Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Welfare and FeLV Management

FeLV-positive cats can live good quality lives with appropriate management. Understanding how to manage FeLV-positive cats maximises their welfare and protects other household cats.

Key Facts

FeLV is not inevitably fatal - some cats enter regressive infection and remain healthy
FeLV-positive cats should be kept indoors to prevent spread to other cats
Regular monitoring for opportunistic infections and neoplasia is important
FeLV-positive cats can live with other FeLV-positive cats but not naive cats
Palliative and supportive care maintains quality of life for symptomatic cats

Welfare Considerations

FeLV-positive cats deserve full welfare consideration. With appropriate management including indoor-only lifestyle, monitoring, and supportive care, many FeLV-positive cats can have good quality lives for years.

What You Can Do

Keep FeLV-positive cats indoors to prevent disease spread
Attend regular monitoring appointments for FeLV-positive cats
Vaccinate FeLV-negative cats in multi-cat households against FeLV
Support quality of life rather than life extension as the primary welfare goal