Have Questions
About Cat Cancer, Cat Leukemia?
We Have The Answers!
Cat Leukemia (Part One)
Feline leukemia virus falls into the category of retroviruses because of the way infected cells behave. The virus produces an enzyme that inserts copies of the virus’s own genetic material into the infected cells.
Cats who have the feline leukemia virus are found all over the world. The likelihood of a cat becoming infected can depend a lot on the age of the cat, its health, environment and lifestyle. Cats who are very young or ill have an even greater chance of contracting the virus.
How Do Cats Become Infected?
Other cats are the main source of the infection being spread. The virus is passed on in large amounts through saliva or nasal fluids. But it may also be passed on through urine, feces and milk from the cats that are infected. The virus is also passed on through cat-to-cat contact, such as fighting resulting in wounds, when cats groom each other and, sometimes, through sharing litter boxes.
Mother cats can also pass the feline leukemia virus onto their kittens before they are born or while they are nursing them. The virus does not last long once it is outside the cat’s body. It is estimated that the virus dies within a few hours under normal conditions.
Which Cats Are At Risk Of Infection?
Any cat is at risk of being infected, although some cats are at a greater risk than most. If a cat is living with other cats that are infected or it is unknown whether they are infected with feline leukemia virus, risks of the cat becoming infected are very high.
Cats who are allowed to freely roam around outdoors without supervision are also at a high risk of becoming infected through being bitten by a cat that has the virus. Kittens who have a mother with the virus are also very likely to have the feline leukemia virus. The virus very easily infects kittens, much more than adult cats, which means that kittens are at the greatest risk of contracting the virus.
What Feline Leukemia Does To Your Cat, And How To Spot Symptoms?
The virus can effect the cat in many ways. It is the major cause of cancer in cats and is responsible for many blood disorders. The virus affects the immune system of the cat, making it difficult for the immune system to protect him from other illnesses and diseases.
At first, your cat may show no signs of the virus at all. But over time, your cat’s health will begin to deteriorate or he may suffer from re-occurring illnesses. Some of the main signs that you may notice are loss of appetite and weight-loss. At first, weight-loss will be minimal, but late in the disease, you may notice your cat wasting away.
Poor coat condition and a persistent fever, along with enlarged lymph nodes, and persistent diarrhea, are also telltale signs. You may also notice your cat has pale, inflamed gums, infections such as urinary, repertory or skin and eye conditions. Mother cats that have become infected will also have reproductive problems such as aborting kittens.
