Yes, FIV+ (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) cats can often live with other cats, as transmission is unlikely through casual contact (sharing bowls, grooming) but primarily happens via deep bite wounds from aggressive fights, meaning well-socialized, indoor cats that don't fight can coexist safely, though some vets recommend keeping them separate or with other FIV+ cats for ultimate safety and to protect the FIV+ cat's compromised immune system.
FIV does not spread between casual contact between an FIV+ cat and a non-infected cat, so they can be housed together as long as they are coexisting peacefully (and not fighting). FIV+ cats can also live with other FIV+ cats.
Cats infected with FIV may live for months or years. On average, life expectancy is 5 years from the time of diagnosis depending on how active the infection is. There is a FIV vaccination given twice initially, then yearly thereafter for outside cats or cats exposed to outside cats due to the potential of cat bites.
Similarly, FIV is a cat-specific virus and cannot be transmitted to humans. 2. Can I get FIV by touching a cat with FIV? Absolutely not. FIV is not spread through casual contact like petting, sharing a litter box, or sharing food and water bowls. It is primarily transmitted through deep bite wounds. 3.
FIV is not contagious to humans or other animals.
Sharing food or water bowls, litter boxes, or grooming one another does not spread FIV. It's mainly transmitted through deep bite wounds during serious fights—often among unneutered male cats.
FIV is spread primarily through cats' saliva, particularly when a cat bites deep into another cat. FIV typically does NOT spread through cats grooming each other, sharing food and water bowls, or sharing a litter box.
The 3:3:3 Rule: Help Your New Cat Adjust to Their Home The 3:3:3 rule explains some general expectations for the transition process and some tips on how to support your cat through each stage: 3 days for initial acclimatization, 3 weeks for settling in, and by 3 months, they should be comfortable and at ease in their ...
While FIV is related to HIV in humans, there's no way that the cat virus can cross between species and infect people. FIV only affects cats, cannot be transmitted to non-felines.
Just give it time. Keep the blind cat in a room where he knows he can be safe and slowly let the other ones around him. Noise is the blind cats best friend. Try the bell collars and when he reacts to them tell him that's (insert cats name) so he knows it's something he needs to learn.
At least one such study has been conducted (and I was one of the guinea pigs), and no evidence of infection was found in anyone, even those who'd been bitten by FIV infected cats or accidentally injected with virus.
Stage 3: Progressive Immune Dysfunction Phase
In the final stage, the cat's immune system becomes immensely suppressed and weakened. As a result, cats with FIV start to develop symptoms related to other chronic, recurring infections and other opportunistic health issues.
Healthy FIV cats do extremely well on a raw diet (human grade only and frozen for 3 days before feeding). If the cat becomes ill their diet may need to be reassessed. Whilst many FIV+ cats may have good teeth their whole lives, it's not uncommon for FIV+ cats to have some tooth extractions.
Most catteries will accept FIV-positive cats if they are not showing other signs of infectious disease – aggressive, close contact is required for the virus to be transmitted.
However, a recent long-term study conducted by Purdue University's College of Veterinary examined FIV+ cats in shelters and drew two important conclusions: FIV-positive cats can live with FIV-negative cats and not infect the FIV-negative cats during normal day-to-day interactions, and mother cats infected with FIV don' ...
One of the biggest aggravators of poor health in any animal is stress, and the stress of keeping a cat indoors against its nature could have health implications. For these reasons we would suggest that, from a health point of view, access to the outdoors, for at least part of the time, would be best for FIV cats.
FIV infection was significantly linked to extreme aggressive tendencies and the extremely aggressive FIV‑infected cats were more likely to have an unhealthy status compared to the non‑aggressive individuals (p = 0.022).
The top "silent killers" in cats are Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), often progressing until 75% kidney failure, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart muscle disease, both often showing few symptoms until advanced stages, along with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver), leading to sudden illness or organ failure if undetected. Early detection through regular vet check-ups, blood tests, and monitoring for subtle changes like increased thirst/urination, weight loss, or hiding is crucial for managing these common, often hidden, feline diseases, says this article.
If you're not lucky, your cats may be very stressed and show signs of agitation, such as flattened ears, growling and crouching. To ward off a rumble when you see these warning signs, you may clap your hands together loudly or throw a pillow or toy to provide a distraction before the agitation turns into a fight.
Go by the 3/3/3 rule . 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to show their personality, 3 months to be comfortable. Cats sometimes take a long time to understand that people are good. There are tons of stories of people who had ferals that became total lap cats after a few years.
The main difference between FeLV and FIV is that FeLV is the more serious of the two conditions and is more easily transferable. FeLV can lead to more serious medical conditions, depending on the cat. FeLV is also a more rapidly developing condition, whereas it can take years for FIV to progress.
To say "I love you" in cat language, use slow blinks, offer gentle head/cheek rubs (scent glands), let them initiate contact, provide interactive play, and simply share calm presence, mimicking their natural affection signals like grooming and trust-building.
An important part of adopting an FIV+ cat is understanding that these kitties are just as loveable and affectionate as non-infected kitties. They need to be loved and cherished in return, maybe even more than an FIV negative kitty since, as mentioned above, keeping them happy and stress-free is good for their health.
Remember, the worst thing you can do for any kind of in-person/no barriers introduction, is to bring both cats into a shared space without giving them something to do.
Black Cats and Dogs Have Lower Adoption Rates
Research verifies that black dogs and cats have a lower chance of being adopted. It's a tragic fact that they tend to stay in shelters longer and are more likely to be euthanized due to shelter overcrowding than animals of other colors.
Cats are naturally solitary animals and are often happy without the company of their own species. They are territorial animals who don't like conflict with other cats. Introducing a new cat to an existing cat in the household takes time and patience – but don't worry, we have advice for this!