Animal Welfare Professionals

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.

Hi, Regina!

We have a small FeLV program that includes a small sanctuary, some "forever fosters," and potentially adoption.  Please be sure to do the proper protocol for confirmation testing (IFA and PCR) - a snap test isn't enough. Working with an experienced veterinarian is important.  We make sure to get them to the vet for every issue, no matter how small, as small things balloon in these cats quickly.  So a dental for the one cat would be important asap. We have found that if a FeLV cat is over two years old, there is a greater chance for a longer life.  We have found if they are infected as kittens it is likely they won't live past two years old.  One thing we provide to keep them healthier is lysine.  Sometimes the vet will prescribe an antiviral like famcyclovir to keep their load down.  Please be sure to use a sanitizing dishwasher on their bowls, so as to not risk negative cats in your home, if you co-mingle bowls.  Hand washing is super important.  I'd be happy to chat sometime and share more info if you'd like.  

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.

If you search, I posted about this topic recently. 
We opted to follow Austin Pets Alive (APA!) guidance as they are forerunners in FeLV research. They recommend a one and done with an IDEXX brand test (others are known to run false positives frequently). I know some will say to do a blood test that vets send out but in my area - none of the vets are even doing that anymore as they also agree with just using the IDEXX test. 
Some rescues immediately euth when they get these cats because of the space it takes to quarantine them in a shelter/rescue environment.
There was a lady that responded on mine where she has placed FeLV cats in a foster where the lady had other cats that were not positive. They've been there for years and it has not transmitted because the ladys cats were fully vaccinated and she made sure they were on time for their vaccines yearly (and tested then).
That said - we were fortunate that our cat was gorgeous (long hair lynx point siamese mix) and she was scooped up by a family that did not have any other cats so we didn't have to worry about that part. 

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.

Thank you Sarah. Regina

If you search, I posted about this topic recently. 
We opted to follow Austin Pets Alive (APA!) guidance as they are forerunners in FeLV research. They recommend a one and done with an IDEXX brand test (others are known to run false positives frequently). I know some will say to do a blood test that vets send out but in my area - none of the vets are even doing that anymore as they also agree with just using the IDEXX test. 
Some rescues immediately euth when they get these cats because of the space it takes to quarantine them in a shelter/rescue environment.
There was a lady that responded on mine where she has placed FeLV cats in a foster where the lady had other cats that were not positive. They've been there for years and it has not transmitted because the ladys cats were fully vaccinated and she made sure they were on time for their vaccines yearly (and tested then).
That said - we were fortunate that our cat was gorgeous (long hair lynx point siamese mix) and she was scooped up by a family that did not have any other cats so we didn't have to worry about that part. 

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.

There is a Maddie's webcast on this topic, presented by Monica Tarant, formerly of APA!/AmPA! and Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program. https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/feline-leukemia-testing-one-and-done-for-everyone

Also, if you type "FeLV" into the search bar of the AmPA! resources page at https://americanpetsalive.org/resources, you'll find tons of protocols as well as handouts for adopters. 

Thanks for helping the FeLVies!

Thank you Sarah. Regina

If you search, I posted about this topic recently. 
We opted to follow Austin Pets Alive (APA!) guidance as they are forerunners in FeLV research. They recommend a one and done with an IDEXX brand test (others are known to run false positives frequently). I know some will say to do a blood test that vets send out but in my area - none of the vets are even doing that anymore as they also agree with just using the IDEXX test. 
Some rescues immediately euth when they get these cats because of the space it takes to quarantine them in a shelter/rescue environment.
There was a lady that responded on mine where she has placed FeLV cats in a foster where the lady had other cats that were not positive. They've been there for years and it has not transmitted because the ladys cats were fully vaccinated and she made sure they were on time for their vaccines yearly (and tested then).
That said - we were fortunate that our cat was gorgeous (long hair lynx point siamese mix) and she was scooped up by a family that did not have any other cats so we didn't have to worry about that part. 

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.

Erika.

There is a lot of information out there ... it's just making sense of it all and then how it applies to my situation.  A lot of the information is shelter care related, which some of this applies to my situation, but these cats are quarantined in my home and I have other cats. I am able to keep them separated but while I'm looking for homes for these two, I want them to have a good quality of life and access to roam some. My new problem I came up with today ... is the weather is changing to be  really nice outside ... and I would like to give them time in a Catio that other cats also use, not at the same time, but I'm concerned with how long does the virus live outside of the body and on surfaces, porous and non porous? I can take up water bowls and there is no food in that space. I have a major learning curve with this one and questions seem to pop up as soon as I feel comfortable I've figured out something ... a new 'something' comes up! Thank you for the information. I'll be sure to look at this. Regina.

