A Guide to Adopting an FIV+ Cat

If you’ve ever browsed the “Available Cats” section on our website (and if you haven’t, you should!), you’ll have noticed we regularly have FIV+ kitties available for adoption. It may be easy to simply scroll over them—we get it, it sounds scary—but hear us out! FIV is still very misunderstood, and adopting an FIV+ isn’t as intimidating as it may seem. 

Here’s what you need to know. 

FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, and is similar to HIV in humans. When FIV was first discovered, it was deemed a “death sentence” and sadly, kitties that tested positive for it were often euthanized. The truth is that FIV+ cats can live long, healthy, and normal lives without medication or any special interventions required to maintain their health. In many cases, you can expect your feline

friend to be around for many happy years!

It’s also important to note an FIV+ cat cannot transmit the disease to you, or to other humans or species in your household. The virus only affects cats, and preventing cat-to-cat infection is easier than you may think. FIV is primarily spread through deep bite wounds or from infected mothers to kittens during birth or nursing. It is not transmitted through casual contact like grooming, snuggling, or sharing food and water bowls. 

Consequently, in many cases FIV+ and FIV- felines can live together without the FIV- cat ever becoming infected. Infection risk is very low in a home setting as long as kitties are properly introduced and have adequate space and resources to prevent serious fighting. At RMFR, we do keep our FIV+ kitties in a separate room, since infection is more common in shelter settings than homes. Even so, this does not mean FIV+ and FIV- cats must continue to be separated once they come home. 

We hope the takeaway here is that adopting an FIV+ cat is not as scary or intimidating as it may seem. Like when adopting any pet, education is crucial to ensure your furry friend remains happy and healthy and continues to thrive for many years to come! As always, RMFR’s knowledgeable and dedicated staff is here to answer any questions you might have about these felines or other special kitties in our care.

Don’t let a positive FIV test prevent you from taking home your next furry friend!