Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, or FIV, affects thousands of cats every year. Research suggests that between 14% and 29% of cats test positive for FIV – yet the condition is still widely misunderstood. Myths about “cat AIDS,” fear of infection, and outdated assumptions often mean that wonderful cats are passed over in shelters simply because they carry the virus.
But here’s the truth: with love, care, and good management, FIV cats can live long, happy, deeply rewarding lives – just like any other cat.
Contents
What exactly is FIV?
FIV is a lentivirus, similar in structure to HIV in humans. It affects a cat’s immune system by reducing its ability to produce white blood cells – the body’s infection fighters. Over time, this can make cats more vulnerable to secondary illnesses, but not all FIV cats ever get seriously sick.
The virus is found in the saliva and blood of infected cats, and it’s most commonly transmitted through deep bite wounds from fighting. That’s why FIV is more prevalent in unneutered toms and stray cats who spend a lot of time outdoors defending territory.
There’s no cure for FIV, but with care, many FIV cats can live perfectly normal lives for many years.
Diagnosing and managing FIV+ cats
A simple blood test at your vet can confirm whether a cat is FIV positive. If you’re adopting or bringing a new cat home, testing is always a wise precaution – but don’t let an FIV diagnosis stop you from opening your heart.
FIV can’t be transmitted through casual contact. Sharing food bowls, grooming each other, playing, or even sleeping together won’t spread the virus. It doesn’t survive long outside the body either, so FIV+ and FIV– cats can live together safely, as long as they get along and don’t fight.
There’s no single treatment for the virus itself. Instead, it’s about keeping your cat’s immune system strong – providing excellent nutrition, prompt vet care for any infections, and a safe, stress-free home life.
Caring for an FIV+ Cat
In most ways, caring for an FIV+ cat is just like caring for any cat: feed them well, love them deeply, and make sure they see the vet if something seems off.
It’s safest to keep FIV+ cats indoors, both to protect them from catching illnesses and to prevent them from spreading the virus to others. With the right enrichment – scratching posts, puzzle feeders, cat trees, and playtime – indoor life can be just as fulfilling.
Many FIV+ cats live for well over a decade, enjoying all the same cuddles, play, and companionship as any other cat.
Myths about FIV cats
Is FIV cat AIDS?
Not exactly. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the final stage of an immunodeficiency virus, but most FIV+ cats never reach that point. Many live symptom-free for years, sometimes their whole lives.
Can FIV spread to humans?
No. FIV is species-specific, so it can only affect cats.
Can I give FIV to my cat by touching another FIV+ cat?
Also no. The virus doesn’t survive long outside the body – you can’t carry it on your hands or clothes.
Are FIV+ cats always sick?
Not at all. Many remain healthy for years with no signs of illness.
Do FIV+ cats have shorter lives?
They can, but not always. With good care, they can live long, full lives – often just as long as any other cat.
Emily’s story: Looby and Mia
Meet Emily Fowler from the UK, who with her partner Warren has adopted two FIV+ cats.
When Emily and her partner Warren lost their two outdoor cats in quick succession, they decided it was time for a change – and to open their home to a cat who truly needed it. That’s when they saw Looby, a 10-year-old cat listed by their local UK branch of Cats Protection.
Looby was described as affectionate but overlooked – she’d been waiting six months in the shelter after testing positive for FIV. “No one had even enquired about her,” Emily recalls. “But the moment we saw her photo, we knew she was ours.”
Looby settled in almost immediately. “She was so loving and talkative – she’d meow at everyone who came through the door,” Emily says. For years, Looby filled their home with warmth and laughter, until she was diagnosed with mammary cancer. Even then, her spirit shone. “The vet said she had six weeks to six months, but she gave us two more wonderful years.”
After losing Looby, Emily and Warren swore they’d honour her by helping another cat in need. Only two months later, they met Mia – a shy young FIV+ stray who had just raised a litter of kittens in a garden shed. “At first she hissed at everyone,” Emily laughs, “but now she’s the sweetest, most affectionate little thing. She’s proof that with patience and love, FIV+ cats thrive.”
For Emily, life with FIV+ cats isn’t any different, except for being a bit more watchful. “We make sure Mia eats well, stays indoors, and goes to the vet at the first sign of illness. Otherwise, she’s just our cat – funny, stubborn, loving, and full of personality.”
Thanks to Emily for sharing her story and introducing us to Angel Looby and Mia.
Have you cared for an FIV+ cat? Share your story below – every voice helps change how people see FIV and gives more cats like Looby and Mia a chance at a happy life.
Ah…. good for you. The current love of my life is MzTiz… 20 years old now! She’s doing quite well all things considered.
