Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
What is FeLV?
FeLV is associated with the illness and death of more cats than any other infectious disease. FeLV depresses the cat's immune system, causing lymphosarcoma and/or leukemia. Lymphosarcoma is a cancer of the cells found in the lymph nodes and tissues, thymus gland, and blood and bone marrow. Other internal organs can also be affected. Leukemia affects blood cells and is associated with anemia. FeLV also causes the infected cat to be more susceptible to other diseases and infections.
How common is FeLV?
FeLV infected cats are found worldwide, but the prevalence of infection varies greatly depending on their age, health, environment, and lifestyle. In the United States, approximately 2 to 3% of all cats are infected with FeLV. Rates rise significantly- 13% or more- in cats that are ill, very young, or otherwise at high risk of infection.
What cats are at greatest risk of infection?
Cats at greatest risk of infection are those that may be exposed to infected cats, either via prolonged close contact or through bite wounds. Such cats include:
How is FeLV spread?
Cats persistently infected with FeLV serve as sources of infection. Virus is shed in very high quantities in saliva and nasal secretions, but also in urine, feces, and milk from infected cats. Cat to cat transfer of virus may occur from a bite wound, during mutual grooming, and (though 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 doesn't survive long outside a cat's body, probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions.
What are the signs of disease caused by FeLV?
During the early stages of infection, it is common for cats to exhibit no signs of disease at all. However, over time, weeks, months, or even years, the cat's health may progressively deteriorate or be characterized by recurrent illness interspersed with periods of relative health. Signs can include:
How do I find out if my cat has FeLV?
A simple blood test can be administered to determine if a cat is carrying FeLV. The results are available the same day. This test is not a test for cancer, it is a test to see if the cat is carrying the virus that causes cancer.
How can I keep my cat from becoming infected?
Is there a cure for FeLV?
At this point, there is no cure, but with proper veterinary care, a good diet, and isolation from other cats, many cats will remain healthy for many years after initial infection.
What is FeLV?
FeLV is associated with the illness and death of more cats than any other infectious disease. FeLV depresses the cat's immune system, causing lymphosarcoma and/or leukemia. Lymphosarcoma is a cancer of the cells found in the lymph nodes and tissues, thymus gland, and blood and bone marrow. Other internal organs can also be affected. Leukemia affects blood cells and is associated with anemia. FeLV also causes the infected cat to be more susceptible to other diseases and infections.
How common is FeLV?
FeLV infected cats are found worldwide, but the prevalence of infection varies greatly depending on their age, health, environment, and lifestyle. In the United States, approximately 2 to 3% of all cats are infected with FeLV. Rates rise significantly- 13% or more- in cats that are ill, very young, or otherwise at high risk of infection.
What cats are at greatest risk of infection?
Cats at greatest risk of 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
- Kittens born to infected mothers
How is FeLV spread?
Cats persistently infected with FeLV serve as sources of infection. Virus is shed in very high quantities in saliva and nasal secretions, but also in urine, feces, and milk from infected cats. Cat to cat transfer of virus may occur from a bite wound, during mutual grooming, and (though 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 doesn't survive long outside a cat's body, probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions.
What are the signs of disease caused by FeLV?
During the early stages of infection, it is common for cats to exhibit no signs of disease at all. However, over time, weeks, months, or even years, the cat's health may progressively deteriorate or be characterized by recurrent illness interspersed with periods of relative health. Signs can include:
- Loss of appetite
- Slow but progressive weight loss, followed by severe wasting late in the disease process
- Poor coat condition
- Persistent fever
- Pale gums and other mucus membranes
- Persistent diarrhea
- Seizures, behavior changes, and other neurological disorders
- A variety of eye conditions
How do I find out if my cat has FeLV?
A simple blood test can be administered to determine if a cat is carrying FeLV. The results are available the same day. This test is not a test for cancer, it is a test to see if the cat is carrying the virus that causes cancer.
How can I keep my cat from becoming infected?
- Keep cats indoors, away from potentially infected cats that might bite them. If you do allow your cats outdoor access, provide supervision or place them in a secure enclosure to prevent wandering and fighting.
- House infection free cats separately from infected cats, and don't allow infected cats to share food and water bowls or litter boxes with uninfected cats.
- There is a vaccine available to protect your cat from FeLV that is administered yearly.
Is there a cure for FeLV?
At this point, there is no cure, but with proper veterinary care, a good diet, and isolation from other cats, many cats will remain healthy for many years after initial infection.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
What is FIV?
FIV is a lentivirus, the same class of virus as HIV. FIV, which can live in many different tissues in cats, typically causes a weakening of the cat's immune system.
How do cats get FIV?
One of the tissues in which FIV lives is the salivary glands, so the most common route of infection is a deep bite wound from a FIV positive cat to another cat. It can also be transmitted via blood, in utero, and possibly from milk from an infected mother cat. It is extremely unlikely, if not impossible, for cats to get FIV from just being around infested cats, from sharing food bowls, or from a person touching a FIV positive cat and then touching a FIV negative cat.
How do I know if my cat has FIV?
A simple blood test can be administered to determine if a cat is carrying FIV. The results are available the same day. A cat can test positive as soon as two to four weeks after exposure, but it can take up to eight weeks.
Kittens under six months of age may test positive after having received antibodies from their mothers. It can take up to six months for these antibodies to go away. Thus, it is a good idea to retest a kitten who test positive after they have reached six months of age.
Can FIV be treated?
