Leukosis in cats: Causes, symptoms and treatment of FeLV infection
Feline leukaemia is a serious feline disease caused by the Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV). Find out below how feline leukosis occurs, what the symptoms of the disease, also known as feline leukaemia, are and whether there are effective treatments available.
What is feline leukaemia?
Feline leukaemia is a serious feline disease that can cause lymphoma and anaemia in affected animals, as well as a permanent weakening of the immune system. The pathogen responsible for feline leukaemia is the Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV). The virus is spread worldwide.
How cats get infected with leukosis
Feline leukosis is contagious. The virus is transmitted primarily through direct contact with infected conspecifics via saliva, faeces and urine, as well as eye and nasal discharge. Apart from this, indirect transmission is also possible when several cats share a food bowl or a litter tray, for example.
The risk of infection is thus naturally particularly high wherever many cats live together in a small space or have contact with each other. This includes, for example, animal shelters and cat shows, as well as households where several cats are kept.
Symptoms of feline leukosis
It is not every cat who is infected with the feline leukaemia virus that actually develops feline leukosis. Animals with a strong immune system often manage to defeat the virus on their own.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If leukosis occurs in a cat, it becomes noticeable through various symptoms. At the beginning, these include, in particular, various signs of a weakening of the immune system.
When the first symptoms of feline leukosis become noticeable cannot be said in general terms. Sometimes the infection is asymptomatic for a long time and only manifests itself after months with the first noticeable symptoms. However, it can also happen that the disease breaks out relatively soon after the infection.
Cats with leukosis may show the following symptoms, among others:
- Tiredness
- Digestive problems
- Fever
- Breathing problems
- Lack of appetite
- Gum inflammation
- Susceptibility to infections
- Poor wound healing
The increased susceptibility to infections due to the weakened immune system can lead to an increased tendency to harmless infections in cats with leukosis as well as to illness from serious cat diseases such as feline panleukopenia or cat cold.
In addition, cats with leukosis suffer from anaemia, which can be recognised by pale mucous membranes. Furthermore, tumours in the lymphatic system (lymphomas) often develop in affected animals.
Diagnosis of feline leukosis
If you notice the above symptoms in your cat, you should contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. The symptoms can also be caused by other cat diseases such as an infection with FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) or FIP (feline infectious peritonitis).
However, a veterinarian cannot tell from merely the symptoms whether your cat has leukosis. In order to diagnose Feline Leukaemia Virus (and thus feline leukosis) as the cause, it is also necessary to detect the pathogen in the course of appropriate examinations.
Various methods are available to the veterinarian for this purpose. In addition to antigen tests, PCR tests can also be carried out, for example, which usually provide more reliable results.
Considering the far-reaching consequences of the diagnosis of feline leukosis, it is advisable and customary to confirm positive results by repeating the tests performed. If there are several cats in your household, you should have all the other four-legged friends tested too if one animal tests positive.
Treatment of cats with leukosis
Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to cure leukosis in cats. Therapy therefore aims to alleviate the symptoms triggered by feline leukosis. For this purpose, antiviral drugs can be used in addition to chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, sick cats can receive infusions if necessary and antimycotics or antibiotics in the case of secondary infections.
Apart from that, a healthy diet with a high-quality and easily digestible food is very important for cats with leukosis. Often, vets also recommend the administration of vitamin preparations as a dietary supplement. These have the purpose of supporting your cat’s immune system.
Prognosis for cats with leukosis
The prognosis for cats with leukosis is usually negative. There are animals that are immune to the feline leukaemia virus thanks to their strong defences. However, once feline leukosis has broken out, in most cases it leads to the death of the affected animal within two to three years.
Feline leukemia is contagious
The feline leukaemia virus can very easily be transmitted to other cats. This is also true for animals that only carry the pathogen without contracting the disease themselves.
If a cat has leukemia or has tested positive for the Feline Leukemia Virus, they should be kept indoors only to avoid contact with other cats.
By the way, the virus is not dangerous for humans, so you don't have to worry about infecting your cat with it.
How can you prevent feline leukosis?
If you want to protect your cat from infection with leucosis, you have the option to vaccinate your four-legged friend. This makes sense especially for outdoor cats and in households with several cats. For cats living alone, however, vaccination against feline leukosis is not usually necessary.
The vaccination does not produce sterile immunity. However, it usually protects your cat reliably against the possible consequences of an FeLV infection.
It is possible that cats carry the Feline Leukaemia Virus undetected. In this case, vaccination usually cannot prevent an outbreak of feline leukosis. It is therefore advisable to first do a leukosis test before vaccinating your cat and only carry out the immunisation in case of a negative result.
Natural support for the immune system
A well-functioning immune system is essential for your cat. It plays a decisive role in counteracting excessive susceptibility to illness and making it easier for existing illnesses to be overcome.
With I Love My Cat Immune, we have developed a special dietary supplement made from natural ingredients to support your cat's defences in a natural way.
Carefully selected ingredients provide your four-legged friend with numerous valuable nutrients that contribute to the functioning of the immune system and can improve your cat's well-being.
View I Love My Cat Immune in the shop.
Feline leukosis - our conclusion
Feline leukosis is a serious disease that every cat owner should take seriously. Vaccination can be a sensible preventive measure, especially for animals that live outdoors.
Regardless of this, you should take care from the beginning to promote the health and well-being of your cat with the help of a species-appropriate diet and avoid unnecessary stress in your four-legged friend’s everyday life as much as possible.
In our range you will find high-quality wet and dry food as well as healthy cat snacks and natural food supplements, so that a balanced feeding of your cat is no problem.
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