Gwen

Gwen is a gorgeous black and white kitten with soft and silky fur. She's sweet and playful. While she's the shyest of her siblings, she warms up quickly and likes to be petted. She loves to play with you, her siblings, or other cats. Gwen tested positive for FeLV, but she has a type of FeLV called regressive FeLV. Below we've provided some information about FELV in general and regressive FeLV specifically, but in short, Gwen should have a normal lifespan, may not ever be affected by the virus and is unlikely to be contagious to other cats. FeLV, or Feline Leukemia Virus, is a virus that attacks the immune system of a cat. It isn't a form of cancer but is actually a virus that weakens the immune system. Cats with FeLV can live normal, happy lives - some just have a shorter life expectancy than FeLV negative cats. In simplest terms, regressive FeLV is where the cat's immune system has successfully defended against the virus, but viral DNA is integrated in its genetic code. These cats are unlikely to be contagious to other cats, may not ever be affected by the virus and should live a normal lifespan. This contrasts with the progressive form of the virus where these cats shed the virus in saliva, secretions, urine and feces so they are contagious to other cats and usually have shortened lifespans. All forms of Feline leukemia are species specific, so other animals such as dogs cannot contract the virus. The virus itself is not airborne and dies rapidly in the environment, so even for the progressive form, you don't have to worry about carrying the virus on clothes when you leave the house or have friends over. Bottom line is that adorable Gwen has a form of a virus that will likely never affect her or any cats living with her. But, because the risk is not zero (honestly, what in life has zero risk) we suggest that her adopter protect her from stress, feed her a high-quality diet, and address any health problems as soon as they arise. An extra precaution for other resident cats would be getting them an FeLV vaccination.