Feline Leukemia(FeLv) before you pet sit or take ina stray if you already have cats!

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kerrimah2005

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I have had terrible expirence with Feline Leukemia and I feel the need to express this more ..anyone that already has cats that takes in another cat..strays and cats that have been outdoors and not protected against this can VERY easliy transmit this to one another!! I had cat sitted for a freind whos cat was not given shots for this disease and he passed this virus along to my indoor cat..within 3 months 2 cats had lost there lives..it was a very emotional expirence for me and could have been prevented if I had know more about this! putting my cats down was a bad expirence and it all happened so soon....the disease can be spread through water dishes..feces.. and biting clawing...I just want people who dont know about this and how easy this can happen....If you already have cats and are thinking about taking on more cats please be aware of this and have your cats given shots for this terrible sickeness ..its not 100 percent effective but it does cut down on the risk ...This sickness takes many cats lives every year and seems to pass among strays and cats that have been outdoors at a higher risk factor...
There are also tests that can be given to see if a cat is carrying this illness. also feLv cats can live for a while and have no symptoms...
So please whenever having another cat join your cat household think about this
 
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hissy

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Any time you bring another cat, kitten, stray, feline visitor into you home, you keep the cats away from each other until the new cat has been vet checked and declared healthy.
 
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Test for FIV too. FIV cats can live relatively healthy, normal lives if they are kept indoors and away from exposure to other illnesses. Knowledge is key though. Keep kitties separate until the tests are complete.
 
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lionessrampant

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I would reccommend visiting www.felineleukemia.org and checking out their mailing list. There is a WEALTH of info over there. Even though I wasn't able to save my kitten Lola, who I lost on Friday due to this terrible disease, I was able to save my adult male and vaccinate him. Even still, both of my remaining cats are being treated as FeLV positive (in terms of care, sanitation and supplementation) for a full year at the suggestion of that site. I don't want to take any chances.

KEEP TESTING REGULARLY. I can't stress that enough. It's a funky retrovirus...and it can go into remission if the cat is tested while asymptomatic. Also, FeLV+ can live healthy lives with a normal life expectancy if they are caught before they show signs of illness. Once the cat shows symptoms associated with any kind of blood cancer or lymphoma, they're pretty much goners, ESPECIALLY if they are kittens. This test and retest course of action goes for FIV as well.
 
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I just want to thank all of you for sharing ... I knew of FELV but nothing about it ...
 
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krazy kat2

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My evil sister brought me a kitten that she assured me had been tested and was healthy. She lied. Within 2 months, the poor little kitten had to be euthanized because he was suffering, and my precious Leo was infected. He lived 2 more years and ultimately had to be euthanized to end his pain. I am so grateful it did not get Pearl and Fred, too.
kerimah2005, I am so sorry you had to go through this incredibly painful experience with your kitties. That is such a hard lesson to learn about bringing in new or even visiting kitties.
 
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lionessrampant

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Originally Posted by krazy kat2

My evil sister brought me a kitten that she assured me had been tested and was healthy. She lied. Within 2 months, the poor little kitten had to be euthanized because he was suffering, and my precious Leo was infected. He lived 2 more years and ultimately had to be euthanized to end his pain. I am so grateful it did not get Pearl and Fred, too.
kerimah2005, I am so sorry you had to go through this incredibly painful experience with your kitties. That is such a hard lesson to learn about bringing in new or even visiting kitties.
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That's always interesting to hear because, while it is ENTIRELY POSSIBLE (don't get me wrong) for adult cats to get FeLV, new research is showing that it's more unusual than not for adults over age 1 to actually CONTRACT FeLV. Don't quote me on this, since my research isn't up on my screen, but I THINK a source said about 70% of adults wither pass the virus or are naturally immune. Latent carriers who were infected earlier will start to test positive between 1-4 years old from my reading, but tests are showing that several healthy cats actually build up their own immunity to the virus. I mean, if you think about how easily this virus can spread, it makes sense. If it were as contagious as a cold (which it is) and no one had antibodies, virtually all cats would be FeLV+....does that make any sense?
 
