When people bring cats into the BDVM MacLean Spay/Neuter Clinic they have the option of testing the cats for FeLV and FIV. It is a great feeling when they test negative, but our hearts always sink a little when they test positive for one of the viruses. Recently we have had a string of cats testing positive for one or the other of the viruses, which means we have to talk to the owner or caregiver and counsel them on their options, this is especially tricky when dealing with feral cats.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) are two very misunderstood viruses. Many people consider them an instant death sentence for cats, which is only true when people choose to euthanize because of a positive test. True, there are no cures for either virus, but many cats will live for years without any symptoms of illness. Because there are so many misconceptions, or as my colleague would say, mis’cat’ceptions, about the viruses, so many of these wonderful cats see their lives cut short. Hopefully with a little more education more of these cats can find homes in which to live out the rest of their lives. Since there is so much information I am going to break it down into several posts. This one will be strictly information on Feline Leukemia
Feline Leukemia is technically a misnomer. FeLV is actually a virus, not leukemia. Leukemia is just one of the diseases cats can develop from the virus. FeLV is considered a retrovirus, and an RNA virus. It is the developing lymphoma, or bone marrow depletion that ultimately kills the cat; a wide range of other signs of illness may also arise. As stated earlier an otherwise healthy cat can live symptom free for years, only showing signs of illness towards the end of her life. If a cat tests positive for FeLV early in life steps can be taken to monitor her health and treat the resulting infections. The best treatments are good food, regular exams by your vet, and limited amounts of stress. There are also experimental treatments that have yet to be fully evaluated.
FeLV is spread primarily through saliva, which has to get inside the cat’s body to be contracted. The main ways it is spread are through fighting, sexual contact, grooming, and sharing food or water bowls. It can also be spread from a mother to her kittens. The virus itself is actually something of a wuss, and doesn’t last long outside the body. While FeLV is contagious, simply coming in contact with an FeLV positive cat is not a guarantee another cat will get the disease. I personally know of a pair of kittens who were inseparable, after multiple testings one kitten tested positive for the disease while his sister remained negative. The cats at a greatest risk of contracting the disease are ones who roam outside or who share a home with an FeLV positive cats. It is also thought that cats over four months of age may have some natural immunity. The best way to prevent your cat from contracting the virus is to keep him or her inside and away from cats who have tested positive for the virus.
However, having said that, there are plenty of homes where FeLV negative cats live alongside FeLV positive cats and never contract the virus. (It is better to keep the number of cats minimal so as to reduce the amount of stress on your FeLV positive cat) If you want to mix cats who have tested positive with cats who have tested negative, it is a smart idea to vaccinate those who have tested negative, just to be on the safe side. Many veterinarians also recommend vaccinating cats who will be roaming out doors, but we at Tree House encourage you to simply keep your cat inside where he is nice and safe. The vaccine needs to be given yearly and has about an 80 percent success rate. It is not recomended for cats who do not have contact with FeLV positive cats though, because it has a high rate of sarcoma development. Sarcomas are an aggressive type of cancer that develops at the site of injections.
If you want even more information on Feline Leukemia check out the Cat Hospital of Chicago’s online library section. It has some wonderful information on the virus in layman’s terms (and was a huge help to me in writing this, as was our veterinarian, Dr. Lederer) You can check it out by clicking here.
