Wednesday, October 22, 2014

FIV transmission in shelters

Good news for FIV+ shelter cats:

A study found in the August 2014 issue of The Veterinary Journal concludes shelters can house FIV+ cats with seronegative cats without concern that the disease will transmit to non-FIV cats.

The study followed two shelter organizations - one in-home rescue and one foster program - for 38 months. The study found that none of the cats followed changed their status (e.g. none of the non-FIV cats who were examined ended up testing positive during the course of the study).

Chairman Meow is one of three FIV+ cats currently
 available for adoption at Wayside Waifs in Kansas City


Hopefully it will be studies like this that will finally reverse the Kansas law that forbids shelters from adopting FIV+ cats into homes. Kansas is the only state in the U.S. that has such a law.

And contrary to popular belief, FIV cannot be transmitted in the same way as feline leukemia or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), both of which are carried in fluids and mucous. FIV is transmitted through deep puncture wounds, not the light scuffle-play that most domestic cats engage in.

To read more about this study, click over to Winn's article, found here.


Sources:
The Veterinary Journal, 2014 Aug;201(2):184-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.02.030.
(read abstract here)

Winn Feline Foundation

10 comments:

  1. YAY!!!! (mom says she may print this out and put it on the desk of the director of the shelter where she volunteers - hehe) Now to have Kansas legislators get a clue!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's a good news study. Does Kansas also forbid TNR?

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a terrific study. Thank you for sharing this important news, friends!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is great news - I hope it helps change things in Kansas!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great news and maybe Kansas should get more updated on their laws. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
    Best wishes Molly

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fantastic news!!! Thank you so very much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow - it's illegal to adopt out an FIV+ cat in Kansas? That's just wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AWESOME! I'm so glad studies like this are being done. It's so important. I'm doing a series on FIV in November. This makes me even more anxious to share it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Pawsum posty. Weez shawin'.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

    ReplyDelete

Coolio! A comment? For US?