Feline Leukemia Symptoms in Kittens

Feline leukemia, often called "the AIDS of the cat world," is a deadly feline disease transmitted through the saliva and other bodily fluids. This means that kittens can get feline leukemia, or FeLV, by coming in contact with infected cats through grooming, sharing food and water bowls, or biting and scratching. Additionally, kittens can be born with the condition if their mother had the condition during pregnancy. Unfortunately, the condition, which results in immune system suppression, is fatal.

  1. Stunted Growth

    • Kittens born with feline leukemia may appear smaller in size than healthy kittens. That's because feline leukemia is a wasting disease. An improperly developed thymus gland may be responsible for the small size and subsequent wasting. The fact that they were born alive in itself is a wonder, as many kittens from infected mothers are aborted during pregnancy. Kittens that were born healthy but exposed to the virus early in life may begin to waste before they have a chance to put on any weight. Most kittens with feline leukemia experience a lack of appetite.

    Infections

    • Kittens exposed to the virus in utero are likely to suffer bacterial and viral infections early in their lives. That's because feline leukemia suppresses the immune system, and their immune systems were already weak to begin with because they have not had a chance to fully develop immunity to common bacteria and viruses in their environments. Kittens that contracted leukemia after birth may also experience secondary infections. This is true of all felines with FeLV.

    Illness Recurrence

    • A kitten who is continually suffering from a certain ailment that seems to resist improvement despite treatment may have feline leukemia. Treated conditions will likely continue to reappear because the kitten's immune system simply is not functioning as it should.

    Malaise

    • Kittens infected with the virus may experience general symptoms of illness, such as fever and lethargy. However, these symptoms can be attributed to many conditions, so it's important not to conclude that a kitten has FeLV simply because he is displaying general malaise.

    Anemia and Tumors

    • This is one of the most common causes of death in kittens with feline leukemia. It affects more than a quarter of FeLV-positive cats, according to the Kitten Care website. Meanwhile, another 15 percent of infected cats develop tumors. Commonly, the type of tumors that develops are lymphocytes.