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feline leukemia question!

Got a new, young, furry love in your life? This is the place for you to ask all of your questions - big or small! Just remember that you are receiving advice from other cat owners and lovers... not professionals. If you have a major problem, always seek the advice of a vet or behaviorist! Most important is to remember to have fun with your new fur baby.

  
Frodo

1202748		 
 
Purred: Tue Sep 13, '11 12:33pm PST 
I have a potential adopter for the kittens, everything seems perfect, however she told me they took in a stray little kitten and it tested positive for feline leukemia, and died....

are there steps she can take to prevent the kittens from getting it? i read it can be contagious through saliva....should she bleach dishes or just through it out and get all new stuff?
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Ralphie & Randy

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Purred: Wed Sep 14, '11 8:41am PST 
Have the kittens had their vaccinations yet? I would double check with your vet, but it is my understanding that the vaccine will protect them from any exposure they might get from another cat or from surfaces that may have been infected.

I don't have experience with feline leukemia, but I do with feline distemper. Randy had it as a kitten. That particular virus can live for many years and can only be killed by one particular virucide, or bleach or fire. It's not necessarily only items that are known to have been used that may be infected, such as dishes or beds, as the virus sheds and can transfer to other non-contact surfaces. We can't bleach every item and surface in our home, so short of burning the place down, we will likely have infected surfaces for possibly years.

If we were to have another cat in our home, we would be safe to do so if the cat was current on his/her vaccinations. But we wouldn't be able to bring in an unvaccinated stray, because we would risk infecting him or her.

Again, confirm with your vet, but I don't think a previous infection would be a reason to reject a home for these little guys if their vaccinations are in effect and kept current in the future.
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