Cats for Adoption: FIV+ Cats Ready to Go Home

Meet Zarra, a kitty who is very happy to have been rescued from a very difficult life! She was found in the middle of the road one night and thankfully was rescued. When her rescuers took her for medical attention they were told she was suffering from pyometra, was very malnourished and was 10 years old—and also positive for FIV. Pyometra meant of course that she was not spayed, and an intact 10-year-old cat has likely had many kittens, so who knows what her story was. Her rescuer says she is a sweetheart! She gets along fine with other cats and she twirls and purrs constantly. She is looking for her forever home!

Today I’m featuring a collection of FIV+ cats who are adoptable through various rescues around Pittsburgh. Some of them have been rescued by one of our volunteers and later tested positive for FIV through several tests. Others were accepted into rescues from shelters who have no facility to care for FIV+ cats—in-home care is one thing, but life in a shelter is far more stressed, and with more chances to encounter multiple illnesses, for a cat with an already compromised immune system. FIV+ cats are often euthanized in shelters for that reason. Rescues save the lives of so many FIV+ cats and help shelters meet their goals of finding home or foster for all animals who come into their care.

About these cats

All of these cats are adults and vary in age from two years old to about five years old; of course, with rescued cats it’s hard to know exactly how old they are. But all of them are spayed or neutered, up to date on vaccines, has had any treatments necessary for their health such as dental procedures, is healthy enough to go to a forever home, and currently lives in a foster situation so the foster home can describe the cat’s personality and tell you more about their background.

About Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or FIV

FIV or “feline immunodeficiency virus” is similar to HIV in people, but infected cats can live a long and healthy life with the virus without any need for treatment. They can also live with other cats without infecting them—because FIV is most easily transmitted via saliva through deep bite wounds, spaying and neutering and keeping the cat indoors so that it doesn’t fight with other cats has been found to be the most effective way to stop transmission. It’s not contagious to dogs or people in any way. And so often these FIV+ cats are just big sweethearts. You can read more about FIV on the Cornell University Feline Health Center site.

FIV Facts

These are compiled and provided to adopters by Pittsburgh CAT.

• FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines.
• The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a slow virus that affects a cat’s immune system over a period of years.
• FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with few or no symptoms.
• FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread causally, like in litter boxes, water or food bowls, or when snuggling and playing.
• A neutered cat in a home is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced.
• The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds.
• Many vets are not educated about FIV since the virus was only discovered 15 years ago.
• FIV-positive cats should be kept as healthy as possible by keeping them indoors and free from stress. Feed a high-quality diet and treat any secondary medical problems as soon as they arise.

Is it Difficult to Care for an FIV-positive cat?

FIV-positive cats require no special medication or additional care beyond the diligence you’d use in caring for any cat. Dr. Virginia Clemans, former chief veterinarian at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, explains that, “the virus affects the immune system, so keep FIV cats indoors. Make sure they get regular vaccinations. And give them a high-quality diet. Keep an eye on them, and take them to the veterinarian at the first sign of illness.” Same as any cat.

So go and visit them! You can see them here on the Adoptable FIV+ Cats in Pittsburgh, PA Facebook page.

Can’t adopt? Foster! Can’t foster? Donate or volunteer.

There are so many ways you can help cats who need homes and care. You may not have room to adopt another cat, but can foster a cat or kitten for a few weeks. If not that, you can volunteer at a shelter or with a rescue, or donate. You do this because you love your cat, and by doing so you help all cats. No matter which of these actions you take, you help to save a life, and make life better for all cats.

• Adopt one of the cats I’ve posted here, or from any shelter or rescue near you, or from Petfinder, to open up a space for another cat to be rescued and fostered.
• Offer to foster cats or kittens for a shelter or rescue near you.
• Volunteer at a shelter or rescue.
• Find a group of volunteers who work with homeless cats and help them with their efforts.
• Donate to a shelter or rescue near you.

If you can foster kittens or adults cats to help prepare them for a forever home, please run to your nearest shelter and find a cat who needs you! Anyone can help with this effort at any level, even if all you do is donate to a shelter or rescue so they can help to pay for the food or medications needed for their foster, or the spay/neuter/veterinary care during a clinic.

Need to know more? Read Fostering for Your Shelter and Fostering Saves Lives

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All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.

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© 2022 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Weekly schedule of features:

Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life

Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters

Tuesday: Rescue Stories

Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork

Thursday: New Merchandise

Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy

Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats

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© 2016 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!

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