HEREFORDSHIRE cat owners are urged to take precautions to prevent the spread of feline AIDS.

The disease appears to be an increasing problem in rural areas and county cat lovers are advised to get pets neutered in a bid to stop its spread.

Bobby Vanter, secretary and trustee of the Herefordshire branch of the RSPCA, said the virus was spread through saliva and was often contracted through cats biting each other, sometimes while mating.

“Neutering helps prevent the spread of feline AIDS and we are seeing more cases of it in country areas. About six years ago we would see around three cases a year but in the past few years I have seen about one a month in Herefordshire. And that is only the ones that come into our care – goodness knows what is happening elsewhere.”

Mrs Vanter has experience of seeing the effects of the disease – which cannot be passed to people – having looked after Fizz, a pregant queen.

“She gave birth to nine kittens but three weeks later she died,” said Mrs Vanter.

Mrs Vanter hand reared the kittens, which were tested for the virus, also known as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

“They were tested and the vet said to me they were all negative. I cried.

Against all the odds they were all OK and have gone into loving homes.”

Andrew Burdett, a partner at the Laurels Veterinary surgery in Ryeland Street, Hereford, said around five to 10% of cats brought into the surgery by the RSPCA tested positive, with the feral cat population particularly badly effected.

“As yet there is no vaccine so prevention is better than cure,” he said.

“We are finding more of these animals are testing positive.”