Companion Animals

Cat Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: Living with FIV

FIV-positive cats can live long, healthy lives with appropriate care; the stigma around FIV leads to unnecessary euthanasia and adoption discrimination.

Key Facts

FIV is transmitted primarily through deep bite wounds between cats - casual contact poses minimal risk
FIV-positive cats living indoors with non-FIV cats pose very low transmission risk
Median survival after diagnosis can exceed 5 years with appropriate monitoring
FIV-positive cats are more susceptible to secondary infections but not to most common cat diseases
The FIV vaccine was withdrawn from US markets in 2018 due to limited efficacy and diagnostic interference

Welfare Considerations

FIV-positive cats are among the most unjustly discriminated against populations in shelter medicine. The virus does not cause rapid decline - FIV-positive cats live normal lives for years, sometimes a decade or more. The welfare harm is not primarily from FIV itself but from the adoption discrimination and euthanasia that FIV-positive status triggers in shelters and adopters who misunderstand the condition.

What You Can Do

Consider adopting an FIV-positive cat - they make wonderful companions and live long lives
Never euthanize an FIV-positive cat for their status alone
Keep FIV-positive cats indoors to prevent transmission to other cats and protect their own immune system
Provide regular veterinary monitoring to catch and treat secondary infections early