As a cat dad or mum, you need your cat to have a contented and wholesome life for so long as potential. Unfortunately, feline ailments exist that may considerably influence your cat’s lifespan. Feline leukemia is a kind of ailments. However, there are methods to assist shield cats from this contagious and sometimes deadly virus.
What Is Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)?
Although vaccines and testing have diminished its incidence, feline leukemia virus remains to be probably the most frequent infectious ailments in cats — significantly in cats who spend time outdoor fraternizing with native neighborhood cats of unknown FeLV standing.
There are three potential outcomes when a cat is contaminated with FeLV. For roughly one-third of cats, their immune system will eradicate the virus and their white blood cells will develop antibodies, offering immunity in opposition to FeLV.
Around one other one-third of cats will develop a partial immune response that forestalls the virus from replicating. While the virus is inactive, these cats can’t infect different cats, and it’s unlikely that they’ll develop signs. However, it’s potential for the virus to reactivate if the cat’s immune system is suppressed, which implies they’ll unfold the illness and turn into sick.
For the final 30–40 p.c of cats, their immune system is unable to eradicate the virus, which permits the virus to repeatedly replicate and unfold all through their lymph nodes, bone marrow and organs. Cats persistently contaminated with FeLV can infect different cats and are on the highest danger of creating secondary infections and ailments which can be ultimately deadly.
Is Feline Leukemia Virus Contagious?
Yes, transmission of feline leukemia virus mostly happens by shut social contact between cats. The virus is shed within the saliva and nasal secretions of an contaminated cat, in addition to of their bodily fluids (feces, urine and milk). This implies that affected cats who share feed and water bowls and use the identical litter field as different cats can unfold the illness. FeLV will also be unfold by mutual grooming, by chunk wounds, throughout mating and from a mom cat to her kittens. Like feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus is just not contagious to individuals, canines or different species (solely to cats and different feline species).
The virus solely lives for just a few hours within the surroundings, so shut contact between cats is required for a cat to turn into contaminated. Any cat can develop the an infection, however cats who’re already sick (have a compromised immune system) usually tend to turn into contaminated with FeLV. So are cats who’re thought of excessive danger — cats who spend time outdoor and will work together with different cats, those that stay with FeLV-infected cats, and kittens resulting from their underdeveloped immune system.
What Are the First Signs of Feline Leukemia?
Cats contaminated with FeLV sometimes don’t present any signs when first contaminated. As the virus replicates and begins to unfold, it weakens the immune system, making affected cats extra vulnerable to infections and different sicknesses.
Feline leukemia virus can have an effect on a cat’s physique in quite a few methods. FeLV an infection is among the commonest causes of most cancers (e.g., lymphoma and lymphosarcoma) in cats and may also trigger blood issues like anemia. The virus additionally reduces the flexibility of a cat’s immune system to combat off infections (e.g., pores and skin, eye, higher respiratory tract and urinary tract infections) that wouldn’t trigger an issue for wholesome cats.
Symptoms of Feline Leukemia
Although there aren’t particular scientific indicators related to FeLV, there are a selection of signs to search for:
- Decreased urge for food
- Weight loss
- Behavioral modifications
- Poorly groomed coat
- Pale gums
- Chronic diarrhea
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Persistent fever
- Gum and mouth irritation
- Seizures
Feline Leukemia Diagnosis and Treatment
Many veterinary clinics can check probably contaminated cats in-clinic utilizing a fast and easy blood check. When a cat assessments constructive, the veterinarian could ship a blood pattern to an out of doors diagnostic laboratory to verify the outcomes. They can also repeat the check at a later date to verify an lively FeLV an infection, since some cats can eradicate the virus. Depending on the cat’s well being standing, extra testing corresponding to full blood depend, blood chemistries and radiographs could also be wanted to assist information remedy and prognosis.
Unfortunately, there isn’t any remedy for feline leukemia. Treatment normally entails managing secondary infections and circumstances that develop resulting from an infection with FeLV. Cat mother and father with FeLV-infected cats might want to monitor their cats and make contact with their veterinarian in the event that they discover modifications of their cat’s urge for food, habits, rest room habits or look. It’s additionally essential to scale back a FeLV-positive cat’s publicity to secondary sicknesses. For instance, preserve affected cats indoors and away from cats who’re sick.
FeLV Life Expectancy
Cats identified with FeLV can stay regular lives for months and even years after prognosis by treating secondary circumstances and infections as they seem. However, on common, most persistently FeLV-positive cats stay for lower than three years post-diagnosis, relying on particular person well being circumstances and problems.
Feline Leukemia Prevention
Preventing your cat from being uncovered to FeLV-positive cats is the easiest way to guard them. Keep them indoors or limit their outside actions so that they don’t are available contact with cats of unknown or constructive FeLV standing (e.g., construct a catio). If you might be introducing a brand new cat into your house, be sure that they’ve been examined for feline leukemia virus. If the brand new cat is FeLV-positive, they’ll should be stored separated from any FeLV-negative cats in your house, together with separate water and meals dishes and separate litter packing containers.
A vaccine is offered for feline leukemia virus. Veterinarians really useful the FeLV vaccine for all kittens (even when they’re indoor-only kittens) resulting from their excessive danger of changing into contaminated. Ask your veterinarian whether or not they advocate an annual feline leukemia virus vaccination for grownup cats in your house, particularly in case your cat spends any time outdoor. The vaccine won’t trigger a constructive outcome on FeLV assessments, however it is strongly recommended to check your cat for FeLV earlier than receiving the vaccine. No vaccine is one hundred pc efficient, so it’s nonetheless essential to forestall vaccinated cats from being uncovered to FeLV.
Feline leukemia is a critical situation, however information, early detection and preventative care could make a major distinction in a cat’s high quality of life. By asking your vet about vaccination choices and limiting your cat’s contact with cats of unknown or constructive FeLV standing, you may assist shield your cat from this probably life-threatening illness.
