Symptoms, Testing and Prevention
Feline leukemia virus or FeLV, is becoming more and more common in our Howick area. It can be a difficult virus to manage, but thanks to early detection, broader awareness of the signs and an effective vaccine cats with the virus can still live a happy and long life.
· What Is Feline Leukemia Virus? Is it Contagious?
FeLV It’s an infectious & highly contagious viral disease that suppresses the immune system. It spreads between cats, through saliva as well as through urine and faeces, and from a mother cat to her kittens. While FeLV can be contracted through fighting, especially with stray cats, it’s better known as a “loving disease” as it can be spread by rubbing noses and grooming each other thus it can spread fast through multi-cat households.
A cat with FeLV may also have a latent infection that only starts showing symptoms when it manifests later in life. These cats can still spread the disease if they appear perfectly healthy.
