Nearly 1m cats at greater risk of FIV, PDSA warns
Fighting is the primary cause of FIV transmission, so un-neutered male cats are most at risk.
To coincide with World Aids Day (1 Dec), the PDSA has revealed that nearly a million cats in the UK are at greater risk of developing feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which belongs to the same family of viruses as HIV.
There is no vaccine or cure for FIV but it can be prevented by neutering, as it reduces the chances of fighting between cats, which is the primary cause of transmission. Un-neutered male cats are therefore at the greatest risk.
Nearly 900,000 cats in the UK are not neutered according to figures from the latest PDSA Animal Well-being (PAW) Report.
PDSA vet Vicki Larkham-Jones explained: "FIV belongs to the same group of viruses as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and in much the same way as HIV, it depletes the number of white blood cells, meaning they are more prone to infection.
"The virus lives in the blood and saliva of infected cats but, like HIV, it cannot survive long outside the body, so direct contact is usually necessary to spread the virus. Once a cat contracts FIV there is no cure, so the best way to protect them is neutering."
The charity says that many owners remain unaware of FIV. Like humans with HIV, cats with the virus can live for long periods without showing signs of illness. In the later stages of the disease, euthanasia is often necessary.
Thousands of cats live with FIV, however, and most enjoy a good quality of life for many years with proper veterinary care and support from their owners. FIV infected cats must be neutered and will need to be kept indoors to avoid contact with other cats.
For multi-cat households, PDSA recommends separate food bowls as saliva can spread the virus. It is also important for pet owners to remember that FIV cannot be passed to humans.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
