Parvovirus in cats: the most dangerous disease of unvaccinated cats
2025. January 6 - Photos: Getty Images Hungary
2025. January 6 - Photos: Getty Images Hungary
Feline parvovirus infection, also known as feline panleukopenia (FPV) or feline distemper, is a highly contagious, life-threatening disease. It is closely related to the similarly named disease in dogs
In cats, parvovirus mainly affects kittens and unvaccinated animals. The virus enters the animal through the nose or mouth and usually takes 2-7 days to enter the bone marrow and intestines, where it infects and destroys the body’s rapidly growing and dividing cells. The virus suppresses the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow, cells that are crucial to the immune system as they are used to fight infection. Without them, cats are vulnerable to the spread of the virus. The feline distemper can be found everywhere in the environment and can survive for years. Let’s see what the symptoms are, how you can protect against it and how it can be treated.
The virus can survive anywhere; on the soles of your shoes, on your paws, on your bed, on your bowls and on your bedding, to name but a few things. It survives in the cold and at room temperature and can resist disinfectants such as iodine and alcohol. One of the most dangerous feline diseases is in unvaccinated cats. Kittens, immunocompromised individuals and pregnant cats are most at risk. It can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated properly. Symptoms of the disease can range from moderate to severe and include:
Cats suffering from feline distemper shed virus particles into the environment through faeces, urine, saliva and vomit. Infection occurs when cats at risk come into contact with these particles. An infected cat sheds the virus for 1-2 days.
Cats can be infected with this virus in utero if their mother becomes ill during pregnancy. The kittens can also get the virus through breast milk.
The only way to prevent the disease is vaccination. Although there is no compulsory vaccination for cats in Hungary, this should not discourage you from taking the recommended ones. Even if your cat is only an indoor pet, as you can see, the virus lives everywhere! The combined vaccine also protects against parvovirus, which should be given at around 8 to 12 weeks of age and repeated annually.
If your pet is an adult but hasn’t been vaccinated, they can still get the vaccine. Be sure to check with your vet for details!
There is no specific treatment for feline distemper. Dehydration is treated with intensive intravenous fluids, while symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea are controlled with prescription medications. Antibiotic therapy is also often used to control secondary bacterial infections due to a decrease in white blood cell count. In kittens and cats in shock or with severe infections, aggressive therapy is initiated to control symptoms. This usually involves intravenous fluids and plasma/blood transfusions. In addition, it is very important that cats are kept warm and properly fed.
Animals with feline distemper that receive aggressive therapy and respond well usually have a good prognosis for a full recovery. Kittens infected in utero in early or mid-pregnancy usually do not survive. However, kittens infected late in pregnancy may live a normal life with a normal life span depending on the severity of neurological signs. Unfortunately, kittens with low body temperature, thin body conformation, low protein levels and severely low white blood cell counts will die within 12-24 hours on average.
Once a cat recovers from the disease, there is usually no permanent damage to their organs and they develop lifelong immunity to the virus. Since feline panleukopenia is persistent and can survive for a long time in an infected environment, all kennels, toys, bedding, and litter trays should be replaced or thoroughly disinfected.
If you’ve been wondering whether cats can catch a cold, read this article.
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