Purpose
This policy outlines Out of the Woods Rescue Melbourne Ltd’s approach to testing cats for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). It aims to ensure testing is evidence-based, clinically appropriate, and consistent with current veterinary recommendations while promoting the welfare of cats in our care.
Policy Statement
Out of the Woods Rescue does not routinely test cats for FIV.
FIV testing will only be undertaken where there is a compelling clinical reason to do so, following veterinary assessment and recommendation.
Routine screening of healthy cats is not considered an appropriate use of rescue resources and may result in unnecessary stress.
Rationale
FIV-positive cats can live long, healthy lives
FIV is a virus that affects the immune system, but many infected cats remain clinically healthy for their entire lives. With appropriate preventative healthcare, good nutrition and an indoor lifestyle, the life expectancy of an FIV-positive cat can be comparable to that of an FIV-negative cat.
A positive FIV result alone does not predict an individual cat’s health or quality of life.
Routine testing does not change management for most cats
Out of the Woods Rescue recommends all adopted cats live as indoor-only pets, regardless of their FIV status. Indoor living reduces the risk of trauma, infectious disease and roaming behaviour.
As our management recommendations remain the same regardless of FIV status, routine testing provides limited practical benefit for healthy cats.
FIV transmission risk is often misunderstood
FIV is transmitted primarily through deep bite wounds, most commonly from territorial fighting between entire male cats.
It is not spread through:
– sharing food or water bowls
– grooming each other
– sharing litter trays
– sleeping together
– normal social interaction.
Many FIV-positive and FIV-negative cats successfully live together in stable households without transmission occurring.
Responsible use of charitable resources
As a not-for-profit charity, Out of the Woods Rescue is committed to directing donated funds toward interventions that provide the greatest welfare benefit.
Routine FIV testing of clinically healthy cats represents a significant cost that is unlikely to influence treatment or management in the majority of cases. Those funds are better allocated to essential veterinary care such as desexing, vaccination, parasite prevention and emergency treatment.
When FIV testing may be considered
FIV testing may be recommended where a veterinarian believes the result is likely to influence diagnosis, their treatment plan or prognosis.
Examples include cats presenting with:
– persistent or recurrent infections that are difficult to resolve
– chronic gingivitis or severe stomatitis
– non-healing wounds
– persistent or unexplained fever
– significant or unexplained weight loss
– enlarged lymph nodes without another identified cause
– chronic skin disease that is not responding to treatment
– persistent upper respiratory infections despite appropriate therapy
– unexplained chronic diarrhoea
– blood test abnormalities suggestive of immune dysfunction
– illness where an underlying immunocompromised state would alter clinical management.
Testing may also be considered for cats with an unknown history where veterinary assessment identifies multiple clinical indicators consistent with possible immunosuppression.
The decision to test will always be made in consultation with the treating veterinarian.
Adoption of FIV-positive cats
Where a cat is diagnosed with FIV, Out of the Woods Rescue will:
– provide adopters with accurate, evidence-based information about FIV
– ensure adopters understand the expected management of an FIV-positive cat
– recommend an indoor-only lifestyle
– assess each cat as an individual, based on their health and temperament rather than their FIV status alone.
An FIV diagnosis is not considered, in isolation, a barrier to adoption.
Adopter-requested FIV testing
Out of the Woods Rescue understands that some prospective adopters may wish to know a cat’s FIV status prior to adoption. While we do not routinely test healthy cats for the reasons outlined in this policy, we are happy to arrange FIV testing at the adopter’s request.
Where testing is requested by a prospective adopter:
– the full cost of the FIV test must be paid by the adopter prior to testing
– the cost charged will be the fee quoted by Out of the Woods Rescue’s closest partner veterinary clinic to the cat’s foster carer
– this payment is non-refundable, regardless of the test result or whether the adoption proceeds
– testing will be arranged only after payment has been received.
Kittens under six months of age will not be tested, even if requested by a prospective adopter, as maternally derived antibodies can produce false-positive FIV test results. Testing at this age is not considered reliable and is therefore not recommended.
Out of the Woods Rescue will continue to provide prospective adopters with evidence-based information regarding FIV to support informed decision-making and ensure cats are not unfairly disadvantaged due to misconceptions surrounding the disease.
Review
This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains consistent with current veterinary evidence and best practice animal welfare standards.
Approved by OOTW board: 04/08/2026
Policy last updated: August 2026