Some diseases are too challenging to treat, so having the right preventive measures saves you and your pet time and effort. One of these is parvovirus in cats.
In this blog, we’re going to talk about FPV, from what it is to how it’s prevented. By the end, you’ll know what to do to shield your cat from this dangerous disease.
What Is FPV?
Feline parvovirus, also known as feline panleukopenia or feline distemper, is a highly contagious and dangerous virus that can be devastating to cats, especially kittens.
While the virus affects cats of all ages, the young ones are most vulnerable because of their underdeveloped immune systems. Though it belongs to the same family as canine parvovirus, it’s species-specific, meaning it doesn’t spread to dogs or humans.
The virus targets the body’s dividing cells, affecting the bone marrow, intestines, and lymphatic system. The result is often severe gastrointestinal issues, a weakened immune system, and, in some cases, brain damage. Even kittens inside a pregnant cat’s womb can also get exposed.
What Causes Parvovirus in Cats?
The viral disease is caused by the feline panleukopenia virus. Here’s how it’s transmitted:
Direct Contact with Infected Cats
Infected cats shed the virus in massive amounts through their bodily fluids, including saliva, urine, feces, and vomit. Any healthy cat that comes into direct contact with these fluids can contract the virus. Grooming, nose-to-nose contact, or even playing can be enough to spread the infection.
Contaminated Objects
Parvo in cats can survive on items like food bowls, litter boxes, bedding, and even toys. Cats don’t have to interact with an infected animal to catch the virus. Just by sharing the same space or using contaminated items, they are at risk.
Flea Infestations
Fleas can be carriers of parvovirus when they feed off an infected cat. When the parvo-infected flea moves to your cat, your pet may contract the disease.
A flea infestation may increase the chances of your cat contracting parvo because this can weaken your cat’s immune system, making it more susceptible to infections.
High-Risk Environments
This virus is incredibly tough, capable of surviving outside a host for up to a year in some conditions. It thrives on surfaces in homes, shelters, and outdoor spaces.
Even seemingly clean environments can harbor FPV if they haven’t been disinfected properly with specialized cleaning agents like bleach solutions. Some examples of high-risk environments include:