FeLV-positive cats can live comfortable lives with proper management. Understanding disease progression and welfare-focused care helps owners make informed decisions.
FeLV management is fundamentally about maximizing quality of life within the constraints of a chronic, progressive infection. The welfare focus includes preventing secondary infections through indoor housing and vaccination, monitoring for FeLV-associated conditions, and providing nutritious food and enriched environments. Stress reduction is particularly important as stress can accelerate disease progression. Euthanasia decisions should be guided by objective quality-of-life assessment rather than diagnosis alone — many FeLV-positive cats maintain excellent welfare for extended periods.