We adopted a street cat who turned out to have AIDS -- apparently feline
AIDS tends to be contracted by strays who get into fights --transmission is
easier I guess.
 
Mickey developed all kinds of nasty ulcers and open sores and we took turns
holding him and cuddling him (he was wrapped in a blanket) and we're all
fine.  We didn't take any other precautions as we didn't know until the
autopsy that this was what he had.
 
I lost a friend to AIDS this weekend (this is the fourth) and I'd like to
re-iterate that you can't get AIDS from hugging someone who has it, or from
being friends with someone who has it.  And an animal is not going to
contract it from their human companion.  The virus can only be passed
through direct contact with bodily fluids.  If the virus is exposed to the
air, it'll die pretty quickly.
 
Sorry, I'm ranting a bit.
 
Judith
with Chloe and Buddy
[Posted in FML issue 1831]