Approximately 12% of all cats in the United States have been exposed to cat-like Aids (FIV). Unlike aids in humans, most cats with FIV can live many years without health issues. Eventually, secondary conditions like viral infections, diabetes or kidney disease can affect a cat with aids and attack the immune system. The cat infected with FIV that develops a secondary condition, may not be able to fight their illness, so FIV can be the major cause of death.

There is some debate as to how cat-like Aids is passed from cat to cat. Most veterinarians agree it’s passed through blood such as cat bites or it can be passed from a pregnant female to her offspring during gestation (pregnancy). Some veterinarians believe FIV is also contracted through mutual grooming.

In 2002 Fort Dodge Animal Health released a vaccine designed to prevent a healthy cat from acquiring cat-like Aids. The drug is controversial for more then one reasons.

1.There are at least five known strains of FIV. The drug doesn't protect against all strains. Cat guardians may feel secure that there pet is protected, but in fact, the pet is only protected from certain strains of the disease.

2.Once you vaccinate a cat for FIV, it will always test positive for FIV. This means that a veterinarian can't tell the difference between a healthy cat vaccinated for FIV and a cat infected with FIV. If your healthy cat was vaccinated to protect against FIV, and later is infected with FIV and becomes ill, it's impossible for a veterinarian to know if your cat is infected with another strain of the illness. This makes treatment challenging.

3.The FIV vaccine is an “adjunctive” medicine. One of the common side effects of “adjunctive” medicine is the growth of tumors.

4.Lastly, the FIV vaccine has a success rate of 82%. This means that one out of five cats exposed to FIV will contract the disease, even if they were vaccinated with the drug.

Here are a few things you may want to keep in mind. If you've an indoor cat and it’s not exposed to other cats, it can catch viral diseases such as Leukemia, but it cannot contract cat-like Aids. There is no have to vaccinate an indoor cat against FIV. If you've a cat that spends time outdoors, make absolutely sure it’s spayed or neutered before sexual maturity (approximately six months). This is the first line of defense. Your cat will be far less likely to be involved in a cat fight. This greatly reduces the chance of a bite, or blood-related injury with an infected cat. If you decide to vaccinate your outdoor cat, make absolutely sure it also has a microchip and collar that identifies you as the owner.

If your cat was ever picked up as a stray, and the shelter could not easily find the owner/guardian, your cat would be euthanized quickly since it would test positive for FIV. If your cat contracts FIV, this doesn't mean a mandatory death sentence. Most indoor cats with FIV can live a long and reasonably healthy life. Lastly, be assured—there are no known incidence of cat-like Aids effecting humans or dogs.