Aids HIV FAQ

Can FIV spread via fleas?

Question:

I’m temporarily housing an FIV positive cat, and I already have one healthy cat of my own. (I’m keeping them separated, of course.)  I noticed that the FIV + cat is full of fleas.  Is there ANY possibility that my cat can get FIV from the fleas that bite the diseased cat?  I’m also quite concerned because I noticed my healthy cat intently sniffing something on the floor, and it turned out to be a ball of hair that was full of flea poop from the FIV+ cat.  I had been flea combing him, and the hair must have gotten loose.  Could my cat get FIV from ingesting the flea poop?   P.S. The FIV cat is my mother’s, and he’s special to me too, so I’ll appreciate any tips about caring for him.  He has a wound that won’t heal, and he recently lost a lot of weight, so the vet tested him for FIV.  He was just diagnosed today. Thanks, Liz

Response:

FIV is a fragile vius that cannot survive outside the infected cat.  (think about the human equivalent — HIV).  It dies quickly at room temperature, and it is easily killed by common disinfectants (e.g. bleah).  Therefore, FIV is transmitted only by close contact between cats.  The virus is found in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and in the greatest quanities in the saliva.  Spread by via bite wounds is also possible. i think it’s unsafe, however, to have FIV negative cats interacting with the FIV positive.  (i assume the other has been tested.) That’s sad.  i’m sorry about the diagnosis.  treatment for FIV is directed primarily against secondary infection and toward the organs that are malfunctioning.  Antibiotics, fluids, vitamins, and love are important aspects of supportive care to insure the longest, most comfortable survival of an affected cat. good luck. p.s. do something about those fleas!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’m temporarily housing an FIV positive cat, and I already have one healthy cat >of my own. (I’m keeping them separated, of course.)  I noticed that the FIV + >cat is full of fleas.  Is there ANY possibility that my cat can get FIV from >the fleas that bite the diseased cat?  I’m also quite concerned because I >noticed my healthy cat intently sniffing something on the floor, and it turned >out to be a ball of hair that was full of flea poop from the FIV+ cat.  I had >been flea combing him, and the hair must have gotten loose.  Could my cat get >FIV from ingesting the flea poop? >P.S. The FIV cat is my mother’s, and he’s special to me too, so I’ll appreciate >any tips about caring for him.  He has a wound that won’t heal, and he recently >lost a lot of weight, so the vet tested him for FIV.  He was just diagnosed >today. >Thanks, >Liz

Response:

Thanks for all the info.  It is helpful. >i think it’s unsafe, however, to have FIV negative cats interacting with the >FIV positive.  (i assume the other has been tested.)

They’re in the same house, but not interacting. >p.s. do something about those fleas!

I intend to.  Tutu (the FIV + cat) is actually a stray that we got fixed, feed, and take care of, but we haven’t been able to find a home for him.  It’s hard to keep fleas off outside cats.

Response:

It’s easy with Frontline TopSpot you get from vet.  It’s expensive but 1005 effective and easy to use, just squeeze this little kethup type pack on neck. — Colette, http://w3.one.net/~truth – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks for all the info.  It is helpful. >i think it’s unsafe, however, to have FIV negative cats interacting with the >FIV positive.  (i assume the other has been tested.) > They’re in the same house, but not interacting. >p.s. do something about those fleas! > I intend to.  Tutu (the FIV + cat) is actually a stray that we got fixed, feed, > and take care of, but we haven’t been able to find a home for him.  It’s hard > to keep fleas off outside cats.

Response:

I’m temporarily housing an FIV positive cat, and I already have one healthy cat of my own. (I’m keeping them separated, of course.)  I noticed that the FIV + cat is full of fleas.  Is there ANY possibility that my cat can get FIV from the fleas that bite the diseased cat?  I’m also quite concerned because I noticed my healthy cat intently sniffing something on the floor, and it turned out to be a ball of hair that was full of flea poop from the FIV+ cat.  I had been flea combing him, and the hair must have gotten loose.  Could my cat get FIV from ingesting the flea poop?   P.S. The FIV cat is my mother’s, and he’s special to me too, so I’ll appreciate any tips about caring for him.  He has a wound that won’t heal, and he recently lost a lot of weight, so the vet tested him for FIV.  He was just diagnosed today. Thanks, Liz

Response:

FIV is a fragile vius that cannot survive outside the infected cat.  (think about the human equivalent — HIV).  It dies quickly at room temperature, and it is easily killed by common disinfectants (e.g. bleah).  Therefore, FIV is transmitted only by close contact between cats.  The virus is found in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and in the greatest quanities in the saliva.  Spread by via bite wounds is also possible. i think it’s unsafe, however, to have FIV negative cats interacting with the FIV positive.  (i assume the other has been tested.) That’s sad.  i’m sorry about the diagnosis.  treatment for FIV is directed primarily against secondary infection and toward the organs that are malfunctioning.  Antibiotics, fluids, vitamins, and love are important aspects of supportive care to insure the longest, most comfortable survival of an affected cat. good luck. p.s. do something about those fleas!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’m temporarily housing an FIV positive cat, and I already have one healthy cat >of my own. (I’m keeping them separated, of course.)  I noticed that the FIV + >cat is full of fleas.  Is there ANY possibility that my cat can get FIV from >the fleas that bite the diseased cat?  I’m also quite concerned because I >noticed my healthy cat intently sniffing something on the floor, and it turned >out to be a ball of hair that was full of flea poop from the FIV+ cat.  I had >been flea combing him, and the hair must have gotten loose.  Could my cat get >FIV from ingesting the flea poop? >P.S. The FIV cat is my mother’s, and he’s special to me too, so I’ll appreciate >any tips about caring for him.  He has a wound that won’t heal, and he recently >lost a lot of weight, so the vet tested him for FIV.  He was just diagnosed >today. >Thanks, >Liz