There is a Maddie's webcast on this topic, presented by Monica Tarant, formerly of APA!/AmPA! and Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program. https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/feline-leukemia-testing-one-and-done-for-everyone

Also, if you type "FeLV" into the search bar of the AmPA! resources page at https://americanpetsalive.org/resources, you'll find tons of protocols as well as handouts for adopters. 

Thanks for helping the FeLVies!

Thank you Sarah. Regina

If you search, I posted about this topic recently. 
We opted to follow Austin Pets Alive (APA!) guidance as they are forerunners in FeLV research. They recommend a one and done with an IDEXX brand test (others are known to run false positives frequently). I know some will say to do a blood test that vets send out but in my area - none of the vets are even doing that anymore as they also agree with just using the IDEXX test. 
Some rescues immediately euth when they get these cats because of the space it takes to quarantine them in a shelter/rescue environment.
There was a lady that responded on mine where she has placed FeLV cats in a foster where the lady had other cats that were not positive. They've been there for years and it has not transmitted because the ladys cats were fully vaccinated and she made sure they were on time for their vaccines yearly (and tested then).
That said - we were fortunate that our cat was gorgeous (long hair lynx point siamese mix) and she was scooped up by a family that did not have any other cats so we didn't have to worry about that part. 

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.

Have you thought about having your personal cats vaccinated for feline leukemia? Many years ago, I used to foster adult cats who needed to know how it felt to live in a home. We had her for a year, took her up to adoptions and finally, someone wanted her. Her vaccines just expired that day (a Saturday) so arrangements were made to get them taken care of on Monday and then proceed with the adoption afterwards. Fast forward to Monday. She seemed feverish, and when I took her to the vet, she urinated in the carrier on the way. Get into the vet's office and he came out to me to inform me she was high positive for feline leukemia and in multi-organ failure; hence, the 106 fever. I had to test my 7 cats, all but one were negative for feline leukemia. I isolated her and vaccinated the rest. They mingled, shared food, water, litter boxes for four more years until my Willow  Bean passed. Lesson I learned was to retest any cat that we have for a year. If I were fostering again and going to mix the cats or that I may consider mixing, I will vaccinate my personals again. But, to answer your question, according to Dr. Google, FeLV does not survive long outside a cat's body – probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions - so it is unlikely for a cat to be infected from the environment without prolonged close contact with an infected cat.

Erika.

There is a lot of information out there ... it's just making sense of it all and then how it applies to my situation.  A lot of the information is shelter care related, which some of this applies to my situation, but these cats are quarantined in my home and I have other cats. I am able to keep them separated but while I'm looking for homes for these two, I want them to have a good quality of life and access to roam some. My new problem I came up with today ... is the weather is changing to be  really nice outside ... and I would like to give them time in a Catio that other cats also use, not at the same time, but I'm concerned with how long does the virus live outside of the body and on surfaces, porous and non porous? I can take up water bowls and there is no food in that space. I have a major learning curve with this one and questions seem to pop up as soon as I feel comfortable I've figured out something ... a new 'something' comes up! Thank you for the information. I'll be sure to look at this. Regina.

There is a Maddie's webcast on this topic, presented by Monica Tarant, formerly of APA!/AmPA! and Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program. https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/feline-leukemia-testing-one-and-done-for-everyone

Also, if you type "FeLV" into the search bar of the AmPA! resources page at https://americanpetsalive.org/resources, you'll find tons of protocols as well as handouts for adopters. 

Thanks for helping the FeLVies!

Thank you Sarah. Regina

If you search, I posted about this topic recently. 
We opted to follow Austin Pets Alive (APA!) guidance as they are forerunners in FeLV research. They recommend a one and done with an IDEXX brand test (others are known to run false positives frequently). I know some will say to do a blood test that vets send out but in my area - none of the vets are even doing that anymore as they also agree with just using the IDEXX test. 
Some rescues immediately euth when they get these cats because of the space it takes to quarantine them in a shelter/rescue environment.
There was a lady that responded on mine where she has placed FeLV cats in a foster where the lady had other cats that were not positive. They've been there for years and it has not transmitted because the ladys cats were fully vaccinated and she made sure they were on time for their vaccines yearly (and tested then).
That said - we were fortunate that our cat was gorgeous (long hair lynx point siamese mix) and she was scooped up by a family that did not have any other cats so we didn't have to worry about that part. 