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This was posted on the Best Friends Forum:

Dr Brenda Griffin adds:

Regarding FeLV vaccination: I was fortunate enough to recently attend an exclusive conference on vaccines where some of the leading researchers in the field presented their most recent findings (which are not yet published). The new feline leukemia vaccine by Merial was shown to be very effective and to have improved safety over the market leader. This is based on demonstration that the vaccine produces absolutely no inflammatory response at the injection site. Inflammation at the injection site is the precursor of tumor formation and feline leukemia vaccines have been associated with malignant tumor formation (sarcomas). While the incidence of this is rare (1 in 3,000 to 1 in 10,000 cats), when it is your cat or your patient: well, that is 100% for that animal. In short, I am using and recommending Merial's FeLV vaccine and I am very excited about this new technology. Vaccinating kittens is most important since they very, very susceptible-- the virus is only spread via direct contact or from mother to kittens. I agree with Dr. Hurley, in the shelter, spend your money on testing and adoption programs. An exception would be if young cats are group housed, and then consider vaccination prior to such housing, realizing they need 2 vaccines before they are protected. And, do be sure to protect your own cats with the Merial vaccine!



Regarding FIV vaccination: FIV vaccination is not recommended by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. We do not use this vaccine in our Community Practice or Maddie's Shelter Medicine Service at Auburn University. One primary concern is that cats that receive the vaccine will test positive for FIV. There is no test to distinguish a true positive cat from a vaccinated one. Females that are vaccinated can pass antibodies to their kittens who will then also test positive. You can see the problems this can cause. FIV is spread mostly through bite wounds, so neutering male cats can go a long way towards prevention. Fighting toms are the highest risk for this disease.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NMHP/message/1955
 
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lionessrampant

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Originally Posted by TNR1

This was posted on the Best Friends Forum:

Dr Brenda Griffin adds:

Regarding FeLV vaccination: I was fortunate enough to recently attend an exclusive conference on vaccines where some of the leading researchers in the field presented their most recent findings (which are not yet published). The new feline leukemia vaccine by Merial was shown to be very effective and to have improved safety over the market leader. This is based on demonstration that the vaccine produces absolutely no inflammatory response at the injection site. Inflammation at the injection site is the precursor of tumor formation and feline leukemia vaccines have been associated with malignant tumor formation (sarcomas). While the incidence of this is rare (1 in 3,000 to 1 in 10,000 cats), when it is your cat or your patient: well, that is 100% for that animal. In short, I am using and recommending Merial's FeLV vaccine and I am very excited about this new technology. Vaccinating kittens is most important since they very, very susceptible-- the virus is only spread via direct contact or from mother to kittens. I agree with Dr. Hurley, in the shelter, spend your money on testing and adoption programs. An exception would be if young cats are group housed, and then consider vaccination prior to such housing, realizing they need 2 vaccines before they are protected. And, do be sure to protect your own cats with the Merial vaccine!



Regarding FIV vaccination: FIV vaccination is not recommended by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. We do not use this vaccine in our Community Practice or Maddie's Shelter Medicine Service at Auburn University. One primary concern is that cats that receive the vaccine will test positive for FIV. There is no test to distinguish a true positive cat from a vaccinated one. Females that are vaccinated can pass antibodies to their kittens who will then also test positive. You can see the problems this can cause. FIV is spread mostly through bite wounds, so neutering male cats can go a long way towards prevention. Fighting toms are the highest risk for this disease.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NMHP/message/1955
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Great minds think alike....I just posted that in a separate thread!

I also used that vaccine and the high pressure administration of it. I'm going to do the same for my new baby, Gracie. Both of my cats are adults who have had negative test series, so hopefully, we're clear.
 
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teebos69

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i know what your going through,we had a similiar case here,we took in a kitten who then passed it through all our cats killing them all.thanks for the onfo.
 
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