I'm a volunteer foster for a local rescue for the past 9 years. I've had a number of FeLV positive kittens. Many have been preadopted before spay/neuter surgery after the families met the kittens in my home. Occasionally I've had them at home until spay/neuter surgery and then moved them on to our local store that has an Adoption Center with our rescue so I can take more kittens at home. In the past year, the Adoption Center will no longer accept FeLV positive kittens or cats. I'm really not sure there's a great justification for that. They get more exposure at the store then in my home. FeLV isn't highly transmissable from what I've read and if they are in one of the stores kennels that is separated from other kittens, it's not transmissable at all. It's not airborne like ringworm. Even if the kennel didn't get properly cleaned when the kitten leaves and another is put in there, I'm doubting there would be much of a chance for infection to the new kitten. In my home, I keep the FeLV kittens in a room separate from the other kitties (though I'm sure there is likely paw play under the door when I'm asleep or not around). The room gets cleaned before the next group of kittens comes in. Not sure why they can't also do this in a store.  Any comments on this appreciated.
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms

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barb roach
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Hi Barb,

You're absolutely right that FeLV is not an airborne transmissible disease, but it can be spread through bodily fluid, and in a wet environment can survive for about 48 hours outside of the host.  With proper cage cleaning, the risk  is low, but not quite as low as something like FIV.

This thread on the forums here has some more information on FIV/FeLV if you're looking for more resources or education items for your Adoption Center folks.

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Jeff Okazaki
Humane Society of Jefferson County
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Original Message:
Sent: 1/10/2023 2:56:00 PM
From: Jeff Okazaki
Subject: RE: FeLV positive kittens and cats

Hi Barb,

You're absolutely right that FeLV is not an airborne transmissible disease, but it can be spread through bodily fluid, and in a wet environment can survive for about 48 hours outside of the host.  With proper cage cleaning, the risk  is low, but not quite as low as something like FIV.

This thread on the forums here has some more information on FIV/FeLV if you're looking for more resources or education items for your Adoption Center folks.

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Jeff Okazaki
Humane Society of Jefferson County
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