What is Felv?

Felv is an abbreviation for cat leukemia virus, a terminal disease affecting all members of cat family, including pets. Unlike leukemia, which affects people, FELV is a contagious virus that spreads through contact with the cat. Because it is a disease of the immune system, symptoms may vary for each individual cat. The most common symptoms of this condition include enlarged nymph nodes that cause very difficult to eat and drink, anemia, tumors, lethargy, abscesses, weight loss, chestnut and sneezing. FELV is a terminal disease and the cause of death can be anything from pneumonia to cancer due to the inability of the cat to fight the infection. Domestic cats that are allowed outdoors are more likely to close this condition because they are more likely to come into contact with infected cats. Cats that live in areas with large populations of wild or stray coatEC, they are more susceptible to infection. It quickly passes through the colonies of wild cats due to competition and territorial fighting for food and mating.

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measure at which symptoms occur after the infection of the cat also differ between individual cats. Some cats will be very ill almost immediately after the closure of the virus. In other cats, the virus may lie for years. Sometimes an infected cat will never get sick and will be able to live an average life. However, whether the cat sometimes shows symptoms is still able to spread the virus to other cats.

This condition is the usual diagnosed blood tests performed by veterinarians. Currently, this is the only way to diagnose the disease, yet it is not 100% reliable. Blood tests often show false negative and weak positive results. However, the blood test that shows the strong presence of this condition is rarely incorrect.

there is currently no medicineto Felv. In the early stages of the disease, the symptoms of the cat can be treated, which helps to prolong the life of the cat. It is possible that early diagnosis can allow the cat to live normal life with consistent treatment. Fortunately, there is a vaccine for this condition.

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vaccine has been given to kittens for six weeks and adults after testing a negative virus. After the first dose of the vaccine, the booster shot is served 3 weeks later. After initial immunization, the vaccine must be updated every year to ensure efficiency. Having your cat's vaccination is a good idea if your pet is allowed outside. The vaccine is extremely important if you have more than one cat and one of them is found as infected with FELV.

Scientists are working hard to find a medicine and also to eradicate the virus of cat leukemia not only for domestic lovers of cats, but also for wild members of the family of cats. FELV can be transmitted from domestic to wild cats and vice versa, which is very dangerous for endangered cat populations. As such, even if cats canSurviving their illnesses, shelters for animals routinely test every cat that has in possession and euthanizes those that are infected. The colonies of stray cats are also sampled and those where the felv endemic are captured and destroyed to prevent further transmission of the disease.