FIV vs FeLV: What Every Cat Owner Must Know

Drs. Brackeen and Dame return to discuss FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and FeLV (feline leukemia virus): how they spread, how we test and interpret results, and what positive results mean for care. They explain that FIV is usually transmitted by bites, can be managed with careful monitoring and vaccination of affected cats, and that maternal antibodies can cause false positives in kittens. FeLV is more serious—causing anemia, lymphoma, and often fatal disease—so testing before vaccination, strict isolation or risk mitigation, and prevention are essential. Practical takeaways: test outdoor or exposed cats regularly, vaccinate and reduce exposure, act quickly on illness in positive cats, and consider pet insurance to help cover unexpected costs.