Can Cats Get Parvo Or Distemper

The disease which is also sometimes referred to as Feline Parvovirus is a life-threatening and often fatal condition which affects cats.

Can cats get parvo or distemper. Feline distemper or panleukopenia is caused by a virus that almost every cat comes into contact with early in their life. The class of viruses called parvovirus causes both feline distemper and canine parvo diseases. These do not infect people but can affect other animals.

Feline distemper is spread through any type of body fluid but most commonly by accidental ingestions of feces. Cats can catch the virus from items in the environment including food dishes water bowls litter trays and boxes bedding and human hands or clothing. Can humans get distemper from cats.

While cats and dogs cannot pass distemper to each other many wild animals can get one or both diseases. What is Distemper in Cats. BUT given that the canine strain is thought to be a mutation of feline parvo questions continue to surface as to whether or not cats are susceptible to contracting canine parvo or at least certain cats or certain strains.

Feline Distemper medically termed as Feline Panleukopenia Virus FPV is a viral disease that is both highly contagious and deadly. The virus can also be passed on by humans who have not properly washed their hands after handling an infected cat or an infected cats belongings such as bedding dishes or grooming equipment. The feline panleukopenia and the canine parvovirus CPV belong to the Carnivore Protoparvovirus species.

The feline distemper vaccine can be administered to a kitten as young as 6 weeks old and is often repeatedly given until the kitten is 16 weeks old and then at regular intervals during their adult life. Racoons mink skunks and otters can all get both canine distemper and FPV. Similar to the human flu virus distemper strains vary from year to year.

Cats do not get or carry the canine parvovirus. Parvo in Cats. Its caused by a virus that kills cells that grow and divide quickly in your cats.