[dsfny60]

...small room/no choice Ok or not? I love Hazel but I have a healthy cat already and cannot risk bringing her home. Still actively trying to find her a home but she is currently living in a small comfortable room at my workplace with no windows. I feel she must be bored, she LOVES me but I can't spend that much time with her and I feel guilty every time I leave her. I know she's better off than where she was but if I can't find her a loving home that she deserves, do you think she's ok where she is? i have to protect her fiv status, keep her indoors and clean and healthy but I feel so bad that she has no company. Please help, my heart breaks more every day.

[Egotitious]

Mybe you can find another FIV+ cat to stay with her? It is sad but you are a doing a great thing taking care of her like this. Provide lots of toys and comfortable bedding in that room. If you can, it would be great if you put a TV in there. TV would give her some company. Anything for her to climb in the little room?and keep searching for a home, maybe a rescue will help you find her a home. Good luck.

[Ralfcoder]

Not a good situation! Have you checked with your vet? Can you possibly carry the FIV virus or bacteria home on your clothes or person, and infect your other cat?Ask your vet about the likely longevity of the infected cat. If it won't live long, consider euthanizing it. If it is longer, ask the vet if he/she knows of a way to place it in a better home. Maybe there is a feline stray/rescue service that can place it.This cat deserves more than you can give it now. If someone else can provide that, you need to let them.

[scientician82]

Just reading that makes my heart break too. It sounds sad though that she is in one room with no windows. Good luck finding her a home.

[trusport]

How compassionate of you to care for this little girl. I live in Maryland and there is a shelter in PA that accepts FIV positive cats that are separated from the healthy adoptable cats. They all have their own area with great cat trees, toys and all the trimmings. Having a FIV positive cat isn't a death sentence, as long as she's healthy with a good managed diet there may be someone out there willing to give this little girl a home, don't give up trying to find her a home. And if it doesn't work out, the only other alternative is euthanasia. I'm sure you would consider her living a better alternative. Cat's are very adaptable and as long as you give her some attention and the basics, she will always be grateful.

[Seargent Sugar]

u have a big heart! if u want to spend the money have an FIV (western blot) test done to rule it out 100%Does she deserve her lifestyle? Well thats up to her and her lifestyle..........does she have food , water, shelter and people who love her?Does she do the things she likes? cats w/ FIV live long GOOD lives they just need to be OFF the streets, battling the elements ( like ALL cats)If she's loved and shes got love and health, than what would you rather do?at least she's got people to make those decisions for hergood luck

[seething13]

Yes, it's perfectly OK! Don't feel so bad, often cats in shelters live in tiny 2x2 cages for months on end. She is much better off with you in a decent sized room than in a cage in a shelter! FIV is not very contagious, and doesn't live outside the cat's body, so, to answer the other poster's question, there is NO RISK of you transferring the virus to other cats on you or your clothes. Actually, the only way FIV is transmitted at all is by deep penetrating bite wounds, so it's actually safe to MIX a sweet, freindly FIV+ cat with non-positive cats, so long as they do not get into any serious fights. Most FIV+ cats show NO symptoms, and are carriers only, and live normal, healthy lifespans. There is no reason to feel bad for her, you are doing so much more for her than many other people would! There is a serious lack of education on the subject of FIV, and many shelters automatically euthanise these cats based on a test result. Even many vets are not aware of the studies done that prove how hard it is to transmit, or the treatment options available for symptomatic cats. There are LOTS of new studies available, and tons of info about FIV out there, if you just seek it out. I'll include a few sources below, please do take the time to check them out!































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[buterfly_2_lovely]

its fine my cat is crated often and is a healthy affectionate cat. if you really feel bad play with her and snuggle her but cats are very independent i'm sure it doesnt occur to her that she may be missing anything

[bonnie g]

You really need to find this cat a home. I have 11 cats. They are rescue cats and all are FIV positive. They are high maintenance cats. If they start to go down and need a vets care, they do it very quickly. I had one go down, while I was at work. I'm only gone about 9 hours a day. My husband was watching her and called me. By the time I got her to the vet for shots and antibiotics, I almost lost her. I had to miss work and feed her with an eyedropper for 3 days. I love my cats and I would die or go broke for them. I do not believe in leaving them alone for that long. Also, FIV positive cats can live up to 10 years and never show symptoms. Mine are mostly healthy cats. I only have one that goes down, at this time and she is three years old. Your cat needs a home with someone who will love it like their child.To seething. I sure wish you accepted e-mail. I just want to thank you so much for the links you put on here. I was told that FIV could be transmitted just by a cat hissing in anothers face. My vet is not very educated on this, I think.