Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a manageable condition, not a death sentence. Understanding FIV welfare and management helps owners give FIV-positive cats long, good-quality lives.
The welfare of FIV-positive cats is significantly impacted by misunderstanding and stigma that leads to premature euthanasia in shelter settings and inappropriate management at home. FIV is a slow-progressing retrovirus; infected cats may remain healthy and asymptomatic for years or their entire lives with proper care. The primary welfare considerations are preventing secondary infections through indoor housing and prompt veterinary attention, maintaining good nutrition and immune support, and providing a low-stress environment. FIV-positive cats can live with FIV-negative cats if the household is harmonious and fighting is unlikely — the risk of transmission between socially compatible cats is low. Regular biannual veterinary monitoring allows early detection of secondary conditions that become more common as the immune system gradually weakens. Unnecessary euthanasia of healthy FIV-positive cats based on outdated prognosis understanding is a significant welfare injustice that welfare-informed sheltering practices are working to address.