Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is often misunderstood, leading to unnecessary euthanasia. With appropriate management, FIV-positive cats can live long, high-quality lives.
FIV-positive cats are frequently euthanised unnecessarily, either due to misconceptions about transmissibility or pessimism about prognosis. The reality for most FIV-positive cats is that the condition is chronic and manageable rather than immediately life-limiting. With appropriate care including regular veterinary monitoring, prompt treatment of secondary infections, a high-quality diet that supports immune function, and an indoor lifestyle that reduces infection risk, many FIV-positive cats live to normal or near-normal lifespans with good quality of life. The welfare imperative is clear: unnecessary euthanasia based on FIV status alone is not a welfare-positive decision for the individual cat. Adoption organisations that routinely euthanise FIV-positive cats for space reasons should reconsider this policy in the light of current evidence about long-term outcomes.