How is feline leukemia contracted

If your vet suspects an infection, she will take a blood test and send it to an outside lab for review. Only this blood test can confirm FeLV. The best way to protect your cat from FeLV is to get a vaccination. Cats who should get vaccinated include those who spend time outside, are boarded, or spend time with other cats who may be infected.

Kittens should all be vaccinated. Adult cats need to be tested for FeLV before being vaccinated in case they are already carriers. The best way to limit exposure, especially if you have only one cat, is to keep the cat indoors.

For families with multiple cats, have all the cats tested for FeLV, and completely separate infected ones from uninfected ones. If one cat is diagnosed, disinfect all food bowls, litter boxes and bedding. Ensure any new cats are tested before introducing them to the household.

Cats with feline leukemia can live for many years. First and foremost, keep infected cats indoors—both to limit their exposure to infection and to keep them from spreading the disease to other cats. Cats persistently infected with FeLV serve as sources of infection for other cats. The virus is shed in saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk of infected cats.

Cat-to-cat transfer of the virus may occur from a bite wound , during mutual grooming, and rarely through the shared use of litter boxes and feeding dishes. Transmission can also take place from an infected mother cat to her kittens, either before they are born or while they are nursing. FeLV does not survive long outside a cat's body — probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions.

Cats at greatest risk of FeLV infection are those that may be exposed to infected cats, either via prolonged close contact or through bite wounds.

Such cats include cats living with infected cats or with cats of unknown infection status, cats allowed outdoors unsupervised where they may be bitten by an infected cat, and kittens born to infected mothers. Kittens are much more susceptible to FeLV infection than are adult cats, and therefore are at the greatest risk of infection if exposed.

However, even healthy adult cats can become infected if sufficiently exposed. Clinical Signs FeLV adversely affects a cat's body in many ways. It is the most common cause of cancer in cats, may cause various blood disorders, and may lead to a state of immune deficiency that hinders a cat's ability to protect itself against other infections.

Veterinary checkups should be done every six months. Fortunately, there is a vaccine for FeLV. Talk to your veterinarian about your cat's risk factors and whether they should receive the vaccine.

Prior to joining with Zoetis, she was in private practice for 13 years, owning a mixed animal practice in Colorado. She is also a neonatal nurse practitioner and worked in the newborn intensive care unit for 20 years. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use. The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may not have marketing authorization or may have different product labeling in different countries.

The animal health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with an animal healthcare professional. All decisions regarding the care of a veterinary patient must be made with an animal healthcare professional, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Our Story. Sign In Get Started. Most treatments are aimed at managing the clinical signs and complications. Cats that are anemic may receive blood transfusions; cats that are dehydrated or not eating may receive intravenous fluids and feedings; chemotherapy is sometimes helpful in managing cancers; and antibiotics may be used to treat associated infections.

Several vaccines are available for preventing disease associated with FeLV. All of the available FeLV vaccines have been tested and found to be safe and effective when administered as directed. Kittens are generally vaccinated against FeLV around 8 to 9 weeks of age. A booster vaccination is given 3 to 4 weeks later according to the vaccine label, followed by boosters each year as long as the risk for exposure remains. Cats that go outside or live with other cats are at greater risk for exposure to FeLV compared with cats that stay indoors and have limited contact with other cats.

If risk for exposure is low, your veterinarian may not recommend the FeLV vaccine for your cat. Ask your veterinarian about how to protect your cat from this disease. Because FeLV is transmitted through contact, keeping sick cats separated from healthy cats can reduce the likelihood of transmission. Any new kitten or cat being introduced into the home should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible and separated from all other household pets for a quarantine period of at least a few weeks.