Q: Ever since my cats died, my home has felt empty and lonely. The local cat rescue is offering for adoption some cats that tested positive for the feline leukemia virus and/or the feline immunodeficiency virus. I want to share my home with two of these “special needs” cats, but I don’t know much about these viruses and what’s involved in caring for infected cats. Please explain. A: The feline leukemia virus, or FeLV, and feline immunodeficiency virus, FIV, are more prevalent than many people think. FeLV and FIV suppress the immune system and can induce diseases that shorten life, such as infection or cancer. Unfortunately, standard antiviral medications don’t kill these viruses. Often, though, a cat’s immune system remains strong enough to keep the viruses in check, and the infected cat lives a relatively normal life. Both viruses are contagious to other cats, so any cat with FeLV or …
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