FIV-positive cats are frequently euthanized at shelter intake despite their good prognosis with appropriate management. Education, adoption programs, and policy changes can save many healthy lives.
The routine euthanasia of FIV-positive cats at shelter intake represents a major, preventable welfare failure. These animals typically have no clinical signs of disease, are behaviorally normal, and would be indistinguishable from their FIV-negative counterparts to any adopter. The prognosis for a well-managed indoor FIV-positive cat is comparable to many routine medical conditions in cats that no one would consider grounds for euthanasia. The welfare tragedy is compounded by the psychological harm inflicted on shelter workers who must carry out these euthanasias despite knowing the animals are healthy. Policy reform at the shelter level, combined with public education that FIV is not a death sentence, can redirect these cats from death to adoption.