Cat with FeLV
My kitten (female neutered DSH who is now 7 months old) tested positive for FeLV at 3 months of age. It was a weak positive and she will be retested again this weekend. I have a number of questions of a second opinion variety, some regarding what to expect/ask during our vet visit this weekend, and one regarding her current health:
1.)I also have a dog. Does my kitten’s exposure to him increase her chances of infection with a secondary illness? My vet was dismissive of and refused to accurately understand this question, insisting only that my dog could not get FeLV (no kidding). It seems to me that dogs, who are not known for their cleanliness, carry a number of infectious agents on their bodies at any time. If he is a threat to her health, is there anything I can do to minimize the threat?
2.)I have read that households containing uninfected cats should “separate” them from infected ones. Currently, we only live with dogs, but may have to relocate to a house with an uninfected and vaccinated cat. If these cats do not share eating/drinking facilities or a litter box and have no face-to-face contact, can they live in the same house safely?
3.)If, upon testing, it is discovered that my cat’s immune system has conquered the virus, what does this mean? Is there no longer any chance of developing illnesses secondary to FeLV, and is she still infectious to other cats?
4.)If she comes into contact with other infected cats in differing states of infection, do they pose a risk to one another? i.e., if my cat’s infection is in the primary stage and another cat’s is secondary, can hers become secondary? Can she live with other infected cats?
5.)I have noticed for the past few days that she seems to be breathing hard for no apparent reason, like when resting. Her sides heave. Her mouth remains closed and she appears to be in no visible distress. Her activity level/eating habits/behavior/elimination are all normal. What sort of infection could this be indicative of, and what should I expect to hear from my vet?
Thank you for your help.
Note : Cat health question from Ask A Vet. Click here for answer (answer available FREE for 24 hours after posting afterwhich you will need to pay $3.95 to view the answer). See other pet health questions.
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