Although most people have heard of F.I.V. (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), a virus that can progressively wakens a cat's immune system, there are many misconceptions about it.

This has regrettably led to mass euthanasia of healthy FIV positive cats and resulted in a miserable existence for others, due to poor advice being given to keep infected cats quarantined. People discovering that their cat has tested positive for F.I.V. are often pressurized to euthanize their pet.

Mann Cat Sanctuary's policy towards F.I.V. is that routine euthanasia of healthy F.I.V. positive cats is wrong and unnecessary due to the following reasons...

Humans, Dogs and other animals CANNOT catch F.I.V.

F.I.V. can only be transmitted between members of the cat family is spread mainly through deep penetrating bites. F.I.V. positive cats may be healthy for many years before developing symptoms due to full blown F.I.V. Cats that have developed full blown F.I.V. can be treated with drugs to offset the weakened immune system.

They can often be maintained for a long time, but once they become terminally ill, they eventually stop responding to treatment and then be put down on humane grounds.

The highest risk group of cats are un-neutered males as their aggressive behaviour leads to many battles with other un-neutered males, resulting in infected wounds.

Therefore, neutering cats, especially males is a highly effective way of preventing the spread of F.I.V.

Mann Cat Sanctuary strongly disagrees with the practice of some charities and veterinary surgeons who automatically euthanise infected cats. Basically, a diagnosis of F.I.V. in a healthy cat should not mean a premature death sentence.

Manncat Sanctuary often has unneutered male cats brought in. Usually they're much-loved pets but have wandered off in search of female company and become viewed as strays by people who find them, and bring them to us. Not all of them get returned to their homes.

Male cats should be neutered at 5 - 6 months, to prevent this, but can be neutered at any age. Without that, they will travel far and wide, crossing busy roads and fighting territorial battles with other unneutered male cats.

That makes them the most at-risk group, of contracting  the FIV virus, which is transmitted through deep bites. It cannot be transmitted to humans, or dogs, but only other cats.

If unneutered male cats carry the virus then females are at risk if they are bitten during mating. Feline sex can be very violent, particularly when several males are fighting over one female. While un-spayed female cats are less likely to roam in search of a male, they may become lost when they are chased by males, and can't find their way home. Then they become pregnant and have kittens that are often brought to us when owners find it harder than they expected to give them away.

And that's hardly a surprise. Females can mate as much as three times a year, producing up to six kittens each time. And when they reach six months old, the kittens will also begin to breed, leading to an explosion of unwanted kittens which end up in rescue centres if they are lucky, or just out on the street if they're not.

To prevent this, like males, females should be neutered at 4-5 months.  There is no benefit to the cat in letting her have a litter before she is spayed, but if she has already had kittens, she should be neutered when they are seven  weeks old or she will become pregnant again; this will not affect her ability to feed the existing litter.

Female cats which are not neutered are at serious risk from various unpleasant health problems which can also be fatal.

This is why we at The Manncat Sanctuary always neuter both male and female kittens as soon as they reach 4 - 5 months (depending on the individual) and why all male and female cats should be neutered as a matter of course.