Feline Leukemia Facts

1. Feline Leukemia is a contagious form of CANCER! It may affect the blood, internal organs, or form tumors.
2. Feline Leukemia may be spread from cat to cat by licking, sneezing, fighting, sharing food bowls, or sharing litter pans.
3. It is estimated that 30% of all stray cats are infected today. About 10% of cats overall in the U.S. are affected.
4. It is the most common deadly viral disease of cats, killing an estimated 10 million cats per year in the U.S.
5. It primarily affects the cat by DECREASING THE RESISTANCE of the cat to other disease. It acts very similarly to the HIV/AIDS virus in humans. Anemia, various tumors and infections that respond poorly to treatment are common signs.
6. Diagnosis is made by clinical signs and a blood test.
7. There is NO cure, although supportive care and antiviral drugs can lengthen survival time and improve quality of life.
8. The virus does NOT live outside the cat's body over 2-3 days. It will not linger in the environment once an infected cat leaves the household.
9. Due to the seriousness of this disease, many veterinarians recommend that all cats be vaccinated. Once the disease is contracted there is NO cure! Although feline leukemia vaccination has been associated with a small risk of cancer at the injection site later on, the much higher risk from the disease itself makes vaccination a standard recommendation, especially for cats that go outdoors.
10. Research evidence to date shows NO possibility that Feline Leukemia is transmissible to humans.