Secondary infections due to immunosuppressionįIV causes a progressive destruction of the cat’s immune system through suppression of the white blood cells, so over time cats begin to show a variety of symptoms related to that immunosuppression.Diseases associated with FeLV can include: In the later stages, FeLV causes a variety of symptoms based on the cells targeted by the virus. In the case of FeLV, during this apparently healthy period the virus may be completely dormant or may still be present in excretions and a potential source of infection for other cats. Progression of both diseases is unpredictable cats may become progressively ill over time or experience bouts of illness interspersed with healthy periods. While it is believed the occasional fortunate cat can fight off an FeLV infection, there is no evidence this happens with the FIV virus. It is common for the cat to become mildly ill several weeks after infection only to return to an asymptomatic state for weeks, months, or even years. In the early stages of both diseases, cats often show no symptoms at all. What Happens When a Cat is Infected with FeLV or FIV? In both cases, the virus is very fragile in the environment and does not persist for a significant length of time outside of the body. The greater the virus exposure, the greater the risk of infection. While cats of any age can become infected, kittens are much more susceptible to FeLV infection. With FeLV, the fact that casual cat-to-cat contact can result in infection means it is easier for cats to become infected, especially cats in the same household that spend a lot of time together. Unlike FeLV, grooming is not thought to play a significant role in transmission of FIV. An FIV-positive cat that lives with other cats and interacts with them in a casual, non-aggressive manner is unlikely to infect them. In the case of FIV, although both males and females get infected, intact outdoor males are at the highest risk of infection because they are usually the ones getting in fights. These differences in transmission mean different populations of cats are at higher risk of infection. The FeLV virus is shed through saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk it may be transmitted through mutual grooming, from queen (mother) to kitten, bite wounds, or rarely, through shared litterboxes and feeding dishes. In the case of FIV, saliva from an infected cat is the primary mode of transmission. How Do Cats Get FeLV and FIV?īoth FeLV and FIV can be transmitted through bite wounds. This process takes time, so in both cases cats may be infected for many years before becoming clinically ill. Unlike some forms of virus that infect cells and then kill them, retroviruses actually alter the genetic material of the infected cell and turn cells into little virus factories. What Are FeLV and FIV?īoth feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are retroviruses. But while they are similar, there are some important differences in both transmission and how the virus works in the body. Many clinics use an in-house test that checks for both viruses at the same time, and most wellness conversations about infectious disease covers both topics, so it’s easy to see why owners might confuse the two. harbors one or both of these potentially fatal viruses. Of all infectious diseases in cats, few are as feared as FeLV and FIV-and with good reason.īetween 2-4% of feline population in the U.S.
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