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Feline Leukemia Virus: Symptoms of FeLV

The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a highly dangerous and usually deadly virus that affects the immune system of your cat. Unfortunately, there is no known treatment that is consistently effective against this disease.

This disease comes with a diverse symptom list. FeLV is a retrovirus, which means that it is able to insert copies of its own genetic material into the cells it has infected. This illness shares many symptoms in common with other diseases and conditions.

Healthy cats, like healthy people, are attacked by organisms all the time. Most of the time, both felines and humans can fight them off. When your cat's immune system is compromised, however, opportunistic infections and parasitic organisms are more likely to thrive and cause damage.

FeLV infected cats have a difficult time fighting off infections and parasites. With a weakened immune system, your cat is more susceptible to secondary infections and diseases. The symptoms an infected cat experiences, to a large degree, are caused by these other diseases and conditions.

Some cats will experience no outward symptoms during the initial stages of the disease. Early FeLV symptoms may include general malaise, blood conditions, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.

FeLV infected cats are susceptible to developing leukemia as well as other forms of cancer. They often will develop anemia as well, and about 30 percent of infected cats will develop tumors. Some cats may exhibit excessive thirst and urination, which is also common to feline diabetes and other conditions.

Additional feline leukemia virus symptoms may also include depression, weight loss to the point of emaciation, and diarrhea. Cats may also experience blood in the stool, jaundice, constipation, and chronic recurring infections.

There are two stages to this disease. Upon initial infection, some cats will fight off the illness and it will not progress to the second stage. Other cats will not be so fortunate and the disease will progress.

If your cat has FeLV that has reached the second stage, the only thing you can do is to treat the secondary diseases and infections, and attempt to strengthen the immune system of your cat. Unfortunately, the disease is usually fatal.

In fact, it's estimated that only about 2 to 3 percent of all cats are infected with FeLV. Infection rates are higher in high risk groups. The disease is transmitted through direct contact with an infected cat. Keeping your cat indoors and away from infected cats is a good precaution. Fortunately, if your cat is not in a high risk group, chances are limited that she will contract the disease.

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Kurt Schmitt writes about cat health problems and provides a complete feline leukemia virus symptoms list including information on pregnant cats and kittens. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

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