Clinique Vétérinaire Lasalle

The virus is brought on by immunodeficiency accompanied by secondary infections and a neoplastic disease (cancer) in domestic cats.

The prevalence of this disease is between 2 and 3% in cats who seem to be in good health. It is between 6 and 12% for cats who appear ill. Outside cats and cats living with many other cats in the same home seem at higher risk. Cats are most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 1 and 6 but occasionally kittens will suffer from this disease, having probably been contaminated by their mother. Of these positive kittens, 0 to 70% will be able to get rid of this disease.

Clinical symptoms generally develop several months to several years after infection. Clinical symptoms relating to immunodeficiency are: swollen glands, respiratory illnesses, conjunctivitis, persistent diarrhea, gingivitis and other mouth infections, skin infections and acute ear inflammations. Cats can also be brought in suffering from fever or weight loss.

In the case of a neoplastic disease, we are most likely to see symptoms such as anemia, lymphomes, lymphosarcomas or leukemias originating in the bone marrow. In kittens, vague symptoms of anorexia, weight loss or fever can be present This is called the “fading kitten syndrome”.

If your cat has leukemia and you want to keep him/her with you as long as possible, we would very much like to inform you of all the options available to your cat and you. Treatment consists mainly in support care to treat secondary infections. A good diet, appropriate drugs and re-hydration are an important part in the care of your cat. For those cats bearing the leukemia virus, it is important to keep them indoors to reduce their chances of catching secondary infections.

Certain drugs such as interferon can be used in the long term and seem to improve the clinical symptoms and survival rate of affected cats. Standard chemotherapy protocols can be used in cases of lymphoma and seem to give cats a 3 to 4 month remission. It is important that cats bearing the feline leukemia virus continue to receive the standard vaccine annually in order to stimulate their immune system.

In the case of feline leukemia, prevention seems to be our best ally. First the cat must be quarantined and a blood test must be taken. This is particularly important when introducing a new cat into your home, especially if other cats are present. For outdoor cats, vaccination against this virus can be very effective as long as vaccination occurs before the cat has been exposed to this disease.

For those cats already diagnosed as positive, it is even more important to keep them indoors, thus reducing the risk of contaminating other cats in the neighbourhood. It is also important to keep them apart from other cats in the home, inasmuch as possible.