FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (FIV)

FeLV

A vaccine is available to help protect your cat against Feline Leukemia virus. This virus, when contracted by your cat, has the potential to cause one of several very serious diseases. One of these, as expected by the name of the virus, is leukemia, which is a form of cancer of the blood. The virus also causes lymphosarcoma, another form of cancer originating from blood cells, but in this case forming solid tumors in various parts of the body. Very often the virus infects the cat's blood cells, but instead of cancer resulting, it causes other diseases simply by its presence in these cells. These include anemia, kidney disease, abortions, and fading kitten syndrome. The most important of these is immunosuppression; when the feline leukemia virus infects the cat's white blood cells, it can make the cat unable to fight off infection. These cats will be prone to recurrent abscesses, gum disease, respiratory infections, etc., and will be more prone to contracting infectious diseases from other cats, such as feline infectious peritonitis, feline distemper, etc. What may have been a mild disease in a normal cat would be fatal to a cat infected with feline leukemia virus. At this time there is no cure for this infection.

A cat can contract this virus only from another cat, via its urine, saliva, nasal discharge, milk, or blood. Casual contact is enough to transmit the virus. It can also be passed from a mother cat to her kittens during pregnancy. A cat that is exposed to the virus will either fight off the early infection, become infected and develop an illness, or become infected and remain a healthy carrier but continue to spread the virus to other cats. Cats that roam free outdoors and cats in multi-cat households have the highest risk of exposure. Cats can be exposed however, anytime they come into contact with other cats- at cat shows, in the back yard when a new cat is introduced into the house, etc. Therefore, it is recommended that all outdoor cats or others at risk receive the feline leukemia vaccine as part of their routine vaccination regimen.

It is suggested that you have your cat tested for feline leukemia virus by a blood test when the kitten is 6 months of age or older. If a new cat is entering a household with other cats, it should be tested before introduction, even if less than 6 months of age. If negative, cats at risk should be vaccinated. Cats who are positive and vaccinated have no ill effects, but the vaccine is of no help. The initial vaccination consists of 2 vaccines 3 -4 weeks apart, thereafter a yearly booster is required to maintain immunity.

FIV

This virus is highly infectious, and has received a lot of attention because of its similarity to the human AIDS virus. As far as anyone knows, it does not infect people, just cats. It is known to cause a variety of symptoms, such as chronic dental disease, weight loss, anemia, diarrhea, and like FeLV, a generalized weakening of the immune system. The virus is believed to be widespread, and we have detected positive cats in our practice area. It is statistically most prevalent in free-roaming male cats, 5 years or over. It is usually spread by very close contact with oral/nasal secretions. Most commonly it is spread by a bite. A vaccine is available but not recommended by our staff, due to its questionable efficacy.

We may recommend testing for:

1. Cats who came from households with several cats that were never tested.

2. Stray cats or cats with unknown backgrounds.

3. Any cat with an unexplained illness or an illness resistant to the usual treatments.

4. Cats from pet shops or breeders that have not been tested.

Cats are least likely to be FeLV or FIV positive if they come from households that contain 3 or fewer cats that are always kept indoors, or from breeders who test their cats and know that they are FeLV and FIV negative.

Hickory Veterinary Hospital © 2005