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We can’t predict the life expectancy of an infected cat, but unfortunately, most will succumb to a feline leukemia-related disease within two or three years after becoming infected.
11 paź 2023 · Life Expectancy . Cats with a progressive infection have a short life span. About half die within two years of diagnosis. Only 20% of infected are still alive three years after diagnosis. Cats who live indoors with good nutrition and health care tend to live longer, possibly several years after diagnosis.
If we want to mention some figures, we can say that about 25% of cats with feline leukemia die within 1 year after being diagnosed. But 75% survive for 1 to 3 years with the virus active in their bodies.
Cats that test positive for FeLV tend to have shorter lifespans, however during the early stages of infection, cats may not display any symptoms. If provided proper care and management, many cats with FeLV live years in good health.
Most cats with FeLV live normal lives, but their life span tends to be significantly shorter. Around 80 percent of FeLV kittens do not live past three years and most die within a year. The young cats tend to die from feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), lymphoma (a cancer affecting lymphatic tissue) or bone marrow disease.
FeLV does not survive long outside a cat's body – probably less than a few hours under normal household conditions - so it is unlikely for a cat to be infected from the environment without prolonged close contact with an infected cat.
Feline leukemia virus is usually ultimately fatal. but infected cats may still have a good quality of life. The average survival time after diagnosis is 2.4 years, but some cats will appear "healthy" for multiple years.
