I think my cat has Feline Leukemia, what are the symptoms?

Question

My 2 year old spayed cat was tested for the disease 1 year ago when I adopted her from a shelter. She came up negative on the test. I've kept her updated on all shots since. She has been very healthy and active except for a bad case of fleas from the shelter. I have her on Frontline even though she is an indoor cat since she escapes once in a while. (I also have another cat that is healthy but never tested for feline leukemia).

Yesterday I noticed my 2 year old shelter cat was not her usual self. She was lethargic, threw up, and slept all day. Tonight she is worse, feels hot, wont drink or eat. I plan to take her to the vet in the morning. If the vet says it is Feline Leukemia I won't be able to take her home will I? She could infect my other cat if she hasn't already.

Should I be preparing myself to having her put down? Once they show signs of the disease is it hopeless, especially if you have another cat without the disease? I love this cat but don't want my other cat to get it. Has anyone had a cat with this disease with other cats in the house?

Answer 1

There does not exist a certain set of symptoms for cats with FeLV. Usually the signs are chronic symptoms and if your cat has been vaccinated every year since testing negative there shouldn't be a reason for her to contract it even if she went outside and fought with a cat who has FeLV. I'm going to bet she does not have feline leukemia and has something else (sounds like something fixable by a vet).

You should have your other cat tested.

Answer 2

It could be many things really and take heart that she's already tested negative for FL. Don't panic until you speak to the vet, it could just be a virus. I really hope it's all OK.

Answer 3

Symptoms:

lethergy

high temperature

lack of appetite

enlarged lymph nodes

You may not be able to take her home.Get your other cat tested.

Good luck and no matter what happens always keep them in your heart.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I'M SORRY I DONT HAVE AN ANSWER....BUT I WISH YOU AND YOUR BABY WELL ............

Answer 5

Cats can get a number of illness, but just because she vomiting does NOT mean its feline lukemia

  What are the symptoms of FeLV?

Clinical signs vary widely, depending on the disease type & which organs are involved. Some symptoms either caused directly or indirectly by FeLV include;

          Poor appetite & or weight loss

          Fever

          Apathy

          Enlarged lymph nodes

          Pale mucous membranes

          Gastrointestinal disorders

          Lymphosarcoma

          Secondary infections due to the weakened immune system

          Difficulty breathing

          Gingivitis/stomatitis

Around 80% of cats die within a year of infection, and almost all will die within 2-3 years.

How is FeLV diagnosed?

There are two types of test available.

ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test can be performed in your veterinarian's surgery. It can detect an antigen known as p27 in whole blood, serum, plasma, saliva & tears of the cat. It is possible to get a false positive or a false negative. In the case of a positive from whole blood, a second test performed on plasma or serum is recommended.

IFA (immunofluorescence assay) which needs to be sent out to a laboratory. Testing detects antigen in leucocytes (white blood cells) or platelets.

How is FeLV managed?

There is no cure for FeLV& teatment of FeLV is usually targeted at managing FeLV related diseases, and also keeping the cat as healthy as possible. Your veterinarian will tailor treatment & care of the FeLV positive cat according to it's individual circumstances. Keeping your cat in a stress free environment, feeding a nutritious diet & avoiding exposure to disease are all important keys to helping a cat with FeLV.  Treatments/management may include;

         Regular check ups with your veterinarian to carefully monitor your cat's health

          The veterinarian may recommend a different vaccination schedule for the FeLV positive cat

          Interferon may be prescribed by your veterinarian. Interferon is a natural protein released by cells which have been invaded by viruses & assist the immune response by inhibiting viral replication.

          AZT is an antiviral drug used in humans with HIV. It can produce  quite severe side effects in cats. Your cat will need to be closely monitored by his veterinarian

          Administration of antibiotics where necessary for secondary bacterial infections

          Fluid therapy to treat dehydration

          Administration of vitamins & minerals

          Chemotherapy to manage lymphoma

          Keeping your cat indoors

Prevention of FeLV:

   To prevent exposure in the first place, it is advised you keep your cat either indoors or contained within a cat enclosure.

