Note: What follows is a summary of the cause and symptoms of the condition Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) which is present in some of our cats. It is by no means a definitive description of the condition, which can vary from cat to cat. If you are considering adopting one of our FIV cats please discuss the cat concerned with Sherouk (preferably in a video call) and, for further reassurance, consult your own veterinary surgeon who will be dealing with the cat's care.
At Cairo Cat Rescue & Rehoming Champions HQ we have some cats and kittens which are FIV positive. This is a viral condition which attacks and weakens the cat's immune system and is revealed when the cat is tested by our veterinary surgeon as part of our routine vaccination and testing programme. It is transmitted through bodily fluids usually through bites from an infected unneutered male cat during mating or fighting for territory or occasionally from FIV positive mothers to kittens, in which case it cannot usually be detected until they are at least six months' old. In Egypt cats end up abandoned on the streets due to over-breeding and, lately, to the high cost of living, so their chance of encountering and coming into contact or conflict with an unneutered male is quite high. There is no vaccination against the virus and there is no cure but the prognosis is not as bleak as it was once thought to be. In fact with proper care FIV positive cats can live a normal lifespan.
When cats contract the FIV virus they initially have symptoms which are so mild that they are hardly noticed if at all. Some may remain like this for many years, particularly if they do not come into contact with cat carriers of other illnesses such as cat flu. The disease is therefore only revealed when an FIV test is undertaken and, as a Rescue, we do this routinely as part of our preparation for rehabilitation and rehoming. We also of course microchip, vaccinate, neuter or spay.
As mentioned above, as FIV progresses it weakens the immune system and makes cats more susceptible to a variety of other conditions ranging from respiratory diseases to skin conditions and mouth disorders. It's essential therefore to have regular checks by your veterinary surgeon and keep vaccinations up to date. However, with care progression can often take many years and your cat can live a normal lifespan.
Proper care of course also includes the correct diet and minimal exposure to animals who might carry infection.
Veterinary surgeons recommend not feeding raw meat or dairy because both might contain risky bacteria. They also recommend that the best way to keep your FIV pet safe is to keep it as an indoor cat (we specify that for our cats anyway) and as the only cat in the household. That also potentially safeguards other cats although infection is not transmitted via saliva on feeding bowls but through bites from fighting or mating. We would therefore follow veterinary advice in recommending that they are kept as an only cat but it is up to you, in consultation with your vet, to decide upon the level of the risk if you have other cats.
Finally, there was speculation at the height of the HIV panic that FIV could be transmitted by cats to humans. It cannot. They are two very separate diseases but there is still quite a lot of misinformation about this on the web.
We hope this Blog will help to remove some of the hesitancy and fear around adopting an FIV positive cat. As can be seen from the photos above we have some absolutely beautiful animals awaiting adoption. With a bit of extra care there is no reason why they should not live in a perfectly normal way to a good old age.
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