Feline Leukemia Virus...

Less than a week ago we had one of our two cats put down due to Feline Leukemia Virus. It was an old cat, nearly 12 years old. We have a younger cat aswell in the household and after having done some reading up on it, I'm getting anxious.

The following quotes are from http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/FeLV.html

"The prevalence of FeLV in single-cat households is about 3% and can be as high as 11% in stray cat populations. In large multi-cat households and in households where cats roam freely outdoors, the prevalence can reach as high as 70%. Cats roaming in urban areas are more likely to be exposed to FeLV (40%) than cats roaming in rural areas (6%). "

So this area is not urban, but it's not exactly rural either. The cats were both allowed outside at anytime they wanted, it's not a large multicat household but it was a multicat-household till the older cat was put down.

"The most common route is contact with infected saliva through grooming, licking, biting and shared dishes and litter pans."

Well, they shared the dishes and we did have a litter-box from time to time when it's cold outside. They mainly ate dry food, sometimes wet, but the wet food they almost always ate up.

"When a cat is exposed to FeLV, there are four possible outcomes. In about 30% of cats, an effective immune response is produced and the infection is resisted. These cats then become naturally immune to FeLV infection for an unknown period of time. In about 40% of cats, the virus is successful and the cat eventually becomes persistently infected and excreting virus in its saliva. Another 30% of cats do not produce immunity but also do not become persistently infected immediately. In these cats, the virus hides in the bone marrow for up to 30 months. Eventually, these cats either overcome the virus or become persistently infected. Finally, some cats can develop latent or sequestered infection. This probably happens to less than 5-10% of cats."

I don't like the look of those odds...

I'm really very nervous and the best way to settle that nervousness would probably be to just have the cat tested for it, but that can't be done till in 3 months time and then what am I supposed to do till then? Sit here and be anxious?

I'm just going to panic and keep the cat in doors as much as possible, keep it away from cold, make sure the waterbowl is superclean, not let the cat go hungry at all if possible... I wonder if there's vitamines for cats, that boost their immune system. Anything I can do to help it fight off the virus in case it has it...

Anybody out there that can calm me down or give me some advice...?