Feline Leukemia Symptoms
Early feline leukemia symptoms and warning signs can be difficult to distinguish from other medical conditions. It’s important to keep a watchful eye on your kitten, as the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) affects kittens the most. Kittens have few body defenses to fight off opportunistic infections, such as the feline leukemia virus. Once exposed, kittens are more likely than adult cats to actually develop feline leukemia.
Feline leukemia is one of the major causes of fading kitten syndrome. It can be passed easily from mom cat to her offspring through nursing and in the womb. Routine feline leukemia testing is crucial in detecting and preventing this devastating disease.
What Is Feline Leukemia?
Feline leukemia is a medical disorder caused by the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). The feline leukemia virus replicates itself within a cat’s cells suppressing the body’s ability to fight off infections. The virus is similar to the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV); however, FeLV can cause deadly cancers in cats.
Not all cats that are exposed to the FeLV virus will develop feline leukemia. Only about 2 to 3% of cats exposed to FeLV are later infected with the virus. Most cats can fight off the exposure. But, some kittens and cats that have been exposed to FeLV will either immediately develop feline leukemia or will months or years later develop the condition.
In reality, feline leukemia is not very easy to contract. It takes repeated lengthy exposures to FeLV for a cat to actually get feline leukemia. FeLV is spread thorough cat saliva and to a lesser extent feces and urine. Testing for FeLV is done primarily with the ELISA and the IFA tests.
What Are the Symptoms of Feline Leukemia?
When a cat is initially exposed to FeLV, it may develop a brief mild sickness. Symptoms include: fever, tiredness, loss of appetite and weight, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Again, most cats will not develop feline leukemia at this point and can fight off the virus.
Kittens and cats with lowered immunity can go on to develop a more persistent form of the FeLV infection. Feline leukemia symptoms and signs include: cancers, anemia, eye inflammations, infertility, skin disorders, and gum disease. Feline leukemia can affect a range of body systems including the digestive tract, bones, and respiratory tract.
Is There a Feline Leukemia Treatment?
There really is no effective treatment for feline leukemia. Most treatment focuses on keep a cat with feline leukemia symptoms as comfortable and healthy as possible. Cancer treatments and medications that can boost the immune system are available. However, there is no specific treatment for feline leukemia.
Can I Prevent Feline Leukemia?
There are practical steps you can take to help avoid FeLV infection in kittens and cats.
- Don’t share eating, drinking bowels, and litter boxes between cats
- Use separate grooming supplies for each feline
- Periodically wash cat eating areas and litter boxes with diluted bleach
- Decrease your feline’s stress and strengthen your cat’s immunity
- Keep infected cats separated from uninfected cats
- Get cats tested routinely for FeLV and vaccinate if needed
Feline leukemia vaccines are available. But, they do not have 100% effectiveness. So, prevention is key in stopping the spread of the FeLV.
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