Protect Your Cat: Understanding Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) and Our New Vaccination Protocol
We are pleased to offer an enhanced vaccination protocol to protect your cat against Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV), a significant cause of illness in cats. Our goal is to provide you with clear information to help you make the best decision for your pet’s health.
What is Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)?
Feline Leukaemia Virus is a retrovirus that spreads between cats and can lead to a variety of serious health issues. It weakens the immune system, leaving cats vulnerable to other infections, and can cause anaemia or cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma. The virus is transmitted primarily through saliva during activities like mutual grooming, fighting, or sharing food bowls, and can also be passed from a mother to her kittens. While there is no cure for an FeLV infection, effective vaccination can prevent it.
Our Recommended Protocol: Testing Before Vaccination
Before vaccinating, we strongly recommend a simple blood test for your cat. Here’s why:
- Effectiveness: The vaccine is preventative and will not be effective if a cat is already infected with FeLV. Testing ensures that the vaccination is a worthwhile investment in your cat’s health.
- Health Status: The test reveals your cat’s FeLV and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) status, providing a comprehensive overview of their retroviral health.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing your cat’s status allows for appropriate management and helps prevent the spread of the virus to other cats.
The pre-vaccination appointment involves a quick and simple in-house blood test. We use a numbing cream to ensure your cat’s comfort, which requires them to stay with us for about 20-30 minutes.
Understanding the Test Results
- Negative Result: If the test is negative, we can proceed with the vaccination. We recommend vaccinating soon after testing to ensure your cat is protected before any potential exposure.
- Positive Result: An initial positive result from our in-house test indicates a high likelihood of infection. However, because false positives can occur, we recommend a follow-up, more definitive PCR test sent to an external laboratory for confirmation. We will not vaccinate a cat that tests positive and will discuss the next steps for managing their health.
The FeLV Vaccination Schedule
Our vaccination protocol, using the Versifel™ FeLV vaccine, is designed to provide robust and long-lasting immunity.
- Primary Course: For kittens from nine weeks of age and adult cats not previously vaccinated, the course consists of two injections given 3-4 weeks apart.
- First Booster: A single booster dose is administered one year after the primary course is completed.
- Ongoing Protection: Subsequent booster vaccinations are recommended every three years to maintain immunity for at-risk cats.
All kittens are considered at-risk and vaccination is recommended. For adult cats, we will help you assess their individual risk based on factors like outdoor access and contact with other cats of unknown vaccination status.
Book an Appointment
Protecting your cat from FeLV is a vital part of their healthcare. We encourage you to discuss your cat’s specific needs and lifestyle with our veterinary team to determine if this vaccination is right for them.
To schedule a consultation or if you have any questions, please email our reception team or register online at www.hcvet.nz.