Update to UCC FeLV/FIV Testing Protocol - Effective 02/01/2020

Following 2020 updates to the American Association of Feline Practitioners guidelines, Urban Cat Coalition will be making some changes in the practices of testing for feline retroviruses. We’ll outline that information below, but for details regarding the AAFP’s findings and protocol, please feel free to click here.

The term “feline retroviruses” includes both Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). Each of these RNA-based viral illnesses impacts cats in different ways; however, they are currently tested for together.

Over the years, both FeLV and FIV have become very misunderstood. Until recently, many people thought that a positive test for either disease meant an immediate death sentence for the cat. Today, we understand each virus much better.

Feline Retrovirus Facts

Neither FeLV nor FIV can be transmitted to humans. In fact, outside of a cat, each can be very easily destroyed with common household disinfectants. Approximately 3% of all cat populations are infected with feline retroviruses, too, which means neither FeLV or FIV are very prevalent.