Marley's Cat Tales and Dogs Too!   607 Webster Street   Cary, NC  27511 ||    E-mail: marleyscats@gmail.com   Adoptable Animals:  Dogs and puppies (18)  Cats and kittens (388)    All Adoptables (406)

Welcome   Who we are   Donations   Adoptable Animals   Adoption FAQ'S   Adoption Application   FIV Education   How to Help   Nursery Page   Sponsor a Kitty   Calendar of Events   Success Stories   If you Find a Stray   Volunteering Information   Volunteering Opportunities   Contact Us   Sponsors   Miracle Babies   Go Shopping   The Chadwick Fund   Wish List Page   Black Cat   Facebook   Windsor's Story   Sign up for the Newsletter   Weekly Note for Foster Homes Signup FIV Education WHAT IS FIV? FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s a lentivirus, meaning that it progresses very slowly, gradually affecting a cat’s immune system. It is passed through blood transfusions and through very serious penetrating bite wounds – mainly by stray intact male cats. The most well know lentivirus in humans is HIV. But the two are not the same and you cannot get FIV from a cat. FIV positive cats can test positive because they are exposed to the virus and are fighting it, because they are infected with the virus or because they have received a vaccine for FIV. FIV positive cats can live many years without any issues. See our website for many of our wonderful FIV positive and non-FIV positive cats. We had a wonderful cat in our program - Maximillian. He was at least 17 years old and tested positive for FIV when he was two years old. He’s been completely healthy all of these years. Like many of our FIV kitties, he is incredibly friendly and even enjoys walking on a leash and harness. FIV FACTS The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a slow virus that may affect a cat's immune system over a period of years. • FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines. • FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all. • FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread casually - like in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when snuggling and playing. It is rarely spread from a mother to her kittens. • The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, un-neutered tomcats.) • A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced. • 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. Keep them indoors and free from stress, feed them a high-quality diet, keep and treat any secondary problems as soon as they arise. For more info visit: http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare/cats_fiv.cfm http://www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/magazine/010110fiv.cfm Featured Pets Susie Sabrina Truffles Mack C Leta Burt Callie B Peach C Tiva C

607 Webster Street, Cary, NC  27511    E-mail: marleyscats@gmail.com       Marley's Cat Tales and Dogs Too! © 2010 Marley's Cat Tales and Dogs Too!. All rights reserved.