Feline Leukemia Story from a Welland Veterinarian

The Main West Animal Hospital, Welland and our veterinarians would like to share a story with you from one of our clients.  It highlights the importance of having your cat spayed and neutered.

Hello, my name is Febe.  I was one of the lucky kittens to find my way to a loving home.  But it was not to be for long.  You see, I developed a horrible virus called Feline Leukemia.  No one suspected I had this virus.  It was something I got while I was growing inside of my mother.  My mother doesn’t even look sick, but she is a carrier of the virus and has possibly spread it to all of her kittens and can give it to other cats that she has close contact with.  I went home to my new family, a healthy looking, and happy, playful kitten.

But my luck was soon to run out.  I got a high fever and didn’t feel like eating or playing much anymore.  I was taken to the animal hospital where I was given medicine for my fever and pain.  They also took some blood to send to the lab for tests.  My devastated family was told the terrible news that I had the Feline Leukemia Virus (FLV) and that there was NO CURE.

I left my earthly home before I was barely 5 months old.  Some of my siblings are still alive and may not be sick, but could spread the illness, like my mother did, if they go out and have kittens of their own.  And it goes on and on.  That’s why it’s important to stop this virus from spreading by getting your cat spayed or neutered.  Some cats can live with this virus but their lives are usually much shorter and they would have to be kept away from other cats in order to keep the virus from spreading…it only takes a bite, scratch, or even a few shared licks to pass it on.  A blood test can confirm the virus…doing the right thing will keep it from spreading.  Thank you for taking the time to read my story.  Please pass it along.

Written by Cheryl Infantino on behalf of Febe.

Febe – Greek for bright, shining –  May 23, 2012 ~ October 18, 2012

May you rest in peace our little bright shining star.