Feline Leukemia exposure

[teamcarp33]

A very concerning cat situation has just popped up. My friend and I found a little cat about one year ago. We took her straight to the vet, she tested negative for felv and FIV, got all her vaccinations and a good check-up. She was pregnant. A week or so later, she had some secretions, and when she went back to the vet, the vet said she was re-absorbing the kittens, and seemed to have an infection. She got an emergency spay. My friend adopted her, brought her home, and she was doing great. Over the course of the next year, my friend adopted 2 other mommy cats in need. The second cat, Luna had 3 kittens. We found a home for two, and I kept one (my first cat ever). The third cat is named Lucy. About 2 months ago, she took in one foster, Cabbage. For a total of 4 cats. All of the cats were fully vaccinated and tested before being added to her home (gradually, as prescribed). About a month ago, we noticed that Lily, the very first cat, would smell and occasionally touch her tongue to the clay litter. She called the vet, and she said it was probably nothing to worry about, just keep an eye on her. A few weeks later, Lily was spotted licking a clay flower pot a couple of times. We suspected anemia. My friend had also recently switched her cats to a new food (about 2 months ago), Wellness core, which is really high protein, and is supposed to help cats stay at a healthy, lean weight. Well, since the switch Lily had lost about a lb. My friend wasn't sure whether to be worried, but already had a vet appointment about the flower pot licking. At the appt, they did a blood panel. The results came back today, with elevated protein and anemia. They brought her back in today and she tested positive for Feline Leukemia. Apparently the first test was a false negative. It seems that she was possibly infected shortly before we had her tested the first time, and it wasn't showing up yet. In hindsight, maybe that could be why she aborted the kittens. In any case, she is heartbroken and panicked for the other 3 cats that have been living with Lily for months. I am also wondering how concerned I should be. The kitten that I kept from rescue mama #2, has been over to their house probably about 10 times, and even spent the night on a couple occasions when I was away. Should I be freaking out?

 

[ldg]

No, you shouldn't be freaking out. Concerned, yes, and she should be tested so you know. But as you've learned, the virus can take six weeks to three months to develop enough titres to be found in a test of the cat.

FeLV can be passed casually, but it is NOT a given. Most adult cats have a healthy enough immune system to fight it off. Vets and pet owners tend to be very, very cautious about it, and with reason. But most long time rescuers don't worry too much about it. There are a number of people here on TCS with FeLV kitties. Most adopt only FeLV kitties if they have one infected with FeLV, and there are several members with non-FeLV kitties and FeLV+ kitties, and they do keep the FeLV kitties separated. But I also know many long time rescuers with both FeLV- and FeLV+ kitties that do not separate them, and they have not had issues with non-FeLV kitties contracting the virus.

That said, your kitten is not an adult. So I would get her tested, just so you know. Her risk of being FeLV+ exists, but is a LONG way from being a certainty. :nod:

As to your friend... at this point, given they've all been living together for months, I don't know that I'd bother trying to separate Lily at this point. If FeLV were as "contagious" as vets make out, the percentage of cats that have FeLV would be much higher than the 1-5% of the entire cat population estimated to be FeLV+. :nod:

When a cat is exposed to FeLV, there are four possible outcomes.

1) About 30% of cats have a strong immune response to the virus and are resistant to it.
2) 30%-40% of cats become infected and are not able to fight it off.
3) 25%-30% of cats can't fight off the virus, but they don't actually become persistently infected immediately: the virus "hides" in the bone marrow for up to several years - and they either fight off the virus or become infected.
4) The last potential is that in a small percentage of cats the infection becomes "sequestered," meaning the virus "hides" from the immune system (again, predominantly in the bone marrow). They don't ever clear the virus from their system, but they're not contagious and don't develop the full blown disease.

for your kitty and your friend's other kitties. :heart3:

 

[teamcarp33]

Thanks so much for the reassurances. The vet who has always seen Lily advised my friend that if it were her cat, she would go ahead and euthanize. Lily's bloodwork came back so wonky that she would have needed to start blood transfusions to prolong her life. She felt like she was on the slippery slope where she probably wasn't feeling great, and would soon start to really decline and feel horrible. Of course my friend and her boyfriend are heartbroken. Their other 3 cats tested negative yesterday, so they will get retested in a few months, but it looks like they are in the clear. My Iggy will be tested tomorrow, but I am feeling fairly good about it.

 

[ldg]

Lily I'm so sorry for the sad news about Lily.

But I'm sure everyone's relieved about the other kitties! for your baby!

 

[teamcarp33]

He tested negative, which is a huge relief!