| The feline cancer Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) | | | | 2. Have your own cats tested for FeLV and |
| weakens the immune system, causes anemia and | | | | consider a cat health insurance plan to pay for |
| the growth of tumors in cats. The lifespan of a | | | | unexpected diseases or accidents. |
| FeLV cat is short as about 85% of infected cats | | | | 3. You may opt for a FeLV vaccination for you |
| die within 3 1/2 years of infection. If you are a | | | | cats, but understand that no vaccine is 100% |
| foster cat care giver, there are steps you can | | | | effective. Some cat health insurance plans help |
| take to prevent the spread of the disease to the | | | | pay for these vaccinations. |
| non-infected cats in your home. | | | | 4. Keep the fostered cats in isolation or in pairs in |
| If you've decided to help improve the lives of lost | | | | isolation - especially if they were already mixing. |
| or unwanted cats and kittens by being a foster | | | | 5. Don't introduce new fostered cats into your |
| caregiver, you need to take steps to prevent the | | | | home until the preceding fostered cats have new |
| spread of a feline cancer like FeLV and other | | | | homes. |
| communicable diseases to your own healthy cats. | | | | 6. Provide separate litter boxes and feeding bowls |
| The FeLV cat virus is carried in the saliva of an | | | | for the fostered cats. Disinfect the bowls daily |
| infected cat. Cats can catch FeLV when there is | | | | and the litter boxes at least twice a week. |
| cat-to-cat direct contact by licking. | | | | 7. Don't re-home a foster cat that is a positive |
| Kittens are particularly susceptible as the virus can | | | | FeLV cat without notifying and educating the |
| cross the placenta to the unborn kitten of a FeLV | | | | adopting caregiver. |
| cat mother. Young kittens under 4 months are | | | | There you have it. It is possible to prevent the |
| also vulnerable. They need time to build up | | | | deadly FeLV cat virus from infecting your |
| immunity and if they are introduced to a number | | | | non-foster cats. Testing your own cats for the |
| of infected cats, then their resistance to the | | | | FeLV virus is a must and you should talk to your |
| disease is weakened. | | | | vet about the vaccine options. If your home cat |
| FeLV cat symptoms take several months or | | | | does contract feline leukemia, you should do |
| years make an appearance. So, in the early | | | | everything you can to limit direct contact with |
| stages of fostering a cat or kitten you may | | | | other cats in your household. |
| never know that the animal carries the virus | | | | As a foster cat caregiver, you take on a bit |
| unless you have him tested. It is possible to test | | | | more risk of spreading feline cancer to your own |
| for the infection and the general recommendation | | | | cats. Prevention and early protection is always the |
| is to test for the FeLV cat virus twice about 12 | | | | most cost effective approach, so why not |
| weeks apart. | | | | protect your own cats and your finances with a |
| Here's some tips to keep you own cats from | | | | cat health insurance plan before they contract any |
| becoming infected with the feline cancer virus | | | | feline cancer or illness. Standard health care is |
| (FeLV). | | | | costly and when your cat needs advanced care |
| 1. Don't allow your own cats to mix with the | | | | the cost quickly becomes unaffordable without a |
| foster cat or kitten. | | | | pet insurance plan. |