VersacePositive Pals: A partnership with Whisker Rescue
Positive Pals: A partnership with Whisker Rescue to find Forever Homes for our Feline Leukemia Positive friends.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that infects cats. FeLV is usually transmitted between infected cats when the transfer of saliva or nasal secretions is involved. The disease is a virus, not a cancer.
The name stems from the fact that the first disease associated with the virus was a form of leukemia. By the time it was discovered that the virus was not the same as leukemia, the misnomer had already found its way into the vocabulary of pet owners.
Cats infected with FeLV can serve as sources of infection. Cats pass the virus between themselves through saliva and close contact, by biting another cat, through a litter box or food dish used by an infected cat (rarely happens), and from milk during nursing. Transmission can also take place from an infected mother cat to her kittens, either before they are born or while they are nursing.
Feline Leukemia Positive cats may live years without related illness but their owners must still diligently monitor health, proactively test for possible illness and responsibly isolate the cat from others throughout the cat's life.
- Feline Leukemia positive cats should be evaluated by a veterinarian twice a year. In addition to a thorough physical exam, a minimum database including a complete blood count, chemistry panel and urinalysis should be performed at least yearly.
- Cats with Feline Leukemia may have complete blood work performed twice yearly due to their increased risk of blood diseases.
- Utilize aggressive diagnostic and treatment plans early in the course of any illness.
- Feline Leukemia positive cats should be spayed or neutered, housed indoors, and should avoid raw food diets.
