In a message dated 2/5/2007 11:41:34 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
so he was probably very ill when he arrived here. I did a Google on >Feline Leukemia, and learned that jaundice (and anorexia) are symptoms >of this disease. Now I'm worried about my own cats, since Leukemia >in cats is extremely contagious and fatal. I've changed their water bowl >to Colloidal Silver only, and I'm wondering if there is anything else >I can do to head off an impending disaster. Thanks in advance for any help Feline leukemia virus in cats is NOT extremely contagious as many think. It is contained in the saliva of infected cats and is transmitted through the bite of an infected cat, which is why fighting tomcats are most at risk of being infected and infecting other cats. It is possible for an infected cat to spread it by grooming other cats, and an infected mother cat may pass it on to her kittens. Healthy cats that are over one year of age are immune to feline leukemia. As with a lot of viruses, this one is opportunistic, and an immature or weak immune system allows the infection to take hold, making outdoor kittens and (unhealthy) cats the high risk population. Vaccinated cats will test positive for as much as a year post-vaccination. Knowing this, many shelters no longer test incoming cats that appear healthy because they had been euthanizing healthy, vaccinated (false positive) cats. They will test cats that have signs or symptoms of illness. As for your own cats, continue to make their drinking water cs and if any newcomers show up and don't seem the picture of health, have them tested and/or put to sleep. Spaying and neutering also greatly decrease the likelihood of infection from bites because the cats aren't fighting. Since we're on the subject of feline leukemia, I won't go into the other reasons for spay & neuter :-) Laura H., TX
