RE: Sharing food

[Faye Lewis]

What I read in the beginning of my ordeal is that the virus can only live 15 
minutes outside the body.  However, it begins to die as soon as it hits the 
air.  Therefore even a one minute old virus outside the body is considerably 
weakened and more difficult to spread.

Bites, sex and being born to an infected mother are the most efficient ways 
to spread the virus. Litter box, food dishes and grooming are the most 
difficult ways to spread it.  My infected cat shared food and drink bowls, 
litter boxes and groomed the 4 week old kittens obsessively.  However, he 
never bit them nor had sex.

From: Cherie A Gabbert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: Sharing food
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 08:13:11 -0800 (PST)
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Hi,
I am curious since all of this has happened with Snowball and now Amber, I 
have read numerous things, it is said that if cats share foods, the 
uninfected cat can be infected, but I have also read and heard from this 
group that the FeLV virus pretty much dies as soon as it hits air. When I 
asked my vet she said prolonged nose to nose contact and a bite from the 
infected cat, I am confused, can someone give my some correct information.
Thank you
Cherie