There are no proven treatments to rid a cat of FIV. Most FIV positive cats handle the disease well, but it is important to concentrate on treating any secondary illness.
What are the signs of FIV infection?
There are no specific signs of FIV infection. FIV positive cats have a weaker immune system so they are more prone to getting infections such as upper respiratory infections, ringworm, and dental disease. Other than that, FIV positive cats tend to live normal lives and have a normal length of life.
What can be done to prevent the spread of FIV?
Cats should be kept indoors so they do not fight with a FIV positive cat. Depending on where one lives, the rate of FIV positive cats ranges from 4 to 24 percent.
Can FIV negative cats live with FIV positive cats?
Yes! As long as the cats get along and do not fight. The risk that a FIV positive cat could spread the virus to a FIV negative cat can be minimized by having them live in separate rooms until you are confident that they will not fight with each other.
What is FIV?
FIV is a lentivirus, the same class of virus as HIV. FIV, which can live in many different tissues in cats, typically causes a weakening of the cat's immune system.
How do cats get FIV?
One of the tissues in which FIV lives is the salivary glands, so the most common route of infection is a deep bite wound from a FIV positive cat to another cat. It can also be transmitted via blood, in utero, and possibly from milk from an infected mother cat. It is extremely unlikely, if not impossible, for cats to get FIV from just being around infested cats, from sharing food bowls, or from a person touching a FIV positive cat and then touching a FIV negative cat.
How do I know if my cat has FIV?
A simple blood test can be administered to determine if a cat is carrying FIV. The results are available the same day. A cat can test positive as soon as two to four weeks after exposure, but it can take up to eight weeks.
Kittens under six months of age may test positive after having received antibodies from their mothers. It can take up to six months for these antibodies to go away. Thus, it is a good idea to retest a kitten who test positive after they have reached six months of age.
Can FIV be treated?
There are no proven treatments to rid a cat of FIV. Most FIV positive cats handle the disease well, but it is important to concentrate on treating any secondary illness.
What are the signs of FIV infection?
There are no specific signs of FIV infection. FIV positive cats have a weaker immune system so they are more prone to getting infections such as upper respiratory infections, ringworm, and dental disease. Other than that, FIV positive cats tend to live normal lives and have a normal length of life.
What can be done to prevent the spread of FIV?
Cats should be kept indoors so they do not fight with a FIV positive cat. Depending on where one lives, the rate of FIV positive cats ranges from 4 to 24 percent.
Can FIV negative cats live with FIV positive cats?
Yes! As long as the cats get along and do not fight. The risk that a FIV positive cat could spread the virus to a FIV negative cat can be minimized by having them live in separate rooms until you are confident that they will not fight with each other.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
What is FIP?
Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease of cats seen worldwide. Not all cats infected with the virus causing FIP will become ill, but cats who do develop signs of FIP will likely succumb to the disease eventually.
What causes FIP?
FIP is a complex disease. FIP is a result of infection with feline coronavirus -- but while large numbers of cats are infected with feline coronavirus, few will ever develop FIP.
FIP is thought to result from a mutation of the virus within the body, combined with the response of the immune system, leading to inflammation in various organ systems. The mutated virus is not shed by the cat, so FIP is not actually contagious, though the more benign feline coronavirus is contagious.
Is my cat at risk for developing FIP?
FIP is most often seen in young cats, less than 3 years old, but it can be seen at any age. It is thought that the mutation in the virus that leads to FIP is more common in cats with immature or weakened immune systems.
The coronavirus is spread through direct contact via the nose and mouth with infected feces, so sharing litter boxes is a major route of transmission of coronavirus. However, as previously noted, FIP only develops in some cats who are infected with the coronavirus, so exposure does not automatically mean cats will get FIP.
What are the signs and symptoms of FIP?
There are two main categories of FIP: the wet form and the dry form, which have different characteristics. These broad forms are not necessarily completely distinct, however, and some cats will have some of both.
Wet Form
Dry Form
What is FIP?
Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease of cats seen worldwide. Not all cats infected with the virus causing FIP will become ill, but cats who do develop signs of FIP will likely succumb to the disease eventually.
What causes FIP?
FIP is a complex disease. FIP is a result of infection with feline coronavirus -- but while large numbers of cats are infected with feline coronavirus, few will ever develop FIP.
FIP is thought to result from a mutation of the virus within the body, combined with the response of the immune system, leading to inflammation in various organ systems. The mutated virus is not shed by the cat, so FIP is not actually contagious, though the more benign feline coronavirus is contagious.
Is my cat at risk for developing FIP?
FIP is most often seen in young cats, less than 3 years old, but it can be seen at any age. It is thought that the mutation in the virus that leads to FIP is more common in cats with immature or weakened immune systems.
The coronavirus is spread through direct contact via the nose and mouth with infected feces, so sharing litter boxes is a major route of transmission of coronavirus. However, as previously noted, FIP only develops in some cats who are infected with the coronavirus, so exposure does not automatically mean cats will get FIP.
What are the signs and symptoms of FIP?
There are two main categories of FIP: the wet form and the dry form, which have different characteristics. These broad forms are not necessarily completely distinct, however, and some cats will have some of both.
Wet Form
- distention of abdomen due to fluid build up
- difficulty breathing due to lung involvement
- fever (long term, unresponsive to treatment)
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- depression
Dry Form
- fever (long term, unresponsive to treatment)
- loss of appetite
- depression
- weight loss
- variable other signs related to organ failure, depending on which organs are involved (commonly involves kidneys, liver, pancreas, nervous system, eyes)