FELINE LEUKEMIA

I'm on a cruise with my father right now, but hours before leaving, I found out his cat had feline leukemia and Feline AIDS. When I got into town Wednesday, I noticed the cat was looking lethargic and super skinny, so I took him to the vet, and that is when I found out he was positive for FELINE LEUKEMIA and FELINE AIDS. Now, not only am I stressed out about Tank, but I'm stressing about my two cats because I sometimes bring them home with me when I visit. My cats are vaccinated (but so was Tank according to his vet), but that wasn't fully done until November, and for the most part, when I am home, my cate are back in my room separated from their cats, but there have been times when they weren't. My parents' cats are indoor/outdoor cats. My cats are strictly indoors, and the only other cats they've ever been around are my parents. I want to know what the likelihood that my cats now have it? Clearly, I'm going to go get them tested when I get home, but right now, I'm stuck on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic, and I'm stressing bad. Thank you

Hello - and i'm so sorry; that sounds like a very frustrating position to be in.  Depending on your personality type, you may appreciate me saying this or you may be patronised by it (so please be prepared to pretend that you haven't read it, accordingly); It is ethically reasonable to continue to enjoy your trip.  Your cats' situation has not changed; they are likely as healthy and happy as they were previously.  What has changed, is your understanding of it, which I can appreciate is rather an unpleasant shock.  More factual answer to follow.

If you search for an article in our blog called 'How reliable are FIV / FeLV tests,' you will find an excellent explanation of how these diseases can be caught and what the implications can be (some cats catch an infection and simply clear it, for example; others become persistently infected which shortens their predicted lifespan).  However, you will not find out what the implications will be for your particular cats;  nor can I promise that Tank infected them and not the other way around (a kitten can inherit a disease from their mother), or even that thry might not have been infected at three different times.  I think that speaking to your vet about having your cats tested - and isolating them from other cats in the meantime, just in case - is a very sensible way to proceed.  Meanwhile, I hear that you will be worried and hope that you can find some peace, which I understand will be easier said than done.

I appreciate your response and kind words more than you know. Seriously, thank you so much!