I believe everything you've said is correct. The kind of intermingling of bodily fluids that comes only with deep bite wounds (or intercourse) is the way FIV is transmitted. In this way FIV is similar to HIV, but its manifestations and treatment are not. It's basically the good-food and watchfulness regimen, and many positive cats remain asymptomatic throughout their generally normal lifespan. I haven't owned an FIV+ cat but had some contact with a couple back when I volunteered at the local Katrina shelter, and they were both big, sweet, healthy guys. One of them got to go back home -- they located his owner who unhesitatingly took him back even knowing the diagnosis. We all bawled for joy all over him the day he shipped out. He must have thought we were all nuts, slobbering on him like that. The other guy was, I believe, adopted by someone as their only cat. At the Katrina shelter we had to take precautions, but in the normal course of things, having learned what I have about FIV (mostly in the course of learning about FeLV), I wouldn't hesitate to intermingle a non-aggressive positive cat with others. Of course, placement with other positive cats would be extra-ideal from a safety standpoint. Good luck with this little guy. Diane R.
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:48 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: FIV Does anyone have any direct experience with FIV that they can pass on to me? I know the gist of course, since I foster cats and have "met" and lost the battle to- both Felv and FIP in the past year (ugh). I have heard that cats with FIV can be fairly successful- live heathly lives barely affected by the disease (is this true?), and it really is a lot like human HIV? I have also heard this is the one retroviruses that is transmitted by deep bite wounds and NOT casual contact? I am going to help a man who has taken in a alley cat that hung around his house for about 3 years that tested positive of FIV. He was clearly neutered by alley cat advocates b/c he has a tipped ear. He says it's a wonderful, approx. 5 yo tuxie. He has him in the bedroom for now (his only room with a door in his house) because his own cat is an extremely aggressive, neutered male and after 3 years of the tuxie hanging around outside, and being in the house for a while now- they can't sort out their differences and they will fight. He wishes he could keep the cat but with his cat- being such an aggressive fighter, and the tuxie being a fighter when need be (alley cat mentality)-- he just doesn't see it as possible due to transmission to his cat. The cat did get outside and got in a fight recently- ended up with an abcess on his ear- being treated by a vet, stint put in and he has a f-u next week- but it was at that appointment that the vet found the FIV and said "segregate!"- as they always do. I am going to work to get the cat into our adoption program as a "special needs" cat in the hopes that someone w/o other cats, with a non-aggressive cat, with a docile female, with other FIV cats, etc., would be willing to take him on. In the meantime, this man has agreed to continue to "foster" him in his home while I work to help him out with the situation. In the meantime, I want to build up my knowledge so that I have "talking points" for potential adoptive parents and I can educate if someone w/o prior FIV experience is willing to take him. The man seems to understand that he could have a cat on his hands with something a lot worse (like Felv or FIP), so he's definitely not an overreactor and he seems well-educated. Any info that anyone has will be great! Especially PERSONAL EXPERIENCE and/or accurate and trustworthy websites I can read and pass on to others! thanks, Caroline ________________________________ Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give. Learn more. <http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=text_hotmail_join> This electronic mail transmission and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged. They should be read or retained only by the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the transmission from your system. In addition, in order to comply with Treasury Circular 230, we are required to inform you that unless we have specifically stated to the contrary in writing, any advice we provide in this email or any attachment concerning federal tax issues or submissions is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, to avoid federal tax penalties.
