Cats that are otherwise relatively healthy should not automatically be put down simply because they test FIV positive. Cats that have been previously vaccinated will test positive for the antibodies. It is impossible to be 100% accurate in distinguishing between an animal that is healthy and asymptomatic yet infected, and a healthy and merely vaccinated one. Testing for FIV frequently results in false positives for virus antibodies. This testing identifies those cats that carry the FIV antibody, and does not detect the actual virus.
False positives occur when the cat carries the antibody (which is harmless), but does not carry the actual virus. The most frequent occurrence of this is when kittens are tested after ingesting the antibodies from mother's milk, and when testing cats that have been previously vaccinated for FIV. For this reason, neither kittens under 8 weeks nor cats that have been previously vaccinated are tested. Cats that have been vaccinated will test positive for the FIV antibody for the rest of their life due to seroconversion, even though they are not infected. Therefore, testing of strays or adopted cats is inconclusive, since it is impossible to know whether or not they have been vaccinated in the past. For these reasons, a positive FIV antibody test by itself should never be used as a criterion for euthanasia.
Even if infected, many of these animals can live for many years with proper nutrition and care, often into their teens. Although FIV is an immune deficiency virus, The American Associations of Feline Practitioners, as well as many feral cat organizations, recommend against euthanizing FIV+ cats, or even spending funds to test for the virus, as spaying or neutering cats seems to effectively control transmission - as neutered cats are less likely to engage in territorial fights. A vigilant pet owner who treats secondary infections can assist an infected cat to live a reasonably long life.
Humans cannot be infected by FIV.
FIV positive cats deserve the right to live and find adoptive placement. Do not discriminate against them and destroy them out of prejudice and ignorance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_immunodeficiency_virus
http://cats.about.com/cs/healthissues/a/fiv_in_cats.htm
http://www.fivtherapy.com/fiv_testing.htm
http://www.2ndchance.info/FelineLeukemiaTest.htm
