Feline Retroviral Infections (FeLV and FIV)
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
Feline Leukemia Virus (also known as FeLV) is associated with illness in and death of more cats than any other infectious agent. This virus infects domestic cats worldwide although some geographic areas are more heavily infected than others. The virus is most often found in areas where there is a high density of cats. This disease is not believed to be contagious to humans or animals other than cats.
FeLV primarily causes severe immunosuppression and anemia, but it can also cause tumors and cancer in addition to other less common disorders. The immunosuppression leads to infections with other diseases and eventually death as the cat can no longer fight off disease. Most infected cats die within 3 years of being diagnosed with FeLV. There is no cure or effective treatment for the virus itself; we can only treat the diseases that develop due to the poor immune system.
FeLV is excreted by infected cats through the saliva, tears, urine, and feces. Nose-to-nose contact, bites, mutual grooming, shared litter boxes and shared food and water dishes allow transmission of the disease from an infected cat to an uninfected cat. Usually the uninfected cat is less than 1 year of age when it first acquires the disease. Older cats are more resistant to infection than younger cats, but they can still become infected. The virus may also be transmitted from an infected mother to her kittens in utero or through her milk.
If a cat has been exposed or potential exposed to FeLV, they should be tested approximately 2 months after the known exposure. This is the earliest an infected cat will test positive. It can take up to 4 months for the virus to become fully infective and for the cat to test positive, so an initial negative test may not mean the cat is not infected.
Many older cats that are exposed to FeLV are able to fight off the virus during these first 4 months, but if the test shows positive after the 4 months, it typically means the cat was unsuccessful at fighting off the disease and now is permanently infected with FeLV.
Kittens from an unknown background should be tested when they are at least 10 weeks of age. Testing prior to this time may not show true results as the kitten’s immune system has not fully matured.
Any infected cats should be kept inside at all times and separate from any other non-infected cats to try to decrease the risk of transmission of disease. FeLV vaccinations offers some protection for uninfected cats when performed annually, but the vaccine does not protect all cats 100% against the disease.
No test is 100% accurate at all times and under all conditions. For this reason, if your cat tests positive in the absence of sickness, we may recommend either sending off blood for a confirmation test or waiting and testing again in 4-8 weeks.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV or “Kitty AIDS”)
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (also know as FIV or “Kitty AIDS”) is another viral disease that causes severe immunosuppression in cats. The immunosuppression leads to infections with other diseases and eventually death as the cat can no longer fight off disease. Cats infected with FIV can live a long life if the owners take excellent care of them. There is no cure or effective treatment for the virus itself; we can only treat the diseases that develop due to the poor immune system. This disease is not believed to be contagious to humans or animals other than cats.
FIV is shed in the saliva, and the principal mode of transmission is through bites. Free-roaming intact male cats are at the highest risk for infection. The virus can also be transmitted from an infected mother cat to her kittens.
If a cat has been exposed or potential exposed to FIV, they should be tested approximately 2-4 months after the known exposure. It takes about 2 months for the virus to become fully infective and for the cat to test positive.
Kittens from an unknown background should be tested when they are at least 10 weeks of age. Testing prior to this time may not show true results as the kitten’s immune system has not fully matured.
Any FIV-infected cat should be neutered or spayed and kept inside. FIV infection is primarily a risk for cats that are unfriendly with other cats since the major mode of transmission is through bite wounds. Generally, cats in households with stable social structures where housemates do not fight are at little risk for acquiring FIV infection from each other, however, there is no guarantee unless the infected cat is completely separated from uninfected housemates. The current FIV vaccine protects against some forms of the virus but does not offer 100% protection for all cats. The current vaccine can also cause the cat to test positive even if they are not truly infected with the virus.
No test is 100% accurate at all times and under all conditions. For this reason, if your cat tests positive in the absence of sickness, we may recommend either sending off blood for a confirmation test or waiting and testing again in 8-12 weeks.