Symptoms of Feline Viral Diseases

By Dr. Karen Geissert

Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency viral diseases are two of the most common infectious diseases affecting cats.  These diseases are passed by cat-to-cat transmission.

Feline leukemia can be transmitted through secretions in the saliva or sexual contact. It can also be transmitted from mother to kittens through the placenta and by nursing. This is not a virus that lasts very long in the environment; however, proper disinfection is advised in households with an infected individual.  New cats should be tested free of the virus before introducing them to your cat household.  Symptoms of Feline Leukemia viral infection are lethargy, fever, decreased appetite, difficulty breathing, gum inflammation, or non-healing wounds or abscesses.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is usually passed from one cat to another through bite wounds from other infected cats, but also can be transmitted from a mother cat to her kittens. Since the most frequent transmission is through biting, older free-roaming outdoor male cats are at the highest risk for infection.  There are three phases of disease: acute, asymptomatic, and terminal.  The acute phase may last for several days to weeks.  Cats will demonstrate fever, depression, mouth inflammation, or lymph node enlargement.  Cats may then enter the asymptomatic phase in which they do not have any outward signs of infection for months to years.  Cats then may enter the terminal phase of disease, often succumbing to opportunistic secondary infections, neoplastic diseases due to a less effective immune system.  Some cats show severe weight loss in the final stages of the disease process.

Any cat that is symptomatic or shows debilitation should be tested for these viral diseases. Cats with either viral disease should become only indoor pets once diagnosed so that they do not expose other uninfected cats.  Infected cats must be protected from other disease risks since they have compromised immune systems.  We recommend that they receive only vaccines that are killed type rather than vaccines that are modified live attenuated type for necessary immunizations. Some newer antiviral treatments or immune stimulating drugs are currently available for treatment.  Prognosis is dependent on whether cats are diagnosed in the acute or asymptomatic stages.  Obviously, if the disease has progressed to the terminal stage, treatments will not be effective.

Prevention of infection is key to stopping transmission of these diseases.  There is a very effective vaccine available for prevention of Feline Leukemia.  A vaccine has been developed for preventing Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, but it can cause a false positive result when testing for the virus. Therefore, we do not recommend vaccination for the prevention of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Keeping cats indoors protects them from potential exposure.

For more information, contact your veterinarian.

Dr. Karen Geissert is the owner of Acton Animal Hospital.