Hi ya'll, Ivy here today to talk to you about me and FIV. I have this and I am healthy at age 13. I spent most of my life outside as a feral until Mom rescued me and brought me inside six years ago. People are afraid to adopt FIV cats but they shouldn't be. I have lived indoors with 9 other cats and no one has gotten sick from me. Here is the scoop on FIV:
FIV Facts
1. The Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus is a slow virus that affects a cat's immune system over a period of years.
2. FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines.
3. FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all.
4. FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread casually - like in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when snuggling and playing. It is rarely spread from a mother to her kittens.
5. The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, unneutered tomcats.)
6. A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced.
7. Many vets are not educated about FIV since the virus was only discovered 15 years ago.
8. FIV-positive cats should be kept as healthy as possible. Keep them indoors and free from stress, feed them a high-quality diet, keep and treat any secondary problems as soon as they arise.
Despite what many people think, cats with this condition can live perfectly long, happy, healthy lives.
(From Best Friends Animal Society website)
Now that you have the scoop on FIV, let me give you the scoop on me! My favorite position to sleep in is with my head hanging off the edge. Strange huh?
My left whiskers are all curled like I got them singed in a fire. Mom does not know how this happened. - it was before she took me in. I also have a BB pellet embedded in my left paw - again, don't know how that happened.
I love sleeping with Joey - he is my best pal.
My tongue is always out - I don't even notice it.
I love sleeping on the heater in the winter and hang my head off it. Mom worries I will fall off but I don't.
I love to watch TV especially golf which Pop likes. I watch the little white ball fly through the air! So cool.
The reason for this post is to explain how FIV cats can live with other cats and not spread the virus. Chrystal has a private shelter with a lovely calico named Daphne who needs a home of her own. Because she is bringing so many new rescued pets into the shelter that are sick, she needs to protect Daphne from getting sick herself with her depressed immune system from FIV. Her picture is on the sidebar. Just click it for her story - please help her find a home like I have. I think life is great and I am so glad Mom took me in.
On another note - Chrystal's own cat Little Bit or Bitsy as she was called went to the Bridge last week. To honor her, Mom posted a memorial for her on Critters.com. It will be up for 2 weeks and there is a guest book for condolences. Go to the site, click Search, put in Little Bit's name and she is the first Little Bit listed with the date of June 11, 2011.
We joined Camera Critters this weekend - please do stop by for more animal posts.