Response:

Thanks for all the info.  It is helpful. >i think it’s unsafe, however, to have FIV negative cats interacting with the >FIV positive.  (i assume the other has been tested.)

They’re in the same house, but not interacting. >p.s. do something about those fleas!

I intend to.  Tutu (the FIV + cat) is actually a stray that we got fixed, feed, and take care of, but we haven’t been able to find a home for him.  It’s hard to keep fleas off outside cats.

Response:

It’s easy with Frontline TopSpot you get from vet.  It’s expensive but 1005 effective and easy to use, just squeeze this little kethup type pack on neck. — Colette, http://w3.one.net/~truth – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks for all the info.  It is helpful. >i think it’s unsafe, however, to have FIV negative cats interacting with the >FIV positive.  (i assume the other has been tested.) > They’re in the same house, but not interacting. >p.s. do something about those fleas! > I intend to.  Tutu (the FIV + cat) is actually a stray that we got fixed, feed, > and take care of, but we haven’t been able to find a home for him.  It’s hard > to keep fleas off outside cats.

Response:

I’m temporarily housing an FIV positive cat, and I already have one healthy cat of my own. (I’m keeping them separated, of course.)  I noticed that the FIV + cat is full of fleas.  Is there ANY possibility that my cat can get FIV from the fleas that bite the diseased cat?  I’m also quite concerned because I noticed my healthy cat intently sniffing something on the floor, and it turned out to be a ball of hair that was full of flea poop from the FIV+ cat.  I had been flea combing him, and the hair must have gotten loose.  Could my cat get FIV from ingesting the flea poop?   P.S. The FIV cat is my mother’s, and he’s special to me too, so I’ll appreciate any tips about caring for him.  He has a wound that won’t heal, and he recently lost a lot of weight, so the vet tested him for FIV.  He was just diagnosed today. Thanks, Liz

Response:

FIV is a fragile vius that cannot survive outside the infected cat.  (think about the human equivalent — HIV).  It dies quickly at room temperature, and it is easily killed by common disinfectants (e.g. bleah).  Therefore, FIV is transmitted only by close contact between cats.  The virus is found in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and in the greatest quanities in the saliva.  Spread by via bite wounds is also possible. i think it’s unsafe, however, to have FIV negative cats interacting with the FIV positive.  (i assume the other has been tested.) That’s sad.  i’m sorry about the diagnosis.  treatment for FIV is directed primarily against secondary infection and toward the organs that are malfunctioning.  Antibiotics, fluids, vitamins, and love are important aspects of supportive care to insure the longest, most comfortable survival of an affected cat. good luck. p.s. do something about those fleas!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’m temporarily housing an FIV positive cat, and I already have one healthy cat >of my own. (I’m keeping them separated, of course.)  I noticed that the FIV + >cat is full of fleas.  Is there ANY possibility that my cat can get FIV from >the fleas that bite the diseased cat?  I’m also quite concerned because I >noticed my healthy cat intently sniffing something on the floor, and it turned >out to be a ball of hair that was full of flea poop from the FIV+ cat.  I had >been flea combing him, and the hair must have gotten loose.  Could my cat get >FIV from ingesting the flea poop? >P.S. The FIV cat is my mother’s, and he’s special to me too, so I’ll appreciate >any tips about caring for him.  He has a wound that won’t heal, and he recently >lost a lot of weight, so the vet tested him for FIV.  He was just diagnosed >today. >Thanks, >Liz

Response:

Thanks for all the info.  It is helpful. >i think it’s unsafe, however, to have FIV negative cats interacting with the >FIV positive.  (i assume the other has been tested.)

They’re in the same house, but not interacting. >p.s. do something about those fleas!

I intend to.  Tutu (the FIV + cat) is actually a stray that we got fixed, feed, and take care of, but we haven’t been able to find a home for him.  It’s hard to keep fleas off outside cats.

Response:

It’s easy with Frontline TopSpot you get from vet.  It’s expensive but 1005 effective and easy to use, just squeeze this little kethup type pack on neck. — Colette, http://w3.one.net/~truth – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks for all the info.  It is helpful. >i think it’s unsafe, however, to have FIV negative cats interacting with the >FIV positive.  (i assume the other has been tested.) > They’re in the same house, but not interacting. >p.s. do something about those fleas! > I intend to.  Tutu (the FIV + cat) is actually a stray that we got fixed, feed, > and take care of, but we haven’t been able to find a home for him.  It’s hard > to keep fleas off outside cats.

Response:

Filed under: HIV