  There is a vaccine for FeLV. This is recommended for cats who are at high risk of exposure to the virus. No vaccine is 100% effective, so it should not be presumed that once the cat is vaccinated it is completely safe from infection.

Avoid having FeLV positive & negative cats together.

  Before introducing a new cat to your home, always test it for FeLV.

http://www.cat-world.com.au/FelineLeukem...

Also before putting your cat down, make sure the other cat doesn't have the virus, bit silly to put down the cat that has the virus  and you find out the other cat also has the virus.

There are some many other illness that can cause these symptoms in cats! So don't just presume its this

http://www.cat-world.com.au/FelineLeukem...

n FIV symptom list...

    * fever

    * Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis)

    * Inflammation of the mouth (stomatitis)

    * chronic or recurring infections of the:

          o gums, cheek, or tongue

          o skin

          o urinary bladder

          o upper respiratory tract

    * persistent diarrhea

    * various eye conditions

    * loss of appetite

    * progressive weight loss

    * severe wasting in late stage

    * various kinds of cancer

    * blood diseases

    * spontaneous abortion and other reproductive failures

    * seizures, behavior changes, and other neurological disorders

http://www.cat-lovers-only.com/feline-fi...

Feline FIP Symptom List

Any of the following clinical signs in your cat could be due to Feline Infectious Peritonitis:

    * recurring fevers

    * weight loss

    * inappetance

    * increased laziness

    * sudden swelling of the abdomen

    * any change in colour of the iris or any cloudiness in the eyes

    * bleeding in the eyes

    * difficulty breathing (the cat breathing through her mouth)

    * loss of balance or sudden clumsy appearance

    * fits or seizures

    * personality changes

http://www.cat-lovers-only.com/fip-sympt...

Feline Diabetes Symptoms

    * Polyuria (excessive urination)

    * Polydipsia (excessive thirst)

    * Increased appetite

    * Weight loss

    * Lethargy

    * Diabetic neuropathy (causes progressive weakness in the rear legs)

Progressive Feline Diabetes Symptoms

As the disease progresses, other signs and symptoms become more common.

    * Vomiting

    * Lose of appetite

    * Dehydration

    * Poor haircoat

    * Liver disease

    * Secondary bacterial infections

Feline Diabetic Ketoacidosis Symptoms

    * Loss of appetite

    * Vomiting

    * Diarrhea

    * Lethargy

    * Weakness

    * Dehydration

    * Breathing abnormalities

http://www.cat-lovers-only.com/feline-di...

Toxoplasmosis Symptoms: Feline

Toxoplasmosis in cats typically produces no symptoms. If symptoms are present, however, they present like this:

    * Lethargy

    * Depression

    * Loss of appetite

    * Fever

    * are typical early nonspecific signs. Pneumonia

    * Hepatitis, which may cause:

          o Vomiting

          o Diarrhea

          o Prostration

          o Jaundice

    * Inflammation of the pancreas

    * Enlarged lymph nodes

    * Eye problems and central nervous system disorders leading to:

          o Inflammation of the retina or anterior ocular chamber

          o Abnormal pupil size and responsiveness to light

          o blindness

          o Incoordination

          o Hypersensitivity to touch

          o Personality changes

          o Circling

          o Head pressing

          o Twitching of the ears

          o Difficulty in chewing and swallowing

          o Seizures

          o Loss of control over urination and defecation

http://www.cat-lovers-only.com/toxoplasm...

Answer 6

my cat had feline leukemia last year. She sat in the same spot for an entire day without moving.  We took her to the vet and she gave us medication to give to my cat Tabitha.  She is an indoor cat, and we have two other cats, though they are regularly more active.  We were told that our other cats would have already been exposed to the disease by that time, so we took Tabitha home.  Tabitha is fine now, back to her normal self, and our two other cats are fine as well.  

I'm sorry to hear about your cat, but from experience, I can hope she will recover soon.