PREVENTION
TEST ALL CATS!!!
- at first vet visit
- prior to entering
a household with existing
uninfected cats
- in an existing
household prior to admission of a
new, uninfected cat
- prior to their
first FeLV vaccinations (the cat may
already be infected pre vaccination)
Cats should be vaccinated to protect
against a FeLV infection or to
prevent a persistent viremia.
Vaccines will vary in their
protective effect as their efficacy is questionable and are only
indicated for uninfected cats; there is no benefit in vaccinating a
FeLV positive cat. Only at risk populations need to be vaccinated
as the vaccine has been associated with the development of sarcomas at
the vaccination site. The efficacy of a vaccine ranges from 20%
to 100% (8).
Types of vaccines include:
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Vaccinate uninfected cats in infected cat households. However,
constant exposure to FeLV infected
cats is likely to result in viral
transmission regardless of vaccination status. Physical
separation may be necessary. Separate food and water bowls and
inhibit mutual grooming to prevent transmission via saliva.
Housing
cats indoors and neutering infected cats will reduce the
transmission. Provide good nutrition and husbandry – avoid raw
meat, eggs, and unpasteurized milk to avoid possible secondary
infections such as salmonella (3).
