TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › Cat with FIV
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Cat with FIV

post #1 of 14
1/7/11 at 10:30pm
Thread Starter 
Hello I'm new and looking for opinions on our 2 cats. Sonny appx. 3-4 yrs old has FIV, we found him as a stray and is a wonderful cat in every way. The problem is our other cat named Ozee about 5 years old does not have FIV. We don't keep them together for fear of him catching Fiv from Sonny through biting. We have kept them seperated for 2 years now, one upstairs one downstairs. They are not hostile towards each other anymore when they see each other. We have a wire partition were they go nose to nose and check each other out. They don't mark territory, sleep on same blankets we switch places for them and they are fine. Does anyone think someday they could be best buddys and be together? Sonny also has claws besides the FIV so that is another worry. Just can't help but wonder if it could work out, both boys are neuterd I should add. Thanks.
Reply
post #2 of 14
1/8/11 at 12:31am
FIV is difficult to transmit. Only really serious cat fights produce broken skin and bloody wounds. It's ultimately a decision you will have to make, since the possibility is there, but I know that many people keep FIV and healthy cats together due to the extremely low risk. From what you've said about the two cats, I think they have a good chance of getting along and you may not have to worry about fights at all. You will have to be more careful after vet visits, maybe seperate a few days until the smell goes away to avoid the possibility of fights there, but I say if you feel it's worth it, go for it. I personally would introduce them and keep them together, but I believe cats are much happier and more themselves when they have interaction with another cat.
Reply
post #3 of 14
1/8/11 at 2:30am
I agree with gradually introducing them and seeing how it works out. Since FIV is almost exclusively spread through deep puncture wounds during serious cat fights and these appear to have the potential to get along well, the chance of the positive cat spreading it to the other is unlikely. I, too, know many people who have positive and negative cats living together with no issues. I've actually fostered several FIV+ cats, included one who was just adopted last month, and didn't hesitate to introduce them to my four resident cats, who are negative. Good luck!
Reply
post #4 of 14
1/8/11 at 7:44am
Thread Starter 
My other concern was Sonny has claws and Ozee does not,would I be right right in saying that as long as they like each other when they start wrestling around in a playful manner would Sonny keep his claws in. He may not hurt him intentionally but we worry about accidents.
Reply
post #5 of 14
1/8/11 at 8:05am
I'd be surprised if the claws became an issue but if you want to balance the playing field, you can trim the claw or have claw caps applied. That way, if there is a scuffle, they're both basically clawless.

I agree with the others. FIV is hard to transmit and if your cats already know each other I think chances are good that you can two very friendly kitties without much fear of the disease spreading. If you haven't yet read the threads on introducing cats in this forum, that would be a good idea and possibly address some of your concerns.
Reply
post #6 of 14
1/8/11 at 8:12am
That's one of the purposes fur serves. Often when cats play rough, one or both will get a bit of fur under their claws. The skin underneath is left untouched.
But even if scratches do happen, provided that they're not deep or to someone's eye, they heal.
I have seven cats in the house and occasionally one pushes another one too far and they get their nose scratched. I check to make sure it's healing, but that's it since the cat with the scratched usually deserved it.


Quick question, though, since Ozee is declawed is he a biter?
Reply
post #7 of 14
1/8/11 at 8:18am
Thread Starter 
Not sure what you mean, he play bites, do you mean to compensate for not having any claws? when we first brought Sonny in we had an episode where Ozee got by my wife and Sonny started chasing him. My wife grabbed a hold of Ozee but he was so scared he turned around and bit my wife on the hand, had to take her to urgent care. That was the only time.
Reply
post #8 of 14
1/8/11 at 8:20am
We have an FIV+ kitty living with our other 7, and we live in an RV. The risk of transmission is, as pointed out, through deep, penetrating bite wounds - not sharing food, not mutual grooming, not scratches. Normal roughhousing is just fine.

The virus exists outside of a cat's body for just a few seconds, and it "appears" to require the deep tissue in which to grow.

There are a number of threads with information - I'll go find some links for you. But click on the picture in my signature!

There's no reason not to let them interact with supervised introductions initially. Having been separated for two years, and with no signs of aggression now, I think you can start by swapping spaces for an hour or so at a time for a few days - let them explore each other's territory.

When you're ready to bring one or the other of them into the other's territory, be ready with a wand toy and treats, and make the focus on eating or a game, not each other.
Reply
post #9 of 14
1/8/11 at 8:28am
Some reading for you.

FIV+ cats: thoughts/experiences?

FIV+

If you want a long read about Chumley (he was initially named Charlie) and our learning process and his introductions, that is here: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=217397

Another long read, but I'm keeping a health journal for Chum in the Health Forum that has a summary of his timeline with us: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=224483
Reply
post #10 of 14
1/8/11 at 8:29am
Thread Starter 
We have been alternating places with them and they are just fine sleeping in the same spots using the same litter boxes no problems of marking anywhere they are both neuterd we just have not taken the final steps of a real face to face.
Reply
post #11 of 14
1/8/11 at 8:31am
I think you're ready.

Our Chum LOVES to play and is totally food motivated, so whenever we brought him over for a supervised intro, we'd get the wand toys out, and get everyone playing, then give everyone treats.

The generally idea is to make them think the other kitty means lots of fun - and then you're not stressing on watching every little interaction between the two.
Reply
post #12 of 14
1/8/11 at 8:40am
i'm working to introduce an FIV+ cat to our household, it sounds like the groundwork you've laid is a perfect prerequisite, they are already so used to each other's scents, and have seen each other many times. Claws are not much to worry about, and most cats will quickly figure out how much force they can use on a playmate and still be 'playing' so once they get used to each other they should be fine. Let us know how it goes!
Reply
post #13 of 14
1/8/11 at 8:45am
Thread Starter 
We are encouraged by what we have read thanks to all for your replies we will still proceed with caution because we love are cats and want them to be happy.
Reply
post #14 of 14
1/9/11 at 3:27pm
I have a FIV + boy who lives with 2 other males. They have lived together now for 5 years. There has never been a problem other than some swatting issues.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Behavior
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › Cat with FIV