Can Kittens Get Parvo

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.

Can kittens get parvo. Both cat s and kittens can get parvovirus. Parvovirus is highly contagious and a mutated strain of canine parvovirus has been suspected of infecting felines. Both viruses attack cells within the pet s bone marrow. However there are some studies that have shown that a mutated strain of the canine parvovirus cpv can in fact infect cats.

Places where young puppies and kittens mix together such as pet shops can be a breeding ground for this transmission. It is highly contagious and cats should be vaccinated as kittens and have booster shots every year. Whilst it s rare and unlikely it can happen. According to a 2012 study of canine parvovirus in asymptomatic feline carriers researchers found that is parvo is contagious from dogs to cats and vice versa.

For both canines and felines prevention of parvo is a much better approach than treatment. For example if a parvo outbreak in an animal shelter takes place there is the possibility of cross contamination. The parvovirus that occurs in puppies cannot jump species and infect cats or people. It is possible for cats to get parvo from dogs.

While dogs cannot catch feline parvovirus the virus can mutate and be spread to cats. They can also get it from contact with an infected cat s urine feces and nose secretions. 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 virus that causes distemper in cats.

Although vaccination is no guarantee that your dog or cat will not become infected with parvo it severely limits the odds of it happening. So while it is uncommon yes cats can get parvovirus from dogs. In other words canine parvo cannot spread to cats. Neither can mouse parvo spread to elephants or even humans.

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. The parvo virus is tough. The parvo virus in dogs is very closely related to the virus panleukopenia.

There is some debate over whether cats can get parvo from dogs but the majority opinion seems to be no. Parvo in cats is different than the parvo virus that dogs get.