issues. Sweetest boy ever.

A FIV+ bonded pair will have a hard time finding a home - so if you're willing to open your heart, I don't think you'll ever regret it <3

[karinothing]

I emailed last night and am now anxiously awaiting a reply. Come on folks!

[marie]

I had one growing up and he lived a long life. The only health issue was the swollen gums and loss of teeth.

[karinothing]

Still no answer. Now all I want is those cats lol.

[blondemoment123]

I had a cat that had FIV. My dad thought he was a stray until one day when his windows were open. He opened the can to feed his cats and this one came running to the window. 😂

I took him in and the vet diagnosed him with FIV. At this point I already had one another one at home, but the vet said not to worry.

Hermie (my cat with FIV) passed away peacefully in his sleep, but they think it was just old age. They weren’t entirely sure of his age, but knew he was at least 8 or 9 when I took him in.

I’m glad I got to give him a happy few years before he passed.