Today she owns three cats in addition to Maxwell, who remains fairly healthy. Ms. Moore watches him closely, taking him to the veterinarian quickly when health issues crop up. She keeps the others up to date on their shots and hopes for the best. So far, none have contracted the disease. Even if their lives are short, and I hope they're not, they're getting a better life with me than they would be if they stayed in the outside.
People often opt to keep the cat despite the disease.
If you love the cat, you're not going to have it leave the house. Sometimes people who already own an animal with the disease are willing to rescue another that's also positive. Occasionally an owner will try to keep the cats separated within the same house. People shouldn't feel obligated to euthanize a feline-leukemia positive cat, but they do need to be aware of the risk to other animals, Dr. Adamo said. If your outdoor cat has trouble coping with its new indoor status, you can try to build it an outdoor kennel-but make sure it's enclosed to the point where neighborhood cats won't be able to visit with your pet and become infected.