Feline immunodeficiency virus is a manageable chronic condition that need not drastically reduce quality of life, but FIV-positive cats face unique shelter welfare challenges.
FIV-positive cats face welfare challenges primarily in shelter settings where prolonged stays from reduced adoptability create chronic stress from confinement. Many shelters still euthanize FIV-positive cats despite evidence that they can live long, healthy lives with appropriate management. Misinformation about FIV transmission causes unjustified fear of adoption. Welfare-centered FIV programs educate adopters, facilitate placement in single-cat or non-aggressive multi-cat homes, and provide long-term medical support. Regular veterinary monitoring enables early detection and treatment of opportunistic infections before they become severe. The shift from FIV diagnosis as a death sentence to a manageable chronic condition reflects important welfare progress.