What is Feline leukemia Virus, and is it Covered by Pet Insurance?

Nobody likes to think about their pet getting diagnosed with a serious illness. Nevertheless, the reality is that you don't know what's going to happen in their lifetime. Taking the time to understand the risks is simply a part of responsible pet parenting. If you're a cat owner, you may have already heard of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) as a serious condition that can be transmitted between cats. So, what's the risk for your pet, and what can you do if they have it?

Before you start worrying too much, we're here to answer common questions about feline leukemia and give you the knowledge you need to best help your pet.

What is feline leukemia virus (FeLV)?

Feline leukemia a tragic and fatal disease that is responsible for cat deaths around the world every year. Tragically, more than 50% of cats infected with feline leukemia die within two to three years. Most deaths in cats occur in the first year after diagnosis.

Now, feline leukemia virus is considered one of the most common infectious illnesses among cats. However, this is a bit misleading as many cats live their entire lives without much exposure to other felines. The good news is that FeLV rates are relatively low, affecting only 3.1% of cats in the US and Canada, according to one review. It is also largely preventable with routine vaccinations.

It’s important to be aware that FeLV is contagious and can be spread from animal to animal. But here's where there is more good news: 72% of cats in multi-cat households (and 97% in single-cat households) can fight and overcome the virus with their immune system without any help.

How do cats get FeLV?

As already mentioned, this virus is highly contagious. Cats can pick up the virus from saliva, urine, feces, nasal secretions, and milk of an infected cat. Sadly, kittens can also contract it in the womb from their infected mother. While most kittens will die before birth, some die a short time after birth or will survive and remain infected.

Social behaviors such as grooming, biting or sharing food areas can also cause transmission of feline leukemia. Ultimately, close proximity is required. The virus will not survive in the environment on its own for very long at all.

Is FeLV a form of cancer?

In humans, leukemia is a cancer of the blood, which lends to some confusion with FeLV. Despite the name, feline leukemia is not a form of cancer at all, but it can cause cancer. It’s a virus, present in around 2-3 percent of cats across the US. While that might seem like a small portion of the population the rate at which this disease spreads means that it is still a very real threat to all cat owners.

FeLV can cause cancer which makes it even more dangerous. There are several subgroups of FeLV. These subgroups are:

• FeLV-A
• FeLV-B
• FeLV-C
• FeLV-T

FeLV-A is the only one transmitted from cat to cat. Some cats only carry FeLV-A, but others can carry any combination. FeLV-B is associated with development of abnormal tissue or tumors. FeLV-C causes severe anemia and FeLV-T causes a suppressed or weakened immune system in cats.

As well as the different subgroups, feline leukemia also proceeds through stages. There are six stages in total. The virus enters the cat and spreads through the body, traveling through the bloodstream and replicating. Many cats are able to fight off the virus at this stage. If the virus is not fought off by the cat's immune system and eliminated, the bone marrow becomes infected. Once established in the bone marrow infected cells can be released. Lastly, the virus is shed and can infect other cats.

What are the symptoms of FeLV in cats?

There are various symptoms of feline leukemia to watch out for. These include:

• Weight loss
• Poor coat condition
• Pale gums
• Low levels of energy
• Anemia
• Difficulty standing or walking
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chronic or recurrent infections
• Regular issues with diarrhea

Any or all of these symptoms could be present in a cat infected with FeLV. However, they can also indicate a wide variety of other illnesses. If you suspect your pet is sick, contact your veterinarian right away.

How is FeLV diagnosed?

The good news is that many animal shelters and veterinary practices today already test for feline leukemia virus upon intake. This has helped increase early detection and reduce the rate of spread. If your cat has not been tested to your knowledge, it's important to ask your veterinarian about it.

There are several tests that can determine whether a cat is infected with feline leukemia. One test called ELISA looks for the virus in the blood. This test will determine whether the cat has the virus but not at what stage. It’s possible to test positive on this test and find that the virus hasn’t infected the bone marrow. This means that the cat could still fight the virus off themselves before it becomes incorporated into their genome.

Be aware though that false positives and negatives are common. As such, if positive, a second test will usually be completed about twelve weeks after the first.

Is there a cure?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for feline leukemia, and the cat’s life will typically be shortened due to it. However, how much the disease will impact the cat is hard to predict. Some will live with the condition for years. And, as mentioned, it is possible for cats to overcome the virus after contracting it. This is not guaranteed, however. Once a cat becomes infected, however, they must be kept separate from other cats. Affected felines cannot be allowed to wander freely outside and should stay inside the house at all times.

While there is no cure, there are multiple ways that you can prolong a cat’s chances when they have been diagnosed with feline leukemia. These cats should be:

• Kept indoors and away from other cats
• Kept on a strict diet without raw meat or eggs
• Have regular checkups with their vet
• Seek veterinary care at first sign of an illness
• Kept up-to-date on vaccines
• Have regular fecal tests and deworming

Remember, cats with FeLV are more prone to developing other illnesses so you must do what you can to protect the state of their health.

Can you vaccinate a cat against feline leukemia?

There is a vaccination, which you can discuss this with your vet. However, it will do nothing for a cat that is already infected.

You should consider a vaccination if your cat is going to be allowed to roam freely outside and interact with other cats. A cat that will never go out may not need the vaccination. Indeed, keeping your cat inside or in your yard may be the best way to stop them from contracting this disease.

You may also want to consider getting a vaccination if there is more than one cat in the household, especially if that cat is FeLV-positive. Regardless, talk with your veterinarian about what the best option may be for your cat's lifestyle and risk level.

Does pet insurance cover feline leukemia?

The short answer is yes, some pet insurance providers (like Trupanion) will cover treatments and diagnostic tests for feline leukemia. However, this is typically only when it is not a pre-existing condition, and preventative measures like getting the FeLV vaccine are followed.

Treatment for FeLV can be complex and long term, with some affected cats needing ongoing care for life. If you haven't already done so, it's important to protect your pet with cat insurance before any surprise illnesses come their way.