Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates - Feline Leukemia Virus Web Page

BBVA Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates

230 Main Street * Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 * Tel: 508-759-2521 * Fax: 508-759-6782

Feline Leukemia Virus

Feline Leukemia is often considered a “disease

of friendly cats” as it is known to be transmitted

by cats grooming each other, sharing water bowls,

sharing food bowls, and less commonly by fighting.

What is Feline Leukemia Virus?

Feline Leukemia Virus, or FeLV, is a contagious retrovirus that infects cats. It causes fatal disease by destruction of the immune system, cancer, or both. This deadly virus is preventable by vaccinating at risk cats.

What does FeLV do to a cat?

Once a cat is exposed to FeLV, the virus enters the blood. In some cats, the immune system will kill the virus, but in others the virus will hide in the bone marrow. After a period of time in the bone marrow, weeks to years, the virus will resurface and cause disease. The virus lowers the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and cancers. Cats with FeLV become very susceptible to bacterial, viral, protozoal and parasitic infections -- especially dental infections. Infected cats also often get cancerous diseases, commonly, blood and bone marrow cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia, since their body has decreased ability to find and kill cancer cells as they develop. These infections and cancers result in some of the more common signs of the disease: Weight loss, decreased appetite, fever, gingivitis, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, lethargy and anemia. Some cats will live for many years with the virus hiding in their bone marrow, especially if the receive good veterinary and home care. Eventually the virus will surface and cause disease.

How is FeLV diagnosed?

There are several tests available to detect the viral infection. A quick in-house blood test is easy to perform and only requires three drops of your cat’s blood. This test detects the virus in the early or later stages of the infection and is very sensitive; however, if a cat was very recently infected the test may show a false negative. For this reason new cats with an unknown history or chance of recent exposure should have a second test 30 days later to confirm the negative result. In some circumstances your veterinarian may want to perform an additional test which must be sent to a diagnostic lab. Additional and repeat testing is commonly done in cats that test positive.

How is FeLV spread?

The FeLV virus cannot live for very long outside of the body of a cat. The virus is usually transmitted by close contact activities such as grooming, sharing of food bowls, litter pans and less commonly fighting between cats.

How is FeLV prevented?

There is a vaccine available to protect against infection with FeLV. Every cat allowed outdoors unsupervised or living with a FeLV infected cat should be vaccinated . These cats should also be re-tested every year before vaccination to ensure they have not acquired the virus because no vaccine is 100% protective. The best prevention is to avoid all contact between your cat and cats with FeLV or unknown status. Cats are safest being kept indoors only.

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