How Long Can cats live with leukemia?
“The reality, though, is felines who are positive for the virus can remain healthy for months or years after their diagnosis until the virus becomes active.” In fact, some cats can live to be 10 to 15 years old if they are diagnosed as an adult. Whatever length their life ends up being, their time can be joy-filled.
How do you know if your cat has leukemia?
Symptoms of Feline Leukemia Virus Yellow color in the mouth and whites of eyes. Enlarged lymph nodes. Bladder, skin, or upper respiratory infections. Weight loss and/or loss of appetite.
Can a cat with leukemia be put to sleep?
A positive test result in a healthy cat would warrant re-testing but given her condition there really is no other conclusion one can reasonably reach. She is sadly dying and the final gift you can give her is to release her from this illness.
What do you need to know about feline leukemia?
So, you adopted a pair of adorable kittens from a kind neighbor. When you took them to the vet for their first checkup, they did great in the physical exam, but their blood samples showed something odd: The cats were positive for feline leukemia (FeLV). What does that mean?
Is it necessary to put a cat to sleep?
There is obviously no necessity to put down cats because they are old – cats will age at different rates. Similarly, there is no need to put a cat to sleep simply because a terminal condition such as cancer has been diagnosed – the cat may well be able to live several more happy months.
Can a mother cat transmit leukemia to her kittens?
Mother cats can transmit leukemia to their kittens through their milk, but some kittens seem to fight off the infection. It’s rare, but occasionally the virus is transmitted through shared litter boxes and food dishes. The good news is that the virus doesn’t survive long outside the body — just a few minutes or so under normal conditions.