Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): Living Well With Infection

FIV is a retrovirus that weakens cats' immune systems. Understanding how FIV-positive cats can live well dispels myths that lead to unnecessary euthanasia.

Key Facts

FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) is a lentivirus closely related to HIV; it cannot infect humans.
FIV is transmitted primarily through deep bite wounds — casual contact (grooming, sharing food bowls) poses very low transmission risk.
Approximately 2-4% of cats in the general population are FIV-positive; rates are much higher in free-roaming and feral cats.
Many FIV-positive cats live normal, healthy lives for years before immune compromise becomes clinically significant.
The primary welfare risk is secondary infections from opportunistic pathogens that take advantage of a weakened immune system.
A vaccine for FIV exists in some countries but is no longer widely used due to concerns about efficacy and interference with testing.
FIV-positive cats are frequently and unnecessarily euthanised in shelters, despite their potential for good quality of life.

Welfare Considerations

FIV-positive cats face unnecessary discrimination in shelter and rehoming contexts. The popular image of FIV as a rapid death sentence is inaccurate — many FIV-positive cats live comfortable, long lives when provided with appropriate care. The welfare harm occurs primarily at two points: euthanasia of FIV-positive cats in shelters without individual welfare assessment, and inadequate monitoring that allows secondary infections to cause unnecessary suffering. Keeping FIV-positive cats indoors protects them from additional infections and prevents transmission to uninfected cats. Regular veterinary monitoring allows early detection and treatment of opportunistic infections. Shelter adoption programs for FIV-positive cats — increasingly common — demonstrate that these cats make loving, rewarding companions when given the chance.

What You Can Do

Do not euthanise an FIV-positive cat without individual assessment of their current health and quality of life.
Support shelters that have compassionate FIV-positive cat adoption programs.
Keep FIV-positive cats indoors to protect them from additional infections and prevent transmission to other cats.
Schedule bi-annual veterinary check-ups for FIV-positive cats to monitor for early signs of secondary infection.
Feed a high-quality, complete diet and avoid raw meat, which may contain pathogens an immunocompromised cat cannot fight.
If adopting a cat, consider an FIV-positive cat — they deserve the chance to live in a loving home.