Feline Leukemia
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infects domestic cats throughout the world.
Kittens are the most susceptible to infection; resistance increases with maturity. Experimental data demonstrate that kittens
younger than 16 weeks of age are most susceptible to infection, with cats older than this being relatively resistant. Cats
at greatest risk include outdoor cats (free-roaming pets, stray cats, and feral cats). Also at risk are cats residing in open,
multiple-cat environments, cats living with FeLV-infected cats, and cats residing in households with unknown FeLV status.
The decision to vaccinate an individual cat against FeLV infection should be based on the cat's age and its risk
of exposure. Vaccination against FeLV is recommended for cats at risk of exposure (i.e., cats not restricted to a closed,
FeLV-negative, indoor environment), especially those younger than 4 months of age. Vaccination is not recommended for cats
with minimal to no risk of exposure, especially those older than 4 months of age.
We advise you have a stray
cat tested before bringing it in to your home with your existing pets, it could mean the difference between life and death.
Of the stray cats that came in to our shelter last year, 25% tested positive for this deadly disease.
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/public/fhc/felv.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/il/felv
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