Understanding Feline Leukemia Virus

When we hear the word leukemia, most of us automatically think of cancer. In cats, however, the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) isnt cancer its a virus. However, dont think this makes the disease any less serious. Cats with FeLV can be susceptible to a wide range of secondary health problems, and theres currently no treatment that cures the disease.

FeLV can be transmitted from cat to cat by a variety of methods, most involving the transfer of saliva or nasal secretions. Your cat can catch FeLV by sharing a food or water dish with an infected cat, by sharing a litter box with an infected cat, from its mother during breastfeeding, during mutual grooming or occasionally through a fight with an infected cat.

Not all cats that contract FeLV will become ill many develop antibodies and resistance to the virus. In fact, about 35% of all cats will test positive for FeLV antibodies, showing they have been exposed to the virus in the past. The healthier your cat is, the more likely she is to be able to fight off the virus and not become ill. Kittens under the age of four months seem to be especially susceptible to the virus, although by the time kittens are eight months old, theyre more resistant to developing an infection if exposed to the virus.

Symptoms of a FeLV infection include fever, lethargy, weight loss, poor appetite and recurrent infections. These symptoms, obviously, arent specific to FeLV and can be caused by other diseases as well. The only way to know if your pet is infected is to have a veterinarian perform a test for FeLV.

Because FeLV compromises your cats immune system, a cat thats infected with FeLV becomes susceptible to several other diseases. The most common is Feline Infectious Anemia, a parasitic disease. Because FeLV affects the white blood cells, cats with FeLV are also susceptible to chronic infections, and sometimes the development of malignant cancers. The liver, kidneys, brain, lungs, eyes and digestive system may also develop secondary diseases when a cat has FeLV.

Fortunately, there is a vaccine for FeLV. Before your cat is vaccinated, she should first be tested for the virus. Veterinarians often recommend that your cat receive her initial dose of the vaccine at about eight weeks old and receive a booster in about a months time. Your cat should then receive a booster when shes one year old and an annual vaccine after that. If your cat already has FeLV, the vaccine wont be of any benefit.

Currently, theres no way to eliminate an FeLV infection once your cat has it there are no antibiotics that have been found to kill the virus. Generally, treatment is focused on keeping your cat's immune system strong, and treating any secondary problems that develop. When a cat is FeLV positive but is experiencing no symptoms, most veterinarians recommend taking a wait and watch approach. However, if your cat is FeLV positive, she should be kept away from other cats that arent properly immunized, so that the infection doesnt spread to other cats.