Is there any reason to keep a cat with feline leukemia separate from a cat that has been vaccinated from it?
We took in a three kittens we found in the backyard. The mother disappeared. We gave one away and had two left. One died and now we have only one. We took it to the vet and found out that it tested positive for Feline Leukemia. The one we gave away tested positive also and most likely it caused the death of the third one. Anyway, we already have a 5 year old indoor cat that has been vaccinated. Do we still need to keep them away from each other or is it safe for them to play together?
- hudsongray
If the vaccination was done 14 days earlier or more, the cat is covered. Vaccines take up to two weeks to be fully utilized by a cat's body.
- NCSU Happy Dog
Indoor adult cats that were vaccinated as kittens have full immunity. The real concern is primarily for kittens and geriatric cats, and immuno-suppressed or immuno-compromised cats. If your 5 year old cat is healthy, has been up-to-date on vaccines, and they're showings signs of compatability, then it's safe to SLOWLY introduce them to each other.
The kitten with FeLV can carry the virus and show no symptoms most of its life, or it could suddenly experience Leukemia, be susceptible to common cat viruses, and quickly decline and die, at anytime. As long as you are prepared to cope with that during the cat's life, it is safe for the kitten to play with your current cat. Have the kitten tested again in 6 months with an FeLV/FIV combo test, just to ensure it was a true positive and to ensure the kitten doesn't have FIV, which has no treatment, no effective vaccine, and is a risk to adults as well as kittens.
They were lucky kittens, to have been abandoned near your home. Think that at least the deceased kitten got to be indoors, dry and warm, with food nearby if wanted. It was not alone. Keep good nutrition in the other 2, keep them in good body condition at ideal weight, and keep them active and adored, and they will enjoy their new lives with the best possible longevity.
- joanne
Your indoor cat will need yearly boosters to remain guarded against FeLV in order to remain safe against the klitten that does have it. As this is a serious concern please call your vet and get the correct information-don't rely on the internet. FeLV+ cats still need the vaccination and can live fine with FeLV- cats, but all must get yearly boosters. The little guy is lucky to have found your family.
- ?
Even with the yearly vaccine it is still possible for your cat to get the desease. You will need to make extra sure that your cat is NEVER overdue for his shots each year. Some vet s reccomend that you get your cat the feluk vaccine every 6 months if living with a feluk positive cat.
There were 2 kittens that were brought in to the vet clinic I worked at who initially tested positive for feluk...but we tested them again when they were 16 weeks old and they tested negative. So it is possible it is a false negative.
- J C
The FeLV vaccine is - at best - only 80% effective in preventing the disease. You cat will be in close physical contact with this kitten on a daily basis - putting the risk even higher. 80% effective means your cat is at a 20% risk of catching FeLV from the kitten - only you can decide if it's worth the risk. Personally, I wouldn't do it.
Leukemia — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, risk factors, treatment of this blood-related cancer.
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