If a mother cat has leukemia or feline leukemia, does this mean that the kittens will def. have it?

Question

Please answer only if you're sure of the info.
THANKS!

Answer 1

No, it does not. Kittens can be born without contracting the disease. But can still contract it through their mother's milk.

Most kittens born to infected mothers develop what is termed "fading kitten syndrome". The kittens are lethargic, have stunted growth, and are susceptible to infection. A cat with FeLV may develop a number of diseases that are either directly or indirectly caused by the virus. Most common are various cancers, anemia, kidney disease,or secondary infections caused by a lowered immune response.