Do Kittens Get Parvo

While not always obvious when the kitten is born the virus affects the cerebellum which controls motor coordination.

Do kittens get parvo. Cats who receive veterinary care for their parvo have a better chance of surviving than those who do not. It is highly contagious and cats should be vaccinated as kittens and have booster shots every year. Adult cats who get parvo have a better chance of surviving than kittens. Parvo in cats is different than the parvo virus that dogs get.

So yes cats can get parvo if they are exposed to feces of an infected animal. What are the symptoms. Cats and dogs have their own separate species specific parvovirus strains. The parvo virus causes a disease called panleukopenia in cats also called cat distemper.

Feline panleukopenia fp is a highly contagious viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus. Because parvo in cats is highly contagious it is also possible to be spread in utero. The best way to protect your cat against parvo and fpv is to have them vaccinated. 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 ent.

Feline panleukopenia is an extremely contagious virus that kills cells in the intestines lymph nodes fetuses and bone marrow attacking red and white blood cells. When a pregnant cat contracts fpv the virus is passed along to the unborn kitten and can cause brain damage. It s a life threatening disease for cats because it causes severe anemia which then weakens the immune system and leaves your cat vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections. 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.

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. Overall up to 90 percent of cats who get parvo and are not treated will die. 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. The cat strain called feline panleukopenia virus fpv is a significant disease threat amongst the feline community but it cannot be transferred to canines.

Both cat s and kittens can get parvovirus. Parvo in cats can spread to other cats but can t infect other species. We recommend always asking your local vet for clarification if you are unsure.