FIV POSITIVE
LOOK OUT!! Yep, I said it and some people would have thought that I had said that I had an unexploded bomb! Or that I had said an X-rated word! Make that FIV-rated.
I was one of the people. I realized just how uneducated I was about FIV. I decided to change that and thought that I would share some of what I learned with all of you!
FIV FACTS:
1. The Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus (FIV) is a slow virus that affects a cat's immune system over a period of years.
2. FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines.
3. FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all.
4. FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread casually - like in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when snuggling and playing. It is rarely spread from a mother to her kittens.
5. The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, unneutered tomcats.)
6. A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats.
7. Despite what many people think, cats with this condition can live perfectly long, happy, healthy lives.
FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It's a lentivirus, meaning that it progresses very slowly, gradually affecting a cat's immune system. It is passed through blood transfusions and through serious, penetrating bite wounds - mainly by stray, intact tom cats.
The most well-known lentivirus in humans is HIV. But the two viruses are not at all the same, and you can't get FIV from a cat.
As long as cats with FIV are not exposed to diseases that their immune system can't handle, they can live perfectly normal lives. And they can only pass the virus on to other cats through a serious, penetrating bite wound.
So unless your cats at home routinely tear each other to pieces, it's not a problem. (And if your cats are tearing each other up, then you have much bigger problems!)
The virus affects the immune system, so keep FIV cats indoors, make sure they get regular vaccinations, and give them a high-quality diet. Keep an eye on them, and take them to the veterinarian at the first sign of illness. Of course, this would be the same advice for any cat.
There is absolutely no reason for these wonderful kitties not to be in good homes.
I hope that all of you don't mind my sharing what I have learned about FIV Positive cats. Many of you probably already knew this information.
Now....on to another objective of mine:
Chrystal, who we all know and love, has a beautiful FIV Positive cat. Daphne. Here are some facts about darling Daphne:
- She is a lovebug!
- She loves rubbing your legs and peeps out her little mews.
- She loves to crawl on your lap and make bikkies.
- She loves to give nose bump kisses.
- She is blind in one eye.
- She is FIV positive.
Surely there someone who would take this little jewel? Please consider adopting Daphne. She deserves a loving home and she should not be denied this because of FIV.
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT HOW FIV IS ACTUALLY SPREAD!
FIV Positive Cats need and deserve forever homes!
Thank you so much for reading this and please contact me at: debrastaylor@earthlink.net if you can help!
One more thing then I will let you get back to your errands:
I'm setting up a ChipIn button on this blog for Chrystal. At the moment, she is literally flooded with critters who need her help. With all the flood waters that are happening all around her home, she has taken in many kittens, cats and dogs who need help. She and her family are working around the clock to help these furries in need. Any contribution will be sent to help Chrystal in her continuing efforts to save these blessed beings.
One more thing then I will let you get back to your errands:
I'm setting up a ChipIn button on this blog for Chrystal. At the moment, she is literally flooded with critters who need her help. With all the flood waters that are happening all around her home, she has taken in many kittens, cats and dogs who need help. She and her family are working around the clock to help these furries in need. Any contribution will be sent to help Chrystal in her continuing efforts to save these blessed beings.
30 comments:
Nicely done Deb, what an informative post! I'm praying Daphne finds a safe and loving home soon!!!
Thank you for this post! I have to admit I didn't know much about FIV - just that all of my cats get tested for it on their first vet visit. Hopefully through education, people will be more willing to adopt these cats!
That is a super post Deb and very informative. We sure hope that kitty of Chyrstals does find a home really soon. We are sending tons of purrs and prayers that she will find a home. Chrystal is so good about taking animals in. Take care Deb.
That was a great post and a truly sweet gal that deserves a home. We all need to spread the word and help Chrystal too!
Thanks for the info concerning FIV. We are purring that Daphne finds a home. We are also purring that one day they find a cure for FIV.
Thank you for all the info! I'm hoping the super strong antibiotic takes effect and Max can come home today. The vet told me that Max and the others should not be eating out of the same bowls, but I was suspicious of that information. Maybe he was jut being cautious - he seemed like an educated man otherwise. I do hope sweet Daphne finds a great home. I sure do love those cuddlers!
Thanks for the great information. We did not know all of that! I hope beautiful Daphne finds a Forever home.
Wonderfully said! I knew that FIV cats could be perfectly fine with others - the others are more of a danger to the FIV kitty then the kitty would ever be to them. When we were adopting Trixie (from Chrystal :) ) we talked about it since I was already in love with her before the FIV test and we decided that if it had been positive we would probably still take her in - just would have to be a bit more careful about making sure there wasn't a lot of fighting. I wish we had more room because Daphne is such a great kitty - but we were pushing it with 7. But we hope hope hope that she will find her perfect forever home very soon! (We talked about Chrystal at our blog today too).
