FIV-positive cats can live long, healthy lives with appropriate management, yet many are unnecessarily euthanized due to misunderstanding of the disease's actual impact on quality of life.
FIV stigma causes enormous preventable welfare harm: significant numbers of FIV-positive cats are euthanized at shelters or surrendered by owners based on a diagnosis that, in most cases, will not significantly affect their quality or length of life for many years. The immune compromise of FIV is gradual and manageable; most FIV-positive cats maintained in low-stress indoor environments with good veterinary care never develop AIDS-like disease. The welfare cost of euthanizing a healthy FIV-positive cat with normal life expectancy ahead is substantial and avoidable. Shelters that automatically euthanize FIV-positive cats are acting on outdated understanding of the disease. Keeping FIV-positive cats in multi-cat households with non-aggressive cats poses minimal transmission risk, broadening adoption options. The primary welfare management tool is preventing secondary infections through good health monitoring, appropriate vaccination, and prompt treatment of any concurrent illness.