The Problem

Right now in Victoria, shelters are not required to test cats for FIV. Most adopters don’t know this. Shelters don’t tell them. And families are paying the price.

FIV is a lifelong virus that weakens a cat’s immune system and spreads through fighting. Vaccination is only partly protective. When shelters skip testing, adopters may unknowingly bring FIV-positive cats into homes with FIV-negative cats, exposing them to preventable infection and lifelong consequences.

This happened in our home. One adopted cat was FIV-positive. The other, adopted at the same time, was FIV-negative and is now at risk. No warning. No disclosure. No choice. This is a system failure.

Shelters know FIV exists. They know it spreads through fighting. They know adopters assume testing is done. And they know the Code of Practice does not require it. Transparency should not be optional. Health testing should not be optional. Protecting animals should not be optional.

We call on Agriculture Victoria, Animal Welfare Victoria, and the Minister for Agriculture to update the Code of Practice to require:
- Mandatory FIV testing before adoption
- Mandatory disclosure of FIV status
- Mandatory separation protocols for FIV-positive cats
- Mandatory risk-mitigation advice for multi-cat homes

These are basic, responsible standards that protect cats, protect adopters, and prevent avoidable harm.

FIV-positive cats can live long, healthy lives, but only when adopters know their status. Without mandatory testing, shelters are sending families home blind. This is not animal welfare. This is not transparency. This is not acceptable.

Sign this petition to demand mandatory FIV testing in Victorian shelters. Protect cats. Protect families. Fix the Code.