What is the Best Way to Protect Your Cat From FeLV?
Cats at the greatest risk of contracting FeLV are usually those who either live with other infected cats, live outdoors (where they may come into contact with an infected cat), or kittens born to infected mothers. You can best protect your pet by keeping him or her inside, or limiting outdoor time to supervised romps.
Kittens, because of their young age, are very susceptible to infections and should be kept away from infected cats, or those with unknown infection status. As they get older, their immune system will be better capable of resisting the disease, but until that time, extra precautionary measures should be taken. Adult cats have an easier time resisting the disease, but will still contract it if exposed often enough.
The FeLV virus is spread through saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk from nursing cats. FeLV is most commonly transferred through bite wounds, but can also be passed while cats groom each other, and occasionally through shared litter boxes and feeding dishes.
You can vaccinate your pet against FeLV, but a small percentage of felines will not be immune even after vaccination. Also, as with many vaccinations, there is a minimal chance that your pet will contract the disease. The best way to keep your pet safe is to prevent exposure. If you do decide to vaccinate your pet, discuss the benefits and the potential risks with your veterinarian.
How Can You Test Your Feline for FeLV?
Don’t immediately assume that your pet is FeLV positive if he or she begins to exhibit any of the symptoms listed in the previous section. If your pet shows any changes in behavior or obvious physical ailment, immediately have him or her checked out at your veterinarian’s office.
There are two relatively simple blood tests that can quickly detect FeLV in your cat’s bloodstream. Both tests are designed to determine whether a FeLV-specific protein component is in your cat’s bloodstream. The first is called an “ELISA” test, and can be performed in most veterinarians’ offices and detects the disease in its first and second stages. The second, called “IFA,” must usually be sent to a diagnostic lab and detects FeLV in its later stages. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about which test is right for your cat.