Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a widespread viral infection that attacks the immune system of cats. It is caused by the same family of viruses that triggers AIDS in humans, therefore it is often referred to as Feline AIDS. FIV is transmitted primarily by bite wounds occurring in  cat fights. Other interactions such as sharing food and water bowls or grooming each other have not been shown to be significant in transmission. FIV is closely associated with Feline Leukemia (FeLV).

DIAGNOSIS OF FIV

Exposure to FIV can be detected by a simple blood test. A positive test means a cat has been infected with the virus and that it will remain infected for the remainder of its life. A negative result may mean the cat has not been exposed, but false negatives do occur in a few situations.

Read the rest of this article