Do Kittens Get Parvo

Feline parvovirus is the virus that causes feline panleukopenia.

Do kittens get parvo. This disease is quite serious and if left untreated it can end your cat s life in a short time. It is important to know the symptoms and it s even more important to protect your cat by vaccinating it since this is the only way of preventing feline parvovirus. Highly contagious and potentially deadly parvo in cats has been on the rise in populations across the world. While not the same as canine parvovirus it is referred to as parvo due to the similar symptoms.

Parvo in cats is different than the parvo virus that dogs get. Feline parvovirus is a virus that can cause severe disease in cats particularly kittens. Parvo in dogs and cats are different in the strain of virus with dogs having the potential to be exposed to two separate strains cpv 1 and cpv 2. So what is feline parvovirus.

Yes parvo in cats is transmissible to other unvaccinated cats. Diarrhea sometimes with blood in it weight loss vomiting coat that seems rough standing near food dishes but not eating or drinking complete disinterest in food resting their chin on the floor tucking their feet under their body lack of. The virus is extremely resilient and can survive in the environment for long periods of time. Cats are most susceptible as kittens from 4 to 12 weeks of age or even as unvaccinated adults.

The parvo virus is tough. They can also get it from contact with an infected cat s urine feces and nose secretions. Parvo in cats feline infectious enteritis feline distemper panleukopenia or cat plague are all common terms used to describe the infectious disease known as parvovirus. It is highly contagious and cats should be vaccinated as kittens and have booster shots every year.

Cats get feline distemper via the parvovirus. It can be fatal. The parvo virus causes a disease called panleukopenia in cats also called cat distemper. While in dogs treatment of parvo consists of boosting the immune system until it can fight the infection in cats intravenous fluids and antibiotics are necessary even to give the cat a chance to survive.

Cats can get parvo directly from contact with another cat who has it. People who handle an infected cat or an infected cat s bedding food or water dish can carry the virus to the next cat they handle. Symptoms range from fever severe dehydration diarrhea and vomiting. Sadly this disease has a very high mortality rate and on occasion outbreaks are still seen in some multi cat situations such as households with unvaccinated cats breeders or catteries.

Not to be confused with dog distemper which is a totally different virus more respiratory and neurological it is related to dog parvo virus and mink enteritis virus and other parvoviruses in other species. It is actually a virus called panleukopenia but is sometimes called feline parvo because the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of canine parvo virus. Most cats catch the virus through infected areas rather than from other infected cats as the virus can survive up to a year in the environment. It can affect cats of all ages and it s highly contagious.