FIV-positive cats can live long, comfortable lives with appropriate management. Understanding the condition prevents unnecessary euthanasia of healthy FIV+ cats.
FIV-positive cats are among the most commonly euthanized shelter cats despite the fact that many can live normal lives for years. The prognosis is variable — some cats remain in asymptomatic carrier stage for life while others progress to immunodeficiency requiring management of secondary infections. FIV-positive cats housed indoors with stable social companions, prompt veterinary treatment of secondary infections, good nutrition, and regular monitoring can have excellent quality of life. They are not contagious to humans and transmission to other cats requires direct bite wounds — peaceful cohabitation with compatible FIV-negative cats carries minimal transmission risk. Widespread education that FIV is manageable rather than immediately terminal could save thousands of healthy cats from unnecessary euthanasia.