Here in Lake County we have been diagnosing more cases of Feline Leukemia Virus in the past few months. Feline Leukemia virus is a life long virus and is spread from cat to cat through close social contact. The virus is especially shed in high numbers in saliva. Common transmission points include food and water bowl sharing, litter boxes, grooming, and bite wounds. This virus can cause a variety of clinical signs and severely weaken the immune system. Cats often become sick from either the disease itself or secondary diseases due to a weakened immune system from the leukemia virus. Outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats are most commonly affected due to their socialization with other cats. The best way to protect your cat from this disease is to ensure proper vaccination as a kitten and annual vaccines as an adult.