This is a very informative post and I hope it puts a lot of minds to rest. I pray that the gorgeous little one will find a loving home. Mum says she will help a little. Hugs GJ x
Very informative. I have a friend who rescued a FIV Positive kitty, but she was told by her vet that she could only bring in other FIV positive kitties. I'll get this information to her.
Mom Paula
Well since I is a doggie, I didn't knows any of dis. But, I did thinks dat FIV was like way more threatening medically than what it really is. Glad you educated me on dis.
One of my mum's BFFs is a kitteh person so it's nice to learn bouts kittehs...and cuz we haves so many wonderful kitteh furiends on da blogs.
I so hope Daphne finds her perfect furever home. Every animal deserves dat...regardless of medical issues, disabilities, or age.
Oh, and I thinks her has beeeeeautiful markings.
Puddles
Great info about FIV and Daphne. The only issue is NO VACCINES for FIV cat - it is very dangerous to do so and could bring on an illness. Will pass this on to my FB and Twitter.
Thank you for the info. We did not know, either!
I think there is a lot of MISinformation about FIV postive cats.
When I took 007 in to Dr. Smith, he did test postive for FIV, among, of course, everything else.
Dr. Smith mentioned that had it been a year earlier, she might have had a different opinion on an FIV+ cat, but that she was learning it was no longer a death sentence, or even a sentence to a life without "brofurs or sisfurs".
She said she now had FIV+ cats mixed in with her "normal" cats.
And today I learned, along with Deb, about the realities of having an FIV positive cat.
Thank you for this post.
It came at a great time because Karen C., our mutual friend and rescuer of KC, is dealing with the issues of keeping an FIV positive cat, Max, and her other cats, Grr, Midnight, Cocoa, Rascal and Riley.
~ML
We'd take Daphne if we, to, weren't full. We've been asking alla our frends and fambly but just like us dey haf full houses! We'z doing what we can, purraying fur a home fur Daphne. We bet dis information will help her find a forever home.
Thanks, a terrific piece of writing and you summed it all up so well; we learned a lot more than we knew before.
As for darling Daphne, wish we could have her but as that's not possible we'll pray she finds her furever home soon.
What a wonderfully informative post on FIV....I have to admit I was under a few misapprehensions about FIV.
We are purring as loudly as we can for Ms. Crystal.
Love to all the Taylors....:)
PeeS, be sure to check your email today.....we sent a couple things (cards)....:)
We hope someone will take Daphne and give her lots of love and a happy life. Thank you Crystal for taking care of her and all the needy due to the flooding.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Great info! THanks for educating us!
What a beautiful informative post. We are purring for Daphne ~ she so deserves a loving forever home.
AND we are celebrating yoo (the mom) 'cos we appreciate all yoo do. Fanks.
Love milo and Alfie xx
(Fanks to Zoolatry).
We are purring our loudest purrs for sweet Daphne and we hope someone will give this lovely lady cat a loving home soon.
We would also like to thank your mom for all she does for us on the CB.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xxx xxx
I was ignorant about the virus too. And Daphne is a gorgwous precious one who needs love and a home.
I came by again because my first coment went missing and also to say I join in the fabulous celebration that Zoolatry has done and so agree with may being your's and ML month.. Hugs GJ xx
Hi! We came over from Zoolatry! What a well-deserved honor for you. This is a lovely, informative and fun place to visit!! Congrats to you all!!
Lisa and the Rotties
Just came over from Zoolaty to say hello. Very imformative post, thank you so much. We don't have any cats and are just 2 dachshunds, me Mona and my blind brother Weenie. We would love to be friends.
[[[huggies}}}....Mona & Weenie
Thank you for the very informative post!! We hope Daphne finds a good home,
Madi and Mom
That is great info Deb. So often people think that they can't keep a FIV cat but it is very possible. This is so great that you have done this post.
Also we wanted to tell you how much we appreciate all that you do for everyone and all the kitties. (Donkeys too)
Hope you are still feeling better.
Thank you for the information about FIV. I hope sweet Daphne finds a home.
I have just read Zoolatry's post dedicating the rest of May to you. We wanted to say thank you for all that you do for the cat blogosphere and for kitties in need.
Great article, lot of info. Got one question, though.
Other places, we've read that you should not vaccinate FIV+ kitties at all, apparently because the weakened immune system might let the kitties get sick, much sicker than a non-FIV kittie.
Oh~ This was a great Post! Wes has always wondered about FIV.7
There has always been 2 cats and 2 dogs in our house and we lives in the country. We has always wondered...
Kisses
Nellie
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