Thanks all for your lovely comments about my special girls, and thanks to Pawesome Cats for having us and for helping to spread the FIV love 🙂 xxx
Great message! FIV + kitties can be great pets too. I’m glad that Looby was given a chance to live with a loving family . 🙂
aww… that was such a heart warming interview. Looby must have been a wonderful cat 🙂
Thanks for sharing this post with all of us. More people need to see that FIV cats are really no different than non-FIV cats.
It’s wonderful that you gave Looby the second chance she needed. It’s a rewarding experience to adopt a special needs cat for both you and Looby.
Great post! We always enjoy reading about FIV+ kitties who have loving homes and families. It is heartwarming. We are currently running a series on FIV as well – in honor of our Sassy girl’s birthday this month. We’d love it if you stopped by!
Thanks for spreading awareness for FIV!
I’ve had two special needs kitties (Carmine and Jewel), but neither of them have/had FIV. I don’t know much about FIV, but I would totally adopt a kitty with FIV if I could. I can truly say that caring for special needs kitties is a wonderful experience.
Very cute! Looby and Mia are such sweeties.
We love this post! It’s wonderful that you are putting out the right information about FIV and kicking those daft old myths into the bin where they belong.
The more people who are educated about FIV the more of us with the virus will go on to lead long and healthy lives. Thank you!
Luff
Mungo xx
That’s a lovely interview with Emily and her cats are gorgeous. Emily is lucky to have a local branch of Cats Protection who are so educated about the virus and humane to cats with it.
I’m a cat with FIV and my apes do a really good job of looking after me. I even get supervised time outdoors every day in our safe garden. I hunt mice and birds, but I’m not allowed to eat them. I also get wormed more often as a just in case measure. I’m happy to go out on the harness and locally, I have an unofficial fan club of passers by who make a fuss of me when I am out with my ape in the front garden. I was a stray in terrible shape when I turned up on their doorstep. It’s a good job that our local Cat’s Protection didn’t get me as that particular branch have all stray FIV and FeLV positive cats immediately killed!
We can live lives as long and as healthy as cats that don’t have the virus, as long as we get good care. The virus is very weak and we are more at risk of catching diseases from other cats than we are of infecting others. Some vets in the UK still have a very misinformed attitude to us, but I’m lucky out vets have become very positive about cats with FIV. When I arrived, some of the staff were a bit negative about me, but I showed them how gorgeous an FIV cat can be and won them over quickly.
There is a private sanctuary in the UK called Catwork. Run by two very sweet and dedicated people who have, since the 1990s given sanctuary to many cats who because of their FIV and FeLV status have been considered only fit for killing by some of the largest animal charities in the UK.
If anyone is thinking of adopting a cat with FIV or has a cat who tests positive and is dealing with misinformed vets or charity workers, then PLEASE contact Catwork. They are very helpful and are always happy to help you advocate for the life of an FIV cat. They have a massive amount of knowledge about this virus and regularly educate vets and staff about how best to care for us.
One vet told us that if you had 1000 cats with FIV, 1000 cats without FIV and 1000 cats of unknown viral status – and you tracked them through to the end of their lives, you would not be able to tell which cats died from the results of FIV infection and which did not. We are just a little more prone to common cat diseases than others.
We can also live together with non infected cats. I have lived with two other cats here, I loved my brothers and because the apes took great care in socialising us, we all got along great and loved each other very much. The Celia Hammond Animal Trust in London has been running a project since the 1990s (with the support of Glasgow Veterinary School) to study the issue of cross infection in mixed populations. To this date, there has not been one instance of cross infection. So we are not the pariahs that some still seem to believe that we are.
Thank you for such posting about cats with FIV and being such good advocates for us!
Luff and purrs
Mungo xx
Looby and Mia both sound like extra-special cats! What a shame anyone would let an FIV diagnosis stop them from adopting sweet kitties like these.
Great post! Our Sassy girl is FIV+. We will be doing a series on FIV throughout the month of November in honor of her birthday. Thank you for helping to spread awareness and educate others on FIV!
Thank you for helping dispel the myths and fears surrounding FIV. We have had several FIV+ kitties at our shelter, and most have gone on to live long and happy lives in their forever homes. 🙂
The FIV myths persist. Our Domino is FIV+ and is very healthy.
Thanks for sharing this. Humans need to be educated about FIV and that it’s not as terrible a disease as once thought.
I’m shocked that FIV+ kitties still get a bad rap in some areas, and I’m glad you are helping set things straight.
I once knew a cat with FIV that lived well over its twenties. If well-cared for and separated from others, they can live a fairly normal life.