The feline leukemia vaccine is recommended for cats which are more prone to infection by the feline leukemia virus. This includes cats which live in multiple cat households, or cats which interact with other cats outdoors. Cats which strictly stay indoors need not receive this vaccination.

There are some side effects associated with this vaccination. These include tenderness, swelling and pain at the site of injection, fever and lethargy. The same side effects are seen for main dose as well as booster doses. The best way to deal with these side effects is to avoid stressing out your cat. Do not pet or touch the injection site for a week at least. If the side effects do not disappear within a week, contact your veterinarian.

There is a new FeLV vaccine, Purevax Recombinant Leukemia Vaccine, which can be administered transdermally. Since, this employs a needle less form of vaccine delivery, there are bound to be fewer side effects. This vaccine is just as effective as the injected vaccines. Some recent studies have shown that the feline leukemia virus vaccine increases risk of sarcoma in cats. This has led to some changes in the rules regarding administration of this vaccination to cats. Consult your vet to find out more.