If your beloved cat has been diagnosed with feline leukemia, our hearts are with you. It is heartbreaking for every pet parent to learn that their pet suffers from a potentially fatal illness. But aside from following the recommendations and treatment offered by your veterinarian, there are some things you can do to support your cat’s overall health and well-being.
One of those things you can manage is the diet of your pet. This “treatment” is not a panacea, but it will help boost your cat’s immune system by providing a healthy number of essential antioxidants, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Our product reviews will help you find the right foods for your cat’s needs. Here are the six best options we found for cats with feline leukemia.
Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s individual case.
A Glance at Our Winners in 2024
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Purina Pro Plan Chicken & Turkey Cat Food |
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Best Value | Iams ProActive Protein Cat Food |
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Premium Choice | PureBites Wild Skipjack Cat Food |
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Best for Kittens | Hill's Science Diet Dry Kitten Food |
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Blue Buffalo Protein Grain Free Cat Food |
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The 6 Best Foods for Cats with Feline Leukemia
1. Purina Pro Plan Chicken & Turkey Favorites – Best Overall
First ingredients: | Chicken or turkey, wheat gluten, liver |
Protein: | 11% min |
Fat: | 2% min |
Moisture: | 80% max |
A cat that suffers from feline leukemia needs food that is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and low in carbohydrates. Purina Pro Plan is our best overall food for cats with feline leukemia because this mouthwatering wet food fulfills all of these criteria while being recommended by vets. It also helps stimulate the appetite of kitties, which is greatly appreciated by cat owners concerned about the nutrition of their sick cats. The antioxidants in this wet food are also excellent for promoting the feline immune system. However, for all the goodness of this food, some cats just don’t like it, much to the chagrin of their well-meaning owners.
2. Iams ProActive Health High Protein Cat Food – Best Value
First ingredients: | Chicken, chicken by-product meal, corn grits |
Protein: | 38% min |
Fat: | 18% min |
Moisture: | 10% max |
Caring for your sick pet shouldn’t cost you all of your money. That’s why we investigated a great value option: the Iams ProActive Health High Protein Chicken and Salmon Recipe won us over. The high concentration of protein helps support the muscles of the less active feline and maintains optimal heart health. As for them, prebiotics and beet pulp work wonders for your cat’s digestive health. This is not a grain-free option, however, and cats with allergies or other intolerances will not benefit from it.
3. PureBites Wild Skipjack Wet Cat Food – Premium Choice
First ingredients: | Tuna, water |
Protein: | 13% min |
Fat: | 1% min |
Moisture: | 85% max |
PureBites Mixers is a real treat for the sick cat, even if you only use it as a topper to make their dry food more appealing. The list of ingredients is as simple as it gets: tuna and water. You won’t find any traces of corn, wheat, by-product flour, or those artificial flavors you don’t want to see on foods for a sick kitty. It is, therefore, a great option for cats that must follow a restrictive diet, as directed by your veterinarian. But it’s definitely not a good choice if you are on a budget or are concerned about the tuna population in our oceans.
4. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food – Best for Kittens
First ingredients: | Chicken, brown rice, wheat gluten |
Protein: | 33% min |
Fat: | 9% min |
Moisture: | Max 8% |
Unfortunately, kittens are not immune to contracting the feline leukemia virus. Indeed, they can contract the disease in their mother’s womb or through her milk. This is why there is no age limit to start giving a diet that reinforces the immune system of your little feline. And with Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Chicken Recipe, it’s hard to go wrong. This highly recommended vet brand has ingredients like antioxidants and vitamins C and E that have been clinically proven to boost the kitten’s developing immune system. This option is expensive, although you may have the opportunity to switch to a cheaper option once your kitten has reached adulthood.
5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain-free Cat Food
First ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, tapioca starch |
Protein: | 36% min |
Fat: | 12% min |
Moisture: | 9% max |
Blue Buffalo is a well-established brand that has delighted many pet owners, as well as their furry companions. A cat with feline leukemia will benefit from this high-protein formula which is also grain-free: this is great for lowering the overall carbohydrate content. However, the ingredient list is not stellar, as it contains chicken meal, tapioca starch, potato starch, and fish meal. That doesn’t make it a bad option, it’s just that for the relatively high price tag, one would expect more “whole foods” in the main ingredients. However, it does contain added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support cats with weakened immune systems.
6. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food
First ingredients: | Chicken, chicken meal, brewers rice |
Protein: | 34% min |
Fat: | 12% min |
Moisture: | 9% max |
Rachael Ray Nutrish is an excellent dry kibble option for indoor cats; the ingredient list contains real chicken, which provides a good source of protein for your feline. Lentils are also a great source of protein while being low in fat and high in fiber, which is perfect for your cat to maintain a healthy weight. However, what caught our attention is the addition of cranberries, berries that are very rich in antioxidants, one of the main attributes of which is to support the immune system of the cat. The guaranteed analysis also meets the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). However, the kibbles contain corn gluten meal, which does not make them a grain-free option. Additionally, some buyers have reported that their cats are not fans of this product at all.
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Food for Cats with Feline Leukemia
What Is Feline Leukemia?
Like AIDS in humans, feline leukemia (FeLV) is caused by a retrovirus. This virus infects the white blood cells of cats and induces immunosuppression. The immunocompromised cat is then more likely to catch all kinds of infections.
Unfortunately, the virus can also cause cancer of the lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) in addition to causing disorders in the cells of the bone marrow and blood. The disease is, therefore, potentially fatal.
What Are the Signs of Feline Leukemia?
This disease produces very variable signs, sometimes subtle. The affected cat may show non-specific signs such as decreased appetite, depression, general discomfort, and fever. You may also notice weight loss, swollen glands, diarrhea or chronic loose stools, respiratory and eye problems such as rhinitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and various infections such as gingivitis, dental infections, and abscesses.
In addition, in the long term, cancer and blood disorders can also create all kinds of various signs.
How Is Feline Leukemia Transmitted?
The virus is transmitted between cats mainly through saliva, but also through all other body fluids or secretions such as urine, nasal secretions, and even breast milk! Usually, adult cats become infected when virus particles enter their mouths or noses, but sometimes transmission takes place during gestation, via the mother’s uterus.
Because this virus is quickly eliminated once in the environment, close feline relationships are required for transmission to take place. Thus, cats that live together are more at risk.
A cat at risk of being infected with this virus will be:
Usually, an adult, often unsterilized, going outside and having contact with other cats. Of course, unneutered males who go outside tend to fight or bite each other and hang out with unspayed females too! But these are not the only ones.
In fact, very social cats living together or having close contact with each other such as mutual grooming, sharing food and water bowls, and litter boxes, are at greater risk of infection. Finally, kittens born to a FeLV-positive mother are definitely at risk of contracting the virus too.
How to Treat Feline Leukemia?
At present, there is no treatment capable of completely eradicating feline leukemia; this virus causes the death of nine out of ten infected cats within four years. On the other hand, the treatment protocol consists of taking charge of the pathologies, infections, and dysfunctions that result from viral leukemia. This support is therefore adapted on a case-by-case basis. This goes for example by:
At the same time, the animal must not be in contact with other cats in order to limit the risks of contamination for them.
Unfortunately, even after treatment, the cat remains infected with the FeLV virus. But the latter can remain dormant as long as the cat’s immune system is strong enough. Conversely, infected cats with weak immune systems end up getting sick, and for eight in ten of them, the outcome is fatal within a few months or at most three years.
How to Prevent Your Cat from Contracting Feline Leukemia?
High-quality cat food is an important part of fostering a long and healthy life for your cat but the right cat food and water dish will promote good posture, offer whisker relief, and aid in good digestion. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings. The wide tray design catches any food and water spills and the entire setup is dishwasher safe. Learn more about the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl here.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Final Thoughts
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is the second leading cause of death in cats after trauma. Since the virus suppresses the cat’s immune system, much like AIDS, it can predispose cats to deadly infections.
The key here is therefore to strengthen the immune system of the cat, since there is no treatment to date, other than the vaccine, to contain this fatal virus. The food choices we have presented to you, while not magical, help support your pet’s immune system. Purina Pro Plan Chicken & Turkey Favorites and Iams ProActive Health High Protein are, respectively, the best overall option and best value for money that we have found. In any case, do not hesitate to seek the advice of your veterinarian, because your kitty’s diet is not to be neglected.
Featured Image Credit: Veera, Shutterstock