Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

[brandy pup]

The following is a snipett from
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/resources/brochure/felv.html

How is FeLV spread?
Cats persistently infected with FeLV serve as sources of infection. Virus is shed in very high quantities in saliva and nasal secretions, but also in urine, feces, and milk from infected cats. Cat-to-cat transfer of virus may occur from a bite wound, during mutual grooming, and (though rarely) through the shared use of litter boxes and feeding dishes. Transmission can also take place from an infected mother cat to her kittens, either before they are born or while they are nursing. FeLV doesn't survive long outside a cat's body—probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions.

[AllAnimalLover]

but you said in the FIV thread that FeLeuk cats and non FeLeuk cats can live together?????

[brandy pup]

No I said that they can live in seperated quarters in the same house. Just like shelters and rescue do - they keep the animals in seperated living areas.

[AllAnimalLover]

And now you are saying in the other thread that they shouldn't and this virus is serious. You should maybe get your stories straight here Brandy.

They live in seperate areas in the hospital and shelters, but do the people know they should also get Quatsyl-D dissinfectant to clean everything, and foot bath with Javex and special hand soap....????

[brightspot]

No I said that they can live in seperated quarters in the same house. Just like shelters and rescue do - they keep the animals in seperated living areas.

I am a first time cat owner. I recently adopted two kittens from two different shelters, three weeks apart in age. I also wanted to adopt a Siamese from Siamese Rescue. In order to do this, I had to get a clean bill of health from my vet, so I took the kittens in for a complete examination.

One came out with a clean bill of health. The other had Feline Leukemia.

Not knowing anything about this disease, or what it meant for my kitten, or what I should do, I began calling organizations I respected. Namely, I called the Humane Society, the SPCA, Cozy Cat Cottage and Cat Welfare - all no kill shelters...that part is very important.

All four of them gave me the same answer...if my healthy kitten was to have any chance at life, the two had to be seperated immediately, and everything sterilized. In regards to the second kitten, every single shelter told me it was about to face a life of immense illness and the only humane solution was to have it put down now.

Fortunately, someone from my vet's office had recently had her only cat diagnosed with Feline Leukemia, so the kitten found a warm and loving home to live in, no matter how many days she may have left. But that's not the point - the point is that all of these no-kill shelters told me that if a cat is turned over to them, and it has feline leukemia, they will put the cat to sleep - immediately. There is no isolation ward, there is no trying to find a feline leukemia friendly home. The cat must be put down because it won't live long, it won't live happily, and it will almost certainly infect other cats. They all told me this is the ONLY disease they will put a cat down for - even FiV they will keep and try to find a home for. Not Feline Leukemia.

I don't know who told you you can keep cats with Feline Leukemia in the same house, and that the other cats will be safe. I don't know if you're thinking that because the others will be seniors, even if they contract the disease they will probably die before it begins to effect them. But if you have several cats in one house, and any of them have Feline Leukemia, you are basically creating an 85% chance of the other cats being infected...not to mention the increased chance of common illnesses being passed through the colonies, and wiping every one of them with a compromised immune system out.

I'm sorry to sound so definitive in my very first post, but it was this thread that made me join this forum. :wave: The road to heck is paved with good intentions...take in all the Feline Leukemia patients you want...just not in a house where there are healthy cats that might be infected.

My 2 cents (ok, maybe $2.02... ;) )

~ Brightspot

[AllAnimalLover]

Thank you. I have seen Feline Leuk and Panleuk, and they are very harmful to the cats health. They cause severe symptoms and the cat is usually emenslyt in alot of distress , pain, and discomfort. I have seen owners try their best to try and save them or 'let them die naturally' and there is no natural way about it. I bleieve in sever cases that the only humane thing to do is euthanasia. Humane means...with no pain, or without pain or discomfort...so there ya go