Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

[aiko]

We have adopted a stray that is VERY skiddish. We are having trouble getting her into the carrier to take her in to get tested for FIV We have three other non-FIV cats and are afraid to integrate her into our family without the test. We've had her for two months now and want to pull her into the family! Should we be worried about our other cats? We don't even know if she is FIV+...

[LadyDarya]

Your bigger concern should be FeLV, which is highly contagious and more devestating than FIV. As someone who had done resuce in the past my advice is to not let the newbie meet any of your established cats until it sees the vet. FIV is not the big concern, FeLV is - a cat is more likely to contract FeLV than FIV If your interacting with the new one - make sure you are washing your hands before comming into contact with your other cats until you can get the new one tested. I have a FIV+ cat living with FIV- cats with no problems but I absolutly would not have integrated her if she had FeLV If you have to try to find a humane trap and get the cat to the vet that way.