Feline parvovirus, widely recognized as feline panleukopenia or feline distemper, is a highly contagious viral disease in cats that triggers vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Particularly dangerous for kittens, Parvo In Cats often leads to severe illness and can be fatal. It’s also referred to as feline infectious enteritis (FIE) and feline distemper.
While canine parvovirus strains that affect dogs are distinct and don’t infect cats, newer variants of canine parvovirus, specifically CPV-2a, CPV-2b, and CPV-2c, can indeed pose a risk to your feline companion.
What is Feline Parvo?
“Parvo in cats” describes the disease caused by the feline parvovirus. This illness is most prevalent and severe in young kittens. Newborn kittens typically receive temporary protection from maternal antibodies through their mother’s milk. However, this protection diminishes between 4 to 12 weeks of age, leaving kittens susceptible to the virus.
Feline parvovirus is most commonly diagnosed in cats aged 3 to 5 months. The virus is pervasive in the environment, meaning most cats will encounter it at some point. Besides young kittens, unvaccinated cats and those with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
If a cat becomes infected with feline parvovirus during pregnancy, it can unfortunately result in kittens born with brain damage, leading to difficulties with walking and feeding.
The feline parvovirus primarily targets rapidly dividing cells in a cat’s body, notably in the intestinal lining and bone marrow. This attack on the intestinal cells results in the hallmark symptoms of parvo: severe diarrhea, vomiting, and a decreased ability to eat and drink. Furthermore, the virus’s impact on bone marrow leads to a critical depletion of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, weakening the cat’s overall health and immune response.
How Cats Contract Parvo
Feline parvovirus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, primarily feces, urine, and nasal discharge, from infected cats. Contaminated environments also play a significant role in transmission. The virus can live on surfaces like cages, bedding, food and water dishes, and even on the hands and clothing of people who handle infected cats. Fleas can also act as vectors, transferring the virus between cats. Alarmingly, feline parvovirus is resilient and can persist in the environment for months, meaning a cat can contract the disease even without direct interaction with an obviously sick cat.
Cat-to-cat transmission is particularly common in environments where cats are housed in close proximity. This makes multicat households, animal shelters, pet shops, and breeding facilities high-risk areas for the spread of feline parvovirus.
