I would not say that is always the case there are exceptions. If you take the example of feral cats they only generally come into contact with a mate during the actual mating and dont share food and water bowls or have prolonged contact with each other. They do what is needed and move on. Yet these cats can commonly be infected. So I would imagine the main route here is from the mating. But you are right also with the prolonged contact issue so it is good practice I guess to do controlled matings as you are taking away one of the main transmission routes. But we must be aware that the actual mating spreads sexually transmitted disease also which includes felv. Another breeder once said to me she is closed stud because of the risks re the above. Maybe the oral route is considered a major source of infection because most cats are neutered so maybe that is not a major cause in the general cat population???

Thank you all for your replies. It seems to be quite a subject but I have decided not to have my kitten injected and wait to see if the stud owner requires a blood test 24 hours prior to mating.

Personally I would guess it was from fighting, not mating. There is a lot of that in feral populations too, and bites are generally considered the most common way to be infected with FeLV.

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Lily - silver Egyptian Mau
Jasper - Burmese X moggy - missing!
Electra - silver Egyptian Mau
(Truffles - chocolate tortie syrian hammy - bye little one, I miss you)
And 6 little balls of silver spotty fluff! OMG KITTENZ etc

Well true also but I do believe mating is a route of infection also and so do the vets I work with so I am inclined to go with them who have the training tbh No disrespect

I would get it done sooner rather than later then she has time to get the jag through her system and is feeling on top form when she is ready to be mated