Feline immunodeficiency virus causes immune suppression in cats but, with proper care, FIV-positive cats can live long, good quality lives and deserve adoption rather than euthanasia.
FIV-positive cats face an unjust welfare burden stemming from misunderstanding and stigma rather than genuine medical necessity. Most FIV-positive cats are healthy and asymptomatic for years, living full quality lives with minimal management requirements beyond indoor-only housing to prevent transmission. Yet many shelters euthanize FIV-positive cats rather than offering them for adoption, and many potential adopters pass them by due to unfounded fears. The welfare imperative is clear: FIV-positive cats deserve the same opportunity for a good life as any other cat, and educating adopters about FIV reality is one of the most impactful things shelter advocates can do.