What is the difference between feline leukemia and FIV?
FELV (feline leukemia) and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) are both highly contagious viruses that are spread from cat to cat. FELV is spread via the urine or saliva or an infected cat to another cat it comes in contact with, through litter box use or grooming. FIV is usually spread through a bite, so an infected mother cat doesn’t spread it to her kittens. Both viruses can be detected through a quick in-house blood test. You should always have a test run if you have a new cat or kitten, if your cat is sick (never tested before), or before getting the FELV vaccine for the first time. The FELV vaccine is highly recommended for any cat who spends time outdoors or has contact with other cats (fighting or playing). These viruses cannot be passed to humans or any other animal species.
