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We feel it is critically important for you, as a cat owner, to understand
some simple facts about Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency
Virus (FIV or Feline AIDS), so that you may protect your cat from exposure
since both of these viruses are fatal.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
is spread through the saliva from a cat harboring the virus. It must be
spread by direct contact because when the virus hits the air, it can only
live for 30-60 seconds before it will be inactivated. The virus can be
passed from one cat to another by grooming, eating together, touching
noses, or spitting at each other in a fight. Once this exposure has occurred,
each cat will respond to the virus based on its own immune capabilities.
Twenty-eight percent of the cat population has a good immune system that
allows the cat to eliminate the virus from its body. Another 30% of the
cat population is unable to do this and can succumb to degenerative diseases
that will kill the cat within its first one to three years of life. The
last 42% of the population is able to build some immunity, but unable
to eliminate the virus completely. These cats harbor the virus in their
bone marrow, so that if we run a blood test looking for the virus, it
will not be found. This is called a latent infection. Of this 42%, most
will be able to eliminate the virus within 6-12 months; however, 10% of
exposed cats will persistently carry the virus latent. If a latently infected
cat gets stressed for any reason, they may start shedding the virus. During
this time a blood test would be positive for the infection.
Latent carriers are a medical challenge. Our current
recommendation is to test all cats for FeLV. If a kitten is tested when
it is less than 12 weeks old, its immune system is so underdeveloped that
it might test negative. Therefore they should be retested after 12 weeks
of age. Stray cats should be tested initially, and again three months
later. The incubation time for the virus can be as long as three months,
so the test should be repeated in case they were just exposed to the disease.
If we get a negative test result at the appropriate time for a kitten
or cat and it remains healthy, we may never recommend testing the cat
again. If the cat is often sick with colds, infections, or other medical
problems, we may test this cat multiple times in an attempt to reveal
the cat as a latent carrier.
A vaccine for FeLV is available. We currently recommend
vaccinating all cats that will be exposed to other cats. This means indoor/outdoor
cats, cats that have a tendency to visit other cats on holidays, and strictly
indoor cats that may be exposed to other neighborhood or stray cats through
screened windows or porches. Remember that it only takes one nose to nose,
saliva to saliva contact for a cat to be exposed to the virus, and that
cats shedding the virus usually appear healthy.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
(FIV) is also a contact virus shed through the saliva. The
difference is that when FIV leaves the body and touches the air, it is
inactivated immediately, not in 30-60 seconds. The way cats give the virus
to other cats is by biting them and actually depositing the virus into
the tissue of the other cats. FIV is very similar to the human virus in
that it has a long incubation period of five to seven years and it may
take this long for it to be detected. It affects the immune system in
the same way, making the cat more susceptible to infections. Eliminating
possible exposure to other cats and keeping them from fighting is the
best protection. This virus will NOT infect humans!
These concepts may seem complicated. Please feel free
to ask us any questions concerning these viruses. It is very important
to us that you understand how to protect your cat from possible exposure.
We want your cat to live a long and healthy virus-free life.
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