Risk Factors for FIV
Risk factors for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) include the following:
- Age (FIV is more common in older cats.)
- Aggression (Aggressive male cats that roam and fight with other cats are more likely to be infected than females and nonaggressive males.)
- Illness
- Time spent outdoors
The average age of cats with FIV is 5 years at the time of diagnosis. Sick cats are much more likely to have FIV. In the United States, about 15% of all cats that show clinical signs of another disease are also infected with FIV.
Free-roaming outdoor cats are more likely to be infected than indoor cats.
