What Is It Like to Have Cats With Feline Leukemia Virus?
Key takeaways:
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a contagious disease in cats that doesn’t have a cure.
Most cats with it live about 2.5 years after being diagnosed.
Marissa Cargal explains why she’s passionate about rescuing cats who have FeLV.
GoodRx for Pets: Here’s how to save on pet medications with GoodRx.
Marissa Cargal’s compassion for animals has shaped her life.
Marissa, who follows a vegetarian diet, started working with cats as a teenager. She helped with a trap-neuter-return program at the apartment complex where she lived. She’d take feral cats to the vet for spaying or neutering and vaccinations, and then return them to their outdoor homes.
Today, she gives back to animals in a different way: caring for cats with feline leukemia virus (FeLV).
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A crash course on feline leukemia virus
In 2019, Marissa, who is now 26, was helping trap feral cats in her area of Houston. One kitten she helped rescue stood out.
“She was very social, and I thought she would be adoptable,” Marissa says. But at the vet, the 6-month-old kitten tested positive for FeLV, a retrovirus that compromises a cat’s immune system, making them more susceptible to infections and certain cancers. Marissa was heartbroken.
FeLV is highly contagious and is spread through saliva, shared feeding bowls, grooming, or bites. It affects about 2% to 3% of cats in the U.S. and Canada. And there is no cure. Most cats live an average of 2.5 years after being diagnosed. Because the virus is so transmissible, cats who have it should ideally only live with other FeLV-positive cats.
“I was shocked,” Marissa says of finding out the kitten had FeLV. “I knew they had a shorter lifespan, which was very sad to me at the time.”
Despite the diagnosis, Marissa decided to adopt the kitten. “The doctor told me her lifespan would be from 0 to 3 years,” she says. “I thought, ‘I can make the most of it, however long she has.’”
Even though it was difficult when the kitten eventually died, Marissa has adopted six FeLV-positive cats over the years.
“It was hard at first,” Marissa says. “But I had support from my boyfriend and mom. I just fell in love with them.”
The costs of caring for FeLV-positive cats
Marissa currently cares for two FeLV-positive cats: Emily, a gray cat, and Falco, a black-and-white tuxedo cat. Both are 5 years old.
Caring for FeLV cats involves regular vet visits. Annual checkups are a must, along with addressing issues like gum disease, gingivitis, and urinary problems.
“The dentals can get pretty costly,” Marissa says, explaining that procedures often cost more than $1,000. And Emily requires a special prescription diet designed for chronic urinary issues.
Going to the vet is “a huge component of their life, because they're immunosuppressed,” Marissa says of Emily and Falco. “That's something I prepared myself for when I decided to keep them.”
Finding fulfillment in helping cats with special needs
Despite their health challenges, Emily and Falco enjoy a happy, active life, Marissa says.
“I make sure they're played with and going outside and getting stimulation,” she says. “They always just make me happy.”
FeLV-positive cats are often overlooked for adoption, Marissa explains. Many live their short lives in shelters or are euthanized. That’s why she feels so strongly about providing a loving home to as many as she can.
“I want to bring awareness to these cats,” Marissa says. “They deserve love, too.”
Inspiring others to adopt cats with health challenges
The shorter life span of her cats has changed her perspective on life, Marissa says.
“The present is called the present for a reason,” she says. “There are times I start thinking about the future, like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I don’t know what's going to happen or when it's going to happen.’ But all I can control right now is spending time with them, and I think that’s helped keep me grounded.”
Marissa plans to keep adopting FeLV-positive cats and hopes to inspire others to do the same.
What vaccines do kittens need? Learn about essential vaccinations for kittens, including the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccine.
Finding low-cost vaccinations for pets: Here are tips on where to find free or low-cost vaccinations for pets.
Does pet insurance cover vaccines? Read about getting add-on coverage for pet vaccines.
“No matter the lifespan, it shouldn’t indicate how worthy an animal is of a home,” she says.
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