Research overview: FIV transmission dynamics and bite-wound spread

FIV is transmitted predominantly through deep bite wounds delivered during territorial fighting, which explains its concentration in intact outdoor male cats. Unlike feline leukemia virus, casual contact, shared food bowls, and mutual grooming pose low risk, so socially stable indoor multi-cat households rarely show spread between an infected and uninfected resident. Vertical transmission from queen to kittens and sexual transmission occur but are comparatively uncommon in natural settings. This overview gathers consensus from transmission studies rather than one source, describing the experimental and field evidence behind low-risk cohabitation guidance, why neutering reduces incidence by curbing fighting, and why shelters and owners can often keep FIV-positive and negative cats together with reasonable precautions.