Elevated Feline Leukocytes

Feline leukocytes are the white blood cells found in cats. The immune system responds to infection or stress by elevating the number of leukocytes found in the bloodstream.

  1. White Blood Cells

    • Leukocyte is the clinical name for white blood cells. These cells are the warriors of the immune system and multiply in response to an infection.

    Feline Cystitis

    • Feline cystitis is inflammation of the bladder causing difficulty and pain while urinating, as well as the presence of blood in the urine. When caused by a bacterial infection, elevated levels of leukocytes will appear in the urine.

    Feline Infectious Peritonitus

    • Seen in kittens and geriatric cats, feline infectious peritonitis is characterized by a slow increase in neutrophilic leukocytes after an initial drop in total white blood count at the beginning of the disease.

    Kidney Failure

    • Cats are prone to kidney disease. As the kidneys begin to fail, waste begins to build up in the blood stream. Leukocytes respond to the waste as foreign material and multiply just as they would in the presence of a bacterial or viral infection.

    False Elevations

    • If the cat panics on the way to veterinarian and continues to fuss during extraction of the blood, the natural release of white blood cells due to stress will cause a false positive.