FeLV (Feline Leukemia)

FeLV is only contagious to other cats. Direct contact is the most frequent method of FeLV infection. The virus is fragile and cannot survive longer than a few hours outside of the cat. A cat with FeLV sheds a large quantity of the virus in its saliva, as well as in other bodily fluids such as nasal secretions, urine, and feces. 

We require adopters to keep their FeLV+ cats indoors, and FeLV+ cats should only cohabitate with other FeLV+ cats. Though the virus is not highly contagious and usually requires a prolonged period of close contact, it can be spread in activities such as mating, mutual grooming, and sharing litter boxes/food bowls. Cat bites from an infected cat can also transmit infection. Infected mother cats can transfer the virus to their kittens, either 

The virus is not airborne and dies rapidly in the environment, so you won't have to worry about carrying the virus on clothes when you leave the house or have friends over.

FeLV is found worldwide. In general, about 1-2% of the cat population in North America is infected with the virus.

You wouldn't know a cat had FeLV by just looking at it, and many people have FeLV+ cats in their home and don't even know it because they never had them tested.

FeLV is screened using an ELISA snap test (often in combination with the FIV test). All KHS cats available for adoption or sent to foster were tested for FeLV beforehand, and we will let you know if you are specifically taking an FelV+ or FeLV exposed cat.

False positives do occasionally occur with these tests, so adopters may retest the cat at a later date or submit blood via their personal veterinarian for further laboratory diagnostics. Cats older than 1 year of age who test negative tend to remain negative, even with exposure, due to natural resistance to infection at that age.

There is currently no specific treatment for FeLV-infected cats. There is no treatment to eliminate the virus from the body. Most FeLV+ cats will eventually die or require humane euthanasia due to diseases related to their infection. However, many cats showing FeLV-related disease will improve with symptomatic treatment, at least temporarily. For example, if FeLV is causing immunosuppression and the patient develops secondary infections, the secondary infections may be treatable, leading to clinical improvement. 

FeLV+ cats do not require special medication or care while they are healthy. They are more likely to become sick than a non-FeLV cat due to the virus affecting their immune system. The most important things for an FeLV+ cat is to protect them from stress, feed them a high quality diet, take them to the vet regularly, and address any health problems immediately.

There are many myths about FeLV. As a result, it is often difficult to find people willing to adopt or foster FeLV+ cats. FeLV is a very manageable virus, and with proper routine care, these cats can live normal lives.

If you adopt or foster an FeLV+ cat, just be aware that those cats may have a shorter lifespan, and they should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as a problem is noticed. Many people who adopt and care for FelV+ cats describe it as a positive, deeply rewarding experience, and they would gladly do so again.

After you adopt a FeLV+ cat, we recommend you schedule an appointment with your regular veterinarian to establish a relationship. Your veterianarian can recommend any preventative measures they feel your new family member would benefit from.

Moving into a new home can be stressful for cats since they thrive on familiarity and consistency. Be aware that cats are generally very skilled at hiding their pain and discomfort. Prolonged stress can, in turn, lead to illness. If you adopt a FeLV+ cat, it's important to be aware of symptoms of common stress-related illnesses that can appear.

• Not eating or drinking (contact your vet if your cat is still not eating after 48 hours)

• Fever

• Sneezing

• Yellow or Green Discharge

• Congestion

• Labored Breathing

• Lethargy