Feline leukemia virus is a serious infectious disease that is preventable through vaccination and manageable for affected cats with appropriate care.
FeLV creates welfare challenges both for infected cats and for the management decisions surrounding them. The immune suppression produced by persistent FeLV infection leaves cats vulnerable to recurrent infections, anemia, and lymphoma that cause progressive welfare decline. However, FeLV-positive cats are often unnecessarily euthanized in shelters without being given the opportunity to be adopted into FeLV-appropriate homes. With proper management including keeping FeLV-positive cats as single cats or with other FeLV-positive cats, regular health monitoring, prompt treatment of secondary infections, and good nutrition and preventive care, many FeLV-positive cats can enjoy comfortable lives for extended periods after diagnosis. The welfare imperative is to avoid unnecessary euthanasia of FeLV-positive cats while being honest about their prognosis.