Feline immunodeficiency virus, or cat FIV, is a retrovirus infection first discovered in cats in the U.S. The virus is often referred to as cat HIV or cat AIDS because...

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is one of the most common and consequential infectious diseases of cats around the world. In infected cats, FIV attacks the immune system, leaving the cat vulnerable to many other infections.

What is feline immunodeficiency virus? Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a virus specific to the cat family. It is similar to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS in people) in that it attacks and weakens the immune system and there is no cure. FIV was first recognized in the mid-1980s and has been found in cats worldwide.

2025年2月26日 · Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a major viral infection in cats. Although it is similar to HIV (AIDS) in people, FIV is species-specific, which means it can only be transmitted from cat to cat, not to humans or other animals.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an enveloped, RNA virus that belongs to the Lentivirus genus of the Retroviridae. It infects domestic and wild cats worldwide, as well as hyenas. 4 Like HIV, FIV establishes a chronic, persistent infection that, in some cats, ultimately culminates in immunodeficiency.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) decreases the function of the immune system of domestic and wild cats. FIV-infected cats are more like to acquire other types of infections that can affect other parts of the body, including the gums, mouth, digestive tract, urinary tract, and skin.

2023年11月1日 · FIV is an infectious virus similar to HIV in people — which is why you may hear it called Feline AIDS — but is unique to cats. It’s estimated that about 3-5% of cats are FIV positive (FIV+). FIV was once a terrifying diagnosis, and many shelters used to euthanize cats who tested positive for the virus.

2024年9月19日 · Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a bloodborne viral infection that affects cats, weakening their immune system over time. Similar to HIV in humans, FIV targets and destroys white blood cells, which are crucial to fighting off common diseases and illnesses.

2025年3月17日 · Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is a viral infection in cats, affecting roughly 1% to 5% percent of cats. 1 It is relatively similar to the human...

FIV is a virus that infects cats and weakens their immune system, making them prone to illness and infections. FIV spreads in saliva, usually when an infected cat bites another cat – it doesn’t transfer to humans or other animals. FIV often goes unnoticed for many months or years before it starts to cause a problem.