Preventing the Spread of FIV

Feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, is much like HIV in that it compromises the immune system and infects many types of cells. The good news is that cats can generally tolerate FIV fairly well with complete immune system debilitation at less than 5%. That's compared to over 50% in humans. However, there are some crucial steps an owner needs to take to prevent the spread of FIV. When reading up on transmission prevention of FIV on Wikipedia, I felt that there were some important information missing. Below is found under the Transmission section of FIV on Wikipedia.

The primary mode of FIV transmission is via deep bite wounds, where the infected cat's saliva enters the other cat's tissues. FIV may also be transmitted from pregnant females to their offspring in utero, however this vertical transmission is considered to be relatively rare based on the small number of FIV-infected kittens and adolescents.^[3][9] This differs from FeLV, which may be spread by more casual, non-aggressive contact such as mutual grooming and sharing of food bowls.Risk factors for infection are being of the male sex, adulthood, and outdoor access. One case study conducted in São Paulo found that 75% of the FIV-infected cats were males. Higher rates of infection in males than females occurs due to biting being more frequently engaged in by males defending their territory.^[8]

While it provides necessary information regarding the logistics of transmission, it neglects to advise for proper actions an owner or community can take to prevent transmission. Below is what I've added to the article to give owners of cats living with FIV some peace of mind and solid tactics.

As with all cats, FIV-infected cats should be spayed/neutered and should be confined indoors to prevent spread of the virus to other cats in the neighborhood. Keeping them indoors also reduces their exposure to infectious agents carried by other animals that can cause issues due to their compromised immune system. Diet is also of the utmost importance for FIV-infected cats. Providing them with all of the necessary nutrients to help combat this virus can be achieved by feeding them a balanced diet. A diet of raw meat and eggs as well as unpasteurized dairy products should be avoided to minimize the risk of food-borne bacterial and parasitic infections. If there is an uninfected cat in the household, FIV+ cats can share water bowls, pellet bowls, eat from the same bowl of wet food, and use the same litter box with low danger of transmitting the disease.  

Hopefully this will create a fuller picture of the tranmission of FIV as well as its prevention.