Managing feline leukemia virus infection to protect cat welfare through prevention, early detection, and compassionate care.
FeLV-positive cats require welfare-centered management that balances their individual needs with protection of other cats. For affected cats, the welfare priority is maximizing quality and duration of comfortable life through good nutrition, stress reduction, regular veterinary monitoring for secondary infections, and prompt treatment of complications. Social housing with other FeLV-positive cats only prevents transmission while allowing the social interaction cats need. The welfare dimension extends to prevention: ensuring all cats with outdoor access are vaccinated, keeping FeLV-positive cats indoors, and testing all new cats before introduction to existing household cats are practices that prevent unnecessary infection and the suffering it causes. When illness progresses to a point where quality of life cannot be maintained, timely compassionate euthanasia is a welfare responsibility.