Companion Animals

Companion Cat FeLV Prevention and Management

Feline leukaemia virus is a serious immunosuppressive disease that is preventable through vaccination and testing of new cats before introduction.

Key Facts

FeLV is transmitted through close contact including grooming, shared bowls, and biting
Outdoor and multi-cat household cats are at highest risk of exposure
Vaccination from kittenhood provides effective protection for high-risk cats
Persistently infected cats shed virus continuously and can infect companions
Many FeLV-positive cats can live good-quality lives for years with appropriate management

Welfare Considerations

FeLV causes progressive immune suppression, anaemia, and increased cancer risk that leads to chronic decline in quality of life. Prevention through vaccination and testing new cats before introduction to FeLV-negative households is far better than management. FeLV-positive cats can live well with appropriate supportive care, monitoring, and kept as only pets or with other FeLV-positive cats.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate cats with outdoor access or multi-cat household exposure against FeLV
Test all new cats for FeLV before introducing them to existing cats
Provide excellent supportive care for FeLV-positive cats including regular health monitoring