If you’re a cat parent, you’ve probably heard about Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Additionally, your veterinarian has likely discussed the importance of FeLV/FIV testing.
Veterinary care is expensive, so you might wonder why your cat needs this testing, given all the other diseases that cats can acquire.
FeLV and FIV are serious diseases within the cat population. Knowing the FeLV/FIV status of your cat, whether negative or positive, will help you keep your pet as healthy as possible.
FeLV and FIV Basics
FeLV and FIV are infectious diseases that affect 2–4% of cats in the United States. They weaken the immune system, making cats susceptible to numerous infections and other health conditions that can shorten the lifespan.
FeLV is spread through an infected cat’s bodily secretions (for example, urine and saliva) or, less commonly, from an infected pregnant mother to her kittens. Young kittens and outdoor, unneutered males are at high risk of FeLV infection. In many cases, direct contact with an infected cat, such as through mutual grooming, transmits the virus.
Cats with FeLV may be asymptomatic or have symptoms like appetite and weight loss, lethargy and behavioral changes.
FIV is most commonly spread through deep bite wounds, making outdoor, unneutered males particularly susceptible to infection. It can also be spread from infected mothers to kittens. FIV progresses slowly, with signs not presenting for up to several years after infection. The symptoms are similar to those of FeLV.
FeLV/FIV Testing
Because FeLV and FIV are transmitted between cats and make cats very ill, every cat must undergo FeLV/FIV testing. Veterinarians use several blood tests to detect FeLV and FIV in a cat’s system. These tests can be a bit tricky, so we’ll walk you through them.
FeLV Tests FeLV tests look for antigens, which are foreign substances that trigger an immune response. The specific antigen detected by FeLV tests is a protein called p27, which is present during viral infections.
FeLV testing is two-pronged. The first test is a screening test, which looks for p27 in the bloodstream. A negative result requires no further testing. A positive result requires a second test, which detects p27 in the white blood cells and confirms infection.
FIV Tests FIV tests, also two-pronged, look for antibodies, which are produced by white blood cells to fight infections. The FIV screening test will detect general antiviral antibodies. A negative result requires no further testing. A positive result requires a second test that detects FIV-specific antibodies.
Kittens younger than six months old might test positive if they received FIV-specific antibodies from their mother. They should be tested again when they are older than six months, after the maternal antibodies are gone.
Below are guidelines for when to perform FeLV/FIV testing:
- First veterinary visit for kittens
- Before the first FeLV vaccination
- A new cat entering a household with uninfected cats
- Uninfected cats, before a new cat enters the household
If test results are inconclusive, testing should be repeated in several months. The cat should be considered infected in the meantime.
If your cat is at high risk for either disease, your veterinarian may recommend yearly FeLV/FIV testing.
What to Do with a Positive Test Result
Have no fear! A positive FeLV or FIV test result is not a death sentence. With proper veterinary and at-home care, cats with FeLV or FIV can have a good quality of life for several years after diagnosis.
There are no FeLV- or FIV-specific treatments. Instead, treatment is directed at the diseases’ secondary effects. For example, an infected cat may need anti-inflammatory or antibacterial medication.
Other than medication, several management strategies help keep infected cats as healthy as possible and prevent them from infecting other cats:
- Keep all cats indoors.
- Feed a healthy and balanced diet.
- Maintain a stress-free environment.
- Schedule veterinary visits every six months.
- Prevent interaction between infected and uninfected cats (for example, keep food and water bowls separate).