Mustard Man

Mustard Man is a very friendly, special boy who is looking for the perfect special home. Please read below to learn more about Mustard Man and Feline Leukemia. What is FeLV disease and how is it spread? Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is a contagious viral disease of cats that weakens and suppresses the immune system. It spreads through close contact such as mutual grooming and sharing food/water bowl and litterboxes. It can also be spread from mothers to kittens before birth or during nursing. Very young kittens are much more easily infected than are adult cats. So does this mean all cats have FeLV? An FeLV infection does not equal FeLV disease! This cat is currently healthy and does not have evidence of FeLV-related disease. It was once thought that infection always resulted in disease, but we not know that some cats can fight the virus off and become immune. All cats at HAWS are tested for feline leukemia prior to being available for adoption. The ELISA test looks for virus particles in the blood. While this test is accurate, it is not perfect, and false positives are possible. There are a number of cats who test positive for transient FeLV infection who do not develop FeLV disease. How do cats get FeLV? Can FeLV-negative and FeLV-positive cats live together? Cats that are positive for the virus require special considerations. This cat can live with other species (dogs, bunnies, and so on), but must be an only cat or live with other felines that have the disease. There are FeLV vaccines, but they're only 85% effective, which is why it is not recommended that positive cats live with negative cats unless there are housed in separate areas of the home. What type of disease does FeLV cause? There are no specific signs of FeLV infection. In general, cats with FeLV have weaker immune systems so they are more prone to infections, such as upper respiratory infections, dental disease, etc. Most cats with FeLV live normal lives, but their life span tends to be significantly shorter. It is less likely for older cats to get a persistent infection, and when they do, they tend to handle the disease better. Primary Color: Orange Weight: 13.34375lbs Age: 2yrs 1mths 4wks Animal has been Neutered