Podcast: Play in new window | Download

When people ponder the causes of cancer, they often think of man-made hazards like asbestos and nuclear fallout. But we’ve learned that the roots of this dreaded disease are mostly natural.

In fact, viruses actually cause some forms of cancer. In cats, the feline leukemia virus is responsible for various blood and lymph cancers. Kitty may show no initial signs of infection, but leukemia or a weakened immune system is often waiting down the road.

This viral time bomb can strike any cat, but mostly affects kittens, cats that roam, and households with multiple tabbies. A simple blood test can often diagnose this killer, which unfortunately doesn’t have a cure.

Afflicted cats are contagious, so prevention entails testing all cats and separating infected ones. If you haven’t done so, visit your veterinarian to have your feline friend checked today. Don’t forget to ask about the protective effects of the feline leukemia vaccine.

Comments are closed.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.