No, FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) are not the same, though both are contagious retroviruses that weaken a cat's immune system, leading to similar secondary illnesses like infections and cancers, but they are different viruses, transmitted differently (FeLV easily through saliva/grooming, FIV mainly via deep bites), and have distinct characteristics, with FeLV often causing more rapid decline while FIV can leave cats asymptomatic for years.
I just wanted to point out that FIV does not spread through saliva. A cat cannot spread FIV by sharing a food or water bowl, kissing, cleaning, or licking. It is transmitted through the bloodstream via deep bite wounds or infected gums.
While decisively different, FeLV and FIV are both diseases that attack a cat's immune system and can result in life-threatening complications. However, with careful health monitoring, cats with FeLV and FIV can live normal lives—they just have a shorter life expectancy.
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.
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.
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.
Chronic kidney disease is the most common silent killer in cats, and can be genetic. With this disease, 75% of both of your cat's kidneys don't work properly, and there are a few symptoms you can identify: Excessive drinking and urinating.
FIV infection sometimes leads to gingivitis, painful inflammation of the gums. Some antiviral therapies have been shown to help FIV-infected cats suffering from inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and mouth (stomatitis).
Yes, cats with FIV can live successfully with other cats! 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.
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.
Since FIV in cats is usually transmitted through bites, the best form of prevention is to keep cats from fighting by keeping them indoors. It's also important that any cat who has been diagnosed with FIV not be let outdoors so they can't spread the disease to other cats.
The efficacy of vaccination seems to depend on the stage of FIV infection. It has been shown that FIV-infected cats in an early stage of infection are able to mount appropriate levels of protective antibodies after vaccination [44,45], but responses can be impaired during the terminal phase of infection [46].
Less than 1 percent of healthy indoor cats in the United States are infected with FeLV, compared to 1 to 2 percent of healthy outdoor cats, and more than 13 percent of sick stray cats. FeLV is more common in multicat households than in single-cat households, especially when cats go outdoors.
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!
Behavioral Changes
If your typically social and cuddly cat is now withdrawn and hiding, this is an immediate red flag that something might be wrong. It's common for cats that aren't feeling well to hide to prevent their illness from being discovered.
This can sound scary, but you don't need to feel like you should avoid kitty kisses. FIV cannot be passed to humans, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, or any other being who is not a cat. A deep bite wound is the most common cause of an FIV infection in cats.
ACR does not recommend euthanizing cats with FIV and has cared for many healthy FIV feral cats. However, for conditions that require long-term, in-house care and where treatment is not possible, it is more humane to euthanize the cat than it would be to release her back outside.
Casual interactions, such as sharing food bowls, grooming, or even touching an FIV-positive cat and then an FIV-negative one, are highly unlikely to transmit the virus.
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.
Clumping Litter: For clumping litter, it's recommended to scoop out clumps and solid waste daily, with a full change and cleaning of the box every two weeks. Non-Clumping Litter: Non-clumping litter should be scooped out daily, with a complete litter change and box cleaning once a week.