Animal Welfare Professionals

Our program has recently stopped combo (FIV/FeLV) testing our cat/kitten intakes and are now only testing for FeLV.  Has anyone else done this or been through this?  We are currently trying to type up a handout to give to adopters/potential adopters explaining this, to make sure they are aware of the change and that we do not test for FIV.  I am wondering how other shelters/rescues communicate this to their adopters. 

Hi Sarah!  Although I don't think I've seen a handout for adopters posted yet, if you haven't already seen this, you may want to check out another recent discussion about FIV/FeLV: https://maddiespetforum.org/thread/felv-fip-and-fiv-cats-in-the-shelter/ . 

I shared a document from UCDavis Koret Shelter Medicine Program in that thread that may help you, too:  https://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/resources/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&site=sheltermedicine&search%5Bslug%5D=why-are-some-shelters-no-longer-testing-all-cats-for-felv-and-fiv. 

Good luck! 

@Stacy

Many organizations in Massachusetts(MSPCA being the leader in this area) only test for Felv. They will only test for FIV if it is a beaten up tom-cat.  If I had to get most of the smaller groups still combo test, but the larger organizations have dropped the FIV.  I hope this helps.