Integrating an FIV positive stray

katink

katink

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I am looking for some advice. We have four male indoor cats. A stray girl showed up during the last snow storm and we would like to integrate her, but she tested positive for FIV. All cats, including her, are fixed and very mellow in nature. My husband wants to take the risk and integrate but I am scared out of my mind that she'll infect everyone else. She is in need of some dental work and I read that it usually gets way worse. This might be stupid, but if the disease spreads via bite wounds, couldn't we get her teeth removed? We have one toothless cat due to stomatitis and he is doing great without teeth. I don't know what to do. I can't imagine finding a home for a cat with this disease, as there is so much misinformation and nobody will want to adopt her. But I am also hesitant to keep her, out of fear that my other cats will get sick.
 
abby2932

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I'm not going to be a whole lot of help but I do want to bump this thread for others to see and maybe help answer your questions.

I think I have read that FIV in cats is not easily transmitted from normal social interactions such as cats living together but primarily through bite wounds and cat fights. I'm not sure what I would do in your situation as I have not done much research on integrating FIV positive cats with FIV negative cats.

Hopefully someone on this forum will have some words of wisdom for you.
 
hexiesfriend

hexiesfriend

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I can tell you my opposite situation. I have adopted only stray and ferals from the neighborhood unfortunately all of the turned out to be FIV+ . About 5 years ago the woman across the street suddenly died and animal control was going to take the cat so I stepped in. The cat was FIV- then and still is. She shares water bowls, food bowls sleeping quarters etc with 3 FIV+ cats and she has no issues.
 
catwoman707

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Katink said:
I am looking for some advice. We have four male indoor cats. A stray girl showed up during the last snow storm and we would like to integrate her, but she tested positive for FIV. All cats, including her, are fixed and very mellow in nature. My husband wants to take the risk and integrate but I am scared out of my mind that she'll infect everyone else. She is in need of some dental work and I read that it usually gets way worse. This might be stupid, but if the disease spreads via bite wounds, couldn't we get her teeth removed? We have one toothless cat due to stomatitis and he is doing great without teeth. I don't know what to do. I can't imagine finding a home for a cat with this disease, as there is so much misinformation and nobody will want to adopt her. But I am also hesitant to keep her, out of fear that my other cats will get sick.
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FIV and FELV are transferred through blood, deep bite wounds that cause saliva to meet with blood. FELV can also be given to kittens through momma.

These kinds of bites are from unneutered males, who fight viciously, intending to do great harm to the opponent to protect his territory and mating partner, they don't share!

I have known of many, many households with a positive cat and negative cats, and not once have I heard of it transferring to a negative cat.

They just don't fight like that.

Females are dominant in homes, and males will submit to this, from instinct.

So even if/when she comes off as showing the boys who is boss, there's no need to worry. It's not deep blood drawing biting, more displays of dominance is all and will pass easily with all boys.

So no worries!
 
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