Management
Management of infected cats should focus on effective preventive healthcare strategies, prompt identification and treatment of illness, and limiting the spread of infection.
Healthcare
- Infected cats can live for many years with a high quality of life.
- Follow consistent preventive healthcare strategies.
- Promptly identify and treat illness.
- Prevent, identify, and limit the spread of infectious disease.
- Euthanasia of positive cats is not recommended.
Management of Retrovirus Infected Cats: Multi-Cat Households
- FIV: transmission limited where cohabitating cats do not fight or reproduce
- FeLV: transmission via shared food and water bowls, allogrooming and alloplay
- Reduce stress by resource and environmental needs management.
- House infected cats indoors or with access to enclosed outdoor structures only.
- Longevity appears to be best in cats living in low-density household.
© American Association of Feline Practitioners, 2020
