FIV (Feline immunodeficiency virus).

[CallYourselfAChef]

Has anyone had or got a cat with FIV? I've had cats for 44 years, and my current cat has been with us for about 7 weeks - he was a stray who turned up a few months ago and whose trust I gained. He was neutered and chipped on Monday, had some teeth out, then had blood tests done 2 days ago, when it was found he's got FIV.

I've been advised to keep him indoors for the rest of his life, but he'll hate it, he loves sitting on the patio chairs, sometimes even when it's raining.

Has anyone got any tips or advice about how to make his life interesting if he's going to be in all the time?

Cat-proof your garden - then he can still go out.

Yes, I've been thinking of that. The garden is about 70ft long and 50ft wide, including a gate. It would take time and money but that might be the most sensible thing to do

Cat proof or catio

I have an older boy who is fiv positive. He was a stray. The vets said the risk of him going outside was that he might pass it on by bite to other cats. The thing is he is not that sort of boy. Never has been. He hasn't infected either of my other cats he lives with.
One of his chief pleasures in life is lying in the lavender beds outside. He is responsible for making some delivery divers lose their minds when they spot him, he is a very handsome old boy and drivers are very susceptible to his charm, I guess.

It’s only advice because he could infect other cats by biting them.
Personally I wouldn’t keep him in. It’s a risk you take letting your cats out. Like the risks of RTAs etc. Cats with FIV live pretty much normal lives anyway. I’d just treat him as a normal cat

Elton our cat is also FIV. He has access to our cat proofed garden which is vital, as I don't think he'd do well as an indoor only cat - he's far too active. Although the FIV itself doesn't seem to cause him any problems, be aware that it can be linked to an increased risk of other health problems. Elton has advanced CKD at a young age and it's likely he was susceptible to it because he's FIV. It's not something that's widely publicised around FIV so it came as a bit of a shock to us.