Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

No pet owner is prepared for the news that their cat has an incurable disease. But if your cat is diagnosed with something like feline leukemia virus (FeLV), you can prepare for how to handle the situation by learning more about treatment options and what to expect. 

What Is Feline Leukemia Virus?

Feline leukemia virus, also known as FeLV, is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats. The virus can affect a cat’s immune system and can cause cancer and anemia. It’s a lifelong disease that can be treated but never cured.¹

Feline leukemia virus is a retrovirus, which means it inserts copies of its own genetic material into an infected cat’s cells. Only about 2% – 3% of cats in the U.S. are affected by FeLV, thanks to improved testing and an available vaccine.²

While feline leukemia virus is usually fatal,³ adult cats diagnosed with FeLV can still enjoy a good quality of life. As long as the disease is properly managed, your cat may live a normal and seemingly “healthy” existence for a few years.¹

Causes of FeLV

Feline leukemia virus is spread through cats’ bodily fluid, including saliva, urine, milk, and feces. So cats with close contact who groom each other or share food bowls or litter boxes are at risk if one of them is infected.^1,2

Which cats are most at risk?

Some cats are more susceptible to contracting FeLV, including:^1,2

• Kittens
• Male cats who aren’t neutered
• Outdoor cats
• Cats who live with an infected cat
• Cats who already have respiratory disease or other illnesses.

FeLV’s contagious nature means it can be transferred from cat to cat via a bite. Kittens can also contract FeLV in utero or while nursing if the mother cat is FeLV positive.¹

Symptoms of Feline Leukemia Virus

Your cat may not show any signs of a FeLV infection at first. But once the disease has progressed, generalized feline leukemia virus symptoms include:²

• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Seizures
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Diarrhea
• Infections of the upper respiratory tract, bladder, or skin
• Unhealthy coat
• Fever
• Gum inflammation (gingivitis) or mouth inflammation (stomatitis)
• Pale gums
• Reproductive issues in female cats

Diagnosis of FeLV

To diagnose feline leukemia virus, your veterinarian will perform a blood test called an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), followed by additional tests if the blood test is positive.^2,3

The blood test may be recommended at different parts of your cat’s life and not necessarily just when they’re showing symptoms of illness. Such situations include before your cat gets the FeLV vaccine, if you think your cat’s been exposed or bitten, or if you’ve recently adopted your cat.¹

What Is the Treatment for Feline Leukemia Virus?

There’s no specific treatment for feline leukemia virus, so vets typically treat any secondary infections or diseases caused by the virus.³ Unfortunately, affected cats will always be FeLV positive because there’s currently no cure.¹

If your cat is diagnosed with FeLV, your veterinarian will prescribe medication or other treatments for any symptoms that may arise. These secondary infections or illnesses can affect cats with feline leukemia more than healthy cats due to being immunosuppressed.³

Preventing Feline Leukemia Virus

To help your cat avoid contracting FeLV, you can reduce the risk of exposure by keeping them indoors — unless you’re supervising them while they’re outdoors. And be sure to keep any infected cats away from uninfected ones.²

There’s also a FeLV vaccine you should consider for prevention if you have a cat who’s not currently infected with the virus.² A cat insurance policy could reimburse you for the cost of the feline leukemia virus vaccination and other vaccinations.

MetLife Pet Insurance Can Help You Cover FeLV

A feline leukemia virus diagnosis can be scary, and the cost of exams and treating symptoms of the disease have the potential to add up.

Take Murphy, a young cat from Indiana, for example. He had no appetite, his gums were pale, and he had a seizure. So his owner took him to the vet, who diagnosed Murphy with feline leukemia virus. The exam was $900, but his pet parents’ MetLife Pet Insurance policy reimbursed them for $530 of that cost.⁴

To see how else a pet insurance policy could help you and your cat, get a free quote today.