FIV-positive cats can live long, healthy lives with appropriate management and modern veterinary care.
FIV-positive cat welfare suffers significantly from the stigma attached to the diagnosis. Shelter euthanasia of FIV-positive cats based on outdated prognosis information kills animals who could live long, comfortable lives. FIV is not a death sentence — with good nutrition, veterinary monitoring, and minimization of infections that stress the immune system, FIV-positive cats often reach normal lifespans without significant disease. The welfare imperative is to correct misinformation, support adoption of FIV-positive cats, and ensure these animals receive the veterinary care and low-stress home environments they need to live well with their infection.