How Is the Virus for Cat Leukemia Spread?

The feline leukemia virus, commonly referred to as FeLV, spreads between cats primarily through direct contact, although sometimes it can spread through indirect contact as well. This virulent disease has no cure and eventually compromises your feline friend's immune system, opening him up to infections and other illnesses. Keep contact with outdoor cats to a minimum and vaccinate your kitty against this disease to protect him from catching it.

  1. FeLV

    • FeLV is a type of retrovirus that infects your cat's cells, reproducing and eventually suppressing his immune system and causing anemia or lymphoma. It is specific to felines and doesn't affect other animals. Not all cats exposed to the virus will develop the disease, with 70 percent of them resisting or clearing the infection from their bodies, according to WebMD. The virus lives in your cat's bodily fluids and doesn't survive long outside of the body, living at most for up to 48 hours, Petfinder reports. This is why indirect contact is a much more rare way for the disease to spread, although it is possible. For this reason, regularly clean any areas your cat has access to outdoors, even for short periods of time, with a disinfectant containing bleach.

    How Is It Spread?

    • FeLV is spread through contact with an infected cat's bodily fluids, including saliva, blood, mucous, tears, urine and feces. The most common form of transmission is through cat fights, in which an infected cat bites another one, depositing his saliva directly into her bloodstream, according to the Animal Hospital of Lynchburg. Other forms of transmission usually occur with prolonged contact, such as mutual grooming sessions in which saliva is exchanged on each cat's coat or through mating. Kittens can catch the virus from their mother while in the womb and through her milk while nursing. It is also possible, although less common, for a cat who comes into contact with another cat's waste or who shares food and water with another cat to get the disease as well.

    Testing

    • There are two types of tests that detect the presence of the virus in your feline friend: the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay test. The "Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association" recommends your vet confirm the test with a second one to rule out a false positive from either test. If your kitty is negative for the disease, discuss vaccination against FeLV with your vet to see if it would be appropriate for your cat, especially if he's exposed to a variety of cats outdoors or boarded frequently. Keep all cats, even vaccinated ones, away from those diagnosed with FeLV. A vaccinated cat can still catch the disease because the vaccine is only 75 to 85 percent effective, according to Marley's Cat Tales.

    Prevention

    • Keep your cat indoors to prevent him from coming into contact with FeLV-infected kitties, especially when dealing with young kittens, who are especially vulnerable to the virus. Spay and neuter your cats to discourage them from escaping outdoors to mate and fight with potentially infected felines. Although only 2 to 3 percent of cats in the United States are infected with FeLV, this fatal disease can be avoided simply by preventing your kitty from interacting with other felines whose health history you don't know, according to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. This extends to any new kitties you want to adopt. Always have any cat that you plan to bring into your home tested for FeLV before you allow the cats to interact.