Feline Leukemia Symptoms: What to Watch Out For
How is Feline Leukemia Spread?
Feline Leukemia is primarily transmitted through direct contact. Latently infected cats carry high concentrations of the virus in their saliva. This can lead to infection when cats lick each other, share food and water, or come into close contact. The disease can also be spread through blood transfusions, by cats being bitten by insects that carry the virus, or through the placenta during pregnancy.
Symptoms of Feline Leukemia in Infected Cats:
The incubation period for this disease is typically 2 to 3 months, and cats may exhibit one of the following four types of symptoms:
Abdominal Type: Cats may experience vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, and in severe cases, intestinal obstruction, kidney failure, jaundice, and palpable lumps in the abdomen.
Thoracic Type: Cats may have difficulty swallowing, breathing, nausea, pleural effusion, and weakness. Lumps may be felt on the lateral side of the chest.
Diffuse Type: This type is characterized by the presence of lumps in the lymph nodes and liver throughout the body.
Leukemia Type: Cats may show pale mucous membranes, bleeding spots, and a fluctuating fever that rises for several hours and then returns to normal.
How to Prevent Feline Leukemia:
There is a vaccine available that can be administered to cats to prevent the disease, although it does not prevent infection. It is important to isolate your cat from other feline populations, feed them indoors, minimize their exposure to the outdoors, and ensure that any new cats are properly screened for feline leukemia and quarantined before joining the household.