What is Feline immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)? If my cat has it, is there a pet insurance plan that will cover us? These are two questions we hear a lot.

FIV is in the same family as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes AIDS). It attacks the immune system, making your cat less and less able to fight off infections and cancers. It is what’s called a retrovirus, meaning that it is species specific: a cat with the virus can only infect other cats, like humans with HIV can only infect other humans. It’s shed in the saliva and usually transmitted by bite wounds–not by close contact like FeLV.

As for the matter of a pet insurance plan?

One way that Pet Assure is different from other pet insurance plans is that we will help any pet, regardless of pre-existing conditions. Honestly, that’s always been a part of the insurance industry (pet or otherwise) that really bothers us, shows that most insurance companies are not in the business of helping anyone but themselves. Why would we want to punish you for getting help when your pet needs it?

If you think your cat might have FIV, please let us help you get the right care.