As a mobile veterinary provider, Premium Vet Care is committed to bringing preventive care right to your doorstep. One of the health risks we aim to prevent in cats is the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). This highly contagious virus can quietly compromise a cat's immune system, but with awareness, screening, and vaccination, you can take simple yet powerful steps to keep your cat safe.

What is FeLV?

FeLV, aka Feline Leukemia, is a virus that targets a cat's immune and blood systems, leaving them more susceptible to infections, anemia, and cancers such as lymphoma. Because the virus can be slow-moving and often shows no early symptoms, many cats appear healthy while the virus takes hold internally. There is currently no known cure for Feline Leukemia, only management of secondary illnesses and symptoms.

How Feline Leukemia is Spread
Feline Leukemia spreads through close cat-to-cat contact, most often via:

• Grooming and licking
• Bite wounds
• Sharing bowls and litter boxes
• From a mother cat to her kittens during nursing

The virus does not survive long outside the body, but because of its transmission through saliva and bodily fluids, it poses a major risk in multi-cat households and among outdoor cats.

Which Cats Are Most at Risk for Feline Leukemia?

Certain cats face a higher likelihood of exposure to FeLV, including:

• Kittens and young cats, who are more susceptible to infection
• Cats that roam outdoors, especially if they interact with strays
• Cats living in multi-cat homes or rescues
• Unvaccinated cats exposed to unknown or untested felines

Early intervention through lifestyle awareness and vaccination can greatly reduce the chance of infection.

Testing and the FeLV Vaccine

FeLV screening is quick and can detect the presence of the virus before clinical signs appear. Veterinarians typically recommend testing:

• All new kittens and adopted cats
• Cats entering multi-cat homes
• Outdoor cats with unknown exposure histories

Identifying infection early allows for better household management and limits the spread of the virus to other pets. If your cat is at high risk of contracting Feline Leukemia, make testing a part of your feline’s annual veterinary exam.

Vaccination remains one of the most reliable ways to protect against FeLV. While the FeLV vaccine is not mandatory, it is highly recommended for kittens, adult cats who spend time outdoors, and cats in households with other felines that go outside.

The vaccine typically includes an initial series of two shots, followed by annual boosters. Getting the Feline Leukemia vaccines significantly reduces the likelihood of infection, especially when paired with responsible lifestyle practices.

Get Your Cat Vaccinated in Weston and Plantation, FL

Feline Leukemia is preventable with the right care. By understanding the risks and acting early with testing and vaccination, you can protect your cat and other felines in the community. Premium Vet Care has mobile cat vaccination services for felines in Weston, Plantation, Davie, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and surrounding areas. Contact us to book your cat's vaccine appointment. Mobile veterinary care makes prevention easy and accessible.