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.

My 'personal cats' have been vaccinated but a few I have were 'rescued' and I'm checking their vet records on that now.  That is a good thing to consider but I have read research that stated a vaccinated cat is not 100% immune to the virus. It is just too risky. The FeLV cats are isolated from my other cats. They have a rescue dog buddy who is fighting cancer to share their space with. I am considering giving them their own time in our Catio which is directly off their room ... but my other cats use it as well.  As I understand this ... the virus can't live outside the body long and is easily killed by standard cleaning products. I just hate the thoughts of cleaning that darn catio between use. UGH. They are great cats though. Shelter names, Dixon and Prince.  Thank you for your input.

Have you thought about having your personal cats vaccinated for feline leukemia? Many years ago, I used to foster adult cats who needed to know how it felt to live in a home. We had her for a year, took her up to adoptions and finally, someone wanted her. Her vaccines just expired that day (a Saturday) so arrangements were made to get them taken care of on Monday and then proceed with the adoption afterwards. Fast forward to Monday. She seemed feverish, and when I took her to the vet, she urinated in the carrier on the way. Get into the vet's office and he came out to me to inform me she was high positive for feline leukemia and in multi-organ failure; hence, the 106 fever. I had to test my 7 cats, all but one were negative for feline leukemia. I isolated her and vaccinated the rest. They mingled, shared food, water, litter boxes for four more years until my Willow  Bean passed. Lesson I learned was to retest any cat that we have for a year. If I were fostering again and going to mix the cats or that I may consider mixing, I will vaccinate my personals again. But, to answer your question, according to Dr. Google, FeLV does not survive long outside a cat's body – probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions - so it is unlikely for a cat to be infected from the environment without prolonged close contact with an infected cat.

Erika.

There is a lot of information out there ... it's just making sense of it all and then how it applies to my situation.  A lot of the information is shelter care related, which some of this applies to my situation, but these cats are quarantined in my home and I have other cats. I am able to keep them separated but while I'm looking for homes for these two, I want them to have a good quality of life and access to roam some. My new problem I came up with today ... is the weather is changing to be  really nice outside ... and I would like to give them time in a Catio that other cats also use, not at the same time, but I'm concerned with how long does the virus live outside of the body and on surfaces, porous and non porous? I can take up water bowls and there is no food in that space. I have a major learning curve with this one and questions seem to pop up as soon as I feel comfortable I've figured out something ... a new 'something' comes up! Thank you for the information. I'll be sure to look at this. Regina.

There is a Maddie's webcast on this topic, presented by Monica Tarant, formerly of APA!/AmPA! and Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program. https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/feline-leukemia-testing-one-and-done-for-everyone

Also, if you type "FeLV" into the search bar of the AmPA! resources page at https://americanpetsalive.org/resources, you'll find tons of protocols as well as handouts for adopters. 

Thanks for helping the FeLVies!

Thank you Sarah. Regina

If you search, I posted about this topic recently. 
We opted to follow Austin Pets Alive (APA!) guidance as they are forerunners in FeLV research. They recommend a one and done with an IDEXX brand test (others are known to run false positives frequently). I know some will say to do a blood test that vets send out but in my area - none of the vets are even doing that anymore as they also agree with just using the IDEXX test. 
Some rescues immediately euth when they get these cats because of the space it takes to quarantine them in a shelter/rescue environment.
There was a lady that responded on mine where she has placed FeLV cats in a foster where the lady had other cats that were not positive. They've been there for years and it has not transmitted because the ladys cats were fully vaccinated and she made sure they were on time for their vaccines yearly (and tested then).
That said - we were fortunate that our cat was gorgeous (long hair lynx point siamese mix) and she was scooped up by a family that did not have any other cats so we didn't have to worry about that part. 

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.

I've recently pulled two FeLV-positive cats from our local animal shelter before euthanasia. The cats came from a hoarding situation, and I had a prior relationship with these cats. I was working with the vet to seek positive outcomes for these animals and ended up with these two. One has dental problems, isn't grooming much, and doesn't seem healthy, but the other cat is very active, has a clean coat, and seeks attention. Both are very loving animals. I have them under strict quarantine at home because I have other cats. I'm learning more and more about this complicated virus. I am reaching out to get others' input on making these cats adoptable and any personal experience with this virus. Some have recommended keeping the cats healthy and on top of the virus with regular B-12 shots. Any input on that would be helpful.