Can Kittens Get Parvovirus

While dogs cannot catch feline parvovirus the virus can mutate and be spread to cats.

Can kittens get parvovirus. They can also get it from contact with an infected cat s urine feces and nose secretions. 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. There is some debate over whether cats can get parvo from dogs but the majority opinion seems to be no. Cats are most susceptible as kittens from 4 to 12 weeks of age or even as unvaccinated adults.

The virus is extremely resilient and can survive in the environment for long periods of time. Feline parvovirus is a virus that can cause severe disease in cats particularly kittens. The parvo virus is tough. The disease is also known as feline infectious enteritis fie and feline panleukopenia.

Cats can get parvovirus from dogs and here s the proof for many years it was assumed that dogs got canine parvovirus and cats got a closely related and similar disease called feline panleukopenia virus fpv. Parvovirus is highly contagious and a mutated strain of canine parvovirus has been suspected of infecting felines. It can be fatal. 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.

However there are some studies that have shown that a mutated strain of the canine parvovirus cpv can in fact infect cats. Although it has be proven that humans can pass the parvo virus on to cats if they handled feces bedding or food dishes of an infected cat without washing their hands before handling healthy cats. The parvovirus that occurs in puppies cannot jump species and infect cats or people. Over time new strains of canine parvovirus emerged and mutated and scientists found it could infect cats cells.

However kittens and juvenile cats usually 3 5 months old are susceptible to a different form of parvovirus called feline panleukopenia or fp for short. Cats and dogs have their own separate species specific parvovirus strains. Cats can get parvo directly from contact with another cat who has it. Both cat s and kittens can get parvovirus.

For example if a parvo outbreak in an animal shelter takes place there is the possibility of cross contamination. Places where young puppies and kittens mix together such as pet shops can be a breeding ground for this transmission. While not the same as canine parvovirus it is referred to as parvo due to the similar symptoms.