Can Kittens Get Parvo Virus

Parvovirus is highly contagious and a mutated strain of canine parvovirus has been suspected of infecting felines.

Can kittens get parvo virus. The parvo virus is tough. The names feline distemper and feline parvo should not be confused with canine distemper or canine parvo although their names are similar they are caused by different viruses. Feline parvovirus is the virus that causes feline panleukopenia. Both viruses attack cells within the pet s bone marrow.

The same cannot be said for the reverse situation as studies have shown that a mutated strain of the canine parvovirus can infect cats. The virus that causes distemper in cats. The cat strain called feline panleukopenia virus fpv is a significant disease threat amongst the feline community but it cannot be transferred to canines. 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.

Cats can get parvo directly from contact with another cat who has it. The parvo virus in dogs is very closely related to the virus panleukopenia. However generally kittens are easily more susceptible to the viral infection as they do not have have the development of active immunity and they do not have a strong enough immune system to battle all the clinical signs that occur. They can also get it from contact with an infected cat s urine feces and nose secretions.

This is a highly contagious disease and it s also very dangerous. However there are some studies that have shown that a mutated strain of the canine parvovirus cpv can in fact infect cats. As in the common cold and pink eye kittens can transfer this virus from one to another. Feline panleukopenia fp is a highly contagious viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus.

So while it is uncommon yes cats can get parvovirus from dogs. In other words canine parvo cannot spread to cats. Both cat s and kittens can get parvovirus. It is also known as feline infectious enteritis cat fever or feline ataxia.

Places where young puppies and kittens mix together such as pet shops can be a breeding ground for this transmission. For example if a parvo outbreak in an animal shelter takes place there is the possibility of cross contamination. But parvo can also be transmitted by fleas that have fed off of an infected cat which is why it s very difficult to prevent your kitten from being exposed to this deadly disease. Kittens are most severely affected by the virus.

Neither can mouse parvo spread to elephants or even humans.