Feline Leukemia is a species specific disease, which means it only affects cats and is not contagious to people. Like HIV this cat virus invades the genetic structure of cells and can either lie dormant or be active. When active, FELV can debilitate a cat's T-Cell immune system very quickly. Subsequently the cat becomes weak and is extremely vulnerable to other pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites.
Most cats die at a very young age.
Less than a few percent of FELV infected cats are able to rid themselves of the virus. There are three main routes of transmission of the virus. A pregnant queen can transmit the virus to her kittens through the placenta. In addition, if a kitten suckles on a FELV infected queen, the virus may be transmitted through her milk. Feline leukemia virus accumulates in high concentrations in an infected cat's saliva.