Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a major cause of illness and death in cats worldwide. Understanding transmission, prevention, and welfare management helps protect both pet and stray cat populations.
FeLV causes significant suffering through immunosuppression, anemia, and cancer development. Infected cats become vulnerable to secondary infections that can be difficult to treat and may cause chronic illness. The welfare challenge involves balancing active treatment of complications with quality of life assessment, as FeLV cannot be cured. FeLV-positive cats in shelters are often euthanized due to resource constraints and disease transmission concerns, raising ethical questions about population management. However, with proper housing away from uninfected cats and good supportive care, many FeLV-positive cats can enjoy good quality of life for extended periods, making euthanasia at diagnosis inappropriate in most cases.