about FIV and FeLV

Peaches, one of our FeLV+ cats

There are many misconceptions about these two common diseases in cats. In addition to this brief FAQ, we urge you to visit the sites listed at the bottom of this page for more information.

What are FIV & FeLV?

FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) is a retrovirus which affects the immune system of an infected cat, leaving it vulnerable to secondary infections, predominantly cancer. Some cats may be exposed to a transient viral infection and develop an immunity. Cats who are infected but do not develop an immunity may remain free of symptoms for years.

FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) also weakens the immune system, but does not cause cancer. It does, however, leave the cat vulnerable to a wide range of diseases which would normally be harmless to a healthy animal. Nonetheless, most infected cats will live for many years without exhibiting any symptoms of the infection.

Are they contagious?

Neither virus is contagious to humans, dogs, or any animal other than cats. FIV is transmitted only from blood to blood or saliva to blood – typically through a deep, penetrating bite wound or from a mother to her kittens. It is not uncommon for FIV+ cats to live full lives in the company of other cats without passing the virus along. FeLV is more contagious, and can spread from one cat to another through a shared waterdish or litterbox. We recommend that anyone interested in adopting a FeLV+ cat only do so if they are adopting an only cat, or are seeking a companion for another FeLV+ cat.

Because of the seriousness of these conditions, we keep the FIV+ and FeLV+ cats at the Animal Adoption Center in separate community rooms. When you come to the Center, we urge you to visit these cats and see if you have space in your home and your heart for one of these needy, loving animals!

Will I need to give my cat expensive medications?

No – there are no medications commonly used in the treatment of either disease. At this time, the best treatment for both viruses is preventative care: keep your cat indoors, stress-free, and away from risk of secondary infections.

How long will my FIV+/FeLV+ CAT live?

It’s difficult to say. What is clear is that keeping your FIV+/FeLV+ cat indoors, having it spayed or neutered, and taking other measures to prevent secondary infections may allow your cat to live a long and healthy life. Some cats may live only a few years after being diagnosed with one of these diseases, but many will live full lifespans without experiencing any complications.

We recommend the following sites for more in-depth information on these diseases:

• Cornell Feline Health Center – FeLV | FIV
• the Winn Feline Foundation ­ FIV | FeLV
• Miller-Roth – FeLV