We currently recommend testing all kittens and cats for FeLV/FIV. This is usually done at their first visit, and the test is performed in our office with a small sample of your cats blood. We can have the results in approximatey 10 minutes.

Feline Leukemia Virus is a virus that is specific to cats only. It is considered to be the most common cause of serious illness and death in domestic cats. It causes a breakdown in your cat's immune system causing your cat to become susceptible to many diseases which it might otherwise be able to fight off. It CANNOT be transmitted to humans (including children) nor can it be transmitted to other species such as dogs.

Kittens can be tested at any age. If, however, there has been known or suspected exposure to FeLV, it is recommended to retest 3 months later. Kittens and cats with a known or suspected exposure to FIV should be tested when they are six months or older. Cats that go outside should be tested annually for FIV.

Feline AIDS is caused by infection with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). FIV causes a potentially fatal viral disease that interferes with the immune system of a cat. The virus lives in the blood of the infected cat and is carried in its system throughout its life. Cats infected with FIV may remain healthy for up to 10 years. While some infected cats show no signs of disease, others may display initial symptoms, such as..

Only about 5% of the cat population, whether indoor or outdoor, test positive for these diseases, which are strictly feline diseases. For more information refer to our health page. Feline Leukemia is transmitted through shared food, water bowls, mutual grooming & breeding. A nursing mother who is positive for Feline Leukemia usually passes the disease to her kittens. There are options that the caretaker needs to consider.

Feline leukemia is a high-mortality disease caused by the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). FeLV produces an initial immunosuppressive infection followed by various other diseases (e.g., respiratory disease, diarrhea, anemia) affecting the immunosuppressed cat. Cats that survive these initial diseases may develop some form of cancer, hence the name feline leukemia. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with infected cats or with contaminated food dishes or litter boxes.

Feline Leukemia Virus is a virus that is specific to cats only. It is considered to be the most common cause of serious illness and death in domestic cats. It causes a breakdown in your cat's immune system causing your cat to become susceptible to many diseases which it might otherwise be able to fight off. It CANNOT be transmitted to humans (including children) nor can it be transmitted to other species such as dogs.

I've only encountered one case of a vet recommending not to spay a kitten because it was FeLV+. Repeated heat cycles are very stressful on queens, and for this reason it is recommended that kittens be spayed. Toms should be neutered to lower the risk of roaming and spreading the disease. It is true that there is a small added risk to anesthetizing an FeLV+ cat, but that risk will well worth the alternatives.

People often use the "it's like AIDS" phrase to describe a number of illnesses in the animal (and human) community with the idea that most people know so much about AIDS that this analogy is useful. Unfortunately most people don't know much about AIDS and the resulting effect is to scare people out of their wits and have them dump their cats or dogs at the nearest pound because they are so deathly afraid of AIDS. They are similar to AIDS in that they affect and weaken the body's immune system.

FeLV is Feline Leukemia, a disease which is fatal to cats. FIV is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Outdoor cats and feral cats are at much higher risk of contracting these diseases than indoor cats. All of our cats have undergone blood tests to confirm they are free of these diseases. Therefore, their offspring will also be negative for these diseases. [top]

We recommend viral testing for all cats. These viruses can lay dormant, similar to AIDS in humans, and can cause problems in the future. They can be spread to any other cat in the household by cat to cat contact, so it is safest to screen any new cat before exposure to other cats.

FIV attacks a cat's immune system, producing a slow-developing immunodeficiency disease that results in chronic secondary and opportunistic infections. These include respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and skin infections, and general unthriftiness. Various cancers may also develop. FIV infection is lifelong. However, FIV disease is relatively uncommon and most cats remain normal for extended periods until immunodeficiency occurs.

The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are two viral infections that are transmissible from cat to cat. Both diseases are eventually fatal. Although you cat may appear to be healthy, some cats can live upwards of 7 years with out showing any symptoms. It is possible for your cat, if infected, to spread the disease without showing symptoms. To run the test we simply need a few drops of blood and 10 minutes.

The feline leukemia virus has potential to be latent in a carrier cat without any signs of illness and this carrier state can persist for years. During this time, the cat is contagious and at risk for numerous problems. Many people want to skip the test to save money but, in fact, it is of great importance to know if a cat is harboring this infection. Knowing that a cat is positive allows one to save money by not unnecessarily vaccinating for feline leukemia.

Although it's a different disease, the symptoms and the way of contamination is similar to FiV (above). Cats can be vaccinated but this vaccination isn't 100% reliable.

Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. Blood cells are made by your bone marrow, which is the soft tissue in the middle of most bones. Leukemia starts with chromosome changes in cells. These changes are called mutations, and mutations change the way cells work and grow. With leukemia, the bone marrow starts making too many white blood cells, and sometimes these cells don't work right. These cells keep growing when they are supposed to stop. They also grow faster than your other cells.

The disease is characterized by chronicle infections, skin rash, diarrhea, otitis, emaciation and anemia. Normally cats have resistance against these type of infections, but FiV weakens the immunity. Cats can contaminate each other trough sexual contact, fighting (scratch and bite wounds), saliva, blood, during birth and trough mothers milk. It can not be passed on from cats to humans. There is no medication and treatment is mostly focused on fighting the symptoms.

Your vet will do a blood test; there are two types of blood tests which can be performed. Some vets will automatically do one of the tests before vaccinating your cat to make sure it is not already positive for the virus. The first (ELISA test) is where the vet takes some of your cat's blood, mixes it with a chemical and watches for a color change. If the blood changes color then your cat has tested positive for the virus.