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	FeLV Feline Leukaemia Virus FeLV is one of the fairly common cat viruses, that is much misunderstood.... FeLV (Feline Leukaemia Virus) The virus is particularly devastating to very young cats who rarely live beyond the age of two when infected. Older cats who pick up the virus can live for years, like several at Catwork. How is FeLV caught? The virus is present in saliva and spread by close prolonged contact such as mutual grooming or shared food bowls. Biting will obviously also spread the virus. Symptoms – The symptoms can be many and varied (some of them similar to FIV) There can be a progressive deterioration in condition over time. Clinical signs can include fever, lethargy, poor appetite and weight loss. Respiratory, skin and intestinal problems are sometimes signs of the disease. Cancer tumours develop in some cats. What to do if your cat tests positive for FeLV. It is important to test a second time, at a laboratory, at an interval of 12 weeks from the first test. This is because, when a cat encounters the virus, it can become temporarily infected, and the cat’s immune system gets to work ‘dealing’ with it. In most cases, the cat’s immune system will win and the virus will be beaten. However, during this period the cat will test positive for the virus. After about 12 weeks, through the more complex test at a laboratory, it will usually be clear if the cat has successfully shaken off the virus. Alternatively, the virus may have taken a hold and that cat will then be persistently infected.