How is Infection with FeLV Managed

FeLV-infected cats can sometimes live for years. Stress and exposure to ill animals should be avoided. FeLV-positive cats should be kept indoors both to protect them from exposure to disease and also to prevent them from spreading FeLV to other cats.

By knowing a cat is FeLV-positive, your veterinarian may select different vaccination protocols, diet, preventive care, and treatments of other diseases than for an uninfected cat. Any sign of disease will require early recognition and often more intensive treatment.

Clinically ill FeLV cats will need to be treated according to the signs of disease they are showing. Supportive care such as fluids, good nutrition, and antibiotics for secondary infections are essential.

Lymphosarcoma is treated using chemotherapy that includes a combination of cytotoxic drugs and prednisolone.

The antiviral drug AZT, which is used in human retrovirus infections (e.g., HIV), has had some success in cats, although it can cause toxic side effects.

Certain agents that have used to modify the immune response in FeLV-infected cats include staphylococcal protein (SPA), Propionibacterium acnes (ImmunoRegulin), low doses of oral human alpha interferon, and an aloe derivative called Acemannan. Well-controlled clinic trials of these agents have not been performed.