Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a viral infection that weakens cats' immune system. Similar to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in humans, FIV destroys white blood cells. Cats with FIV can be ...

Understanding the Context

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. 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 it has a similar effect on...

Key Insights

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus that affects cats worldwide with 2.5% to 4.4% [1][2] of felines being infected. FIV stands for feline immunodeficiency virus, just as HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. In fact, these two viruses are closely related, and much of the general information that has become common knowledge for HIV also holds true for FIV. FIV virus, is the abbreviation for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. This is the pathogen which causes Feline AIDS, which is the abbreviation for Feline Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Final Thoughts

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) can cause many types of illness as well as death in infected cats. These viruses do not infect humans or other animals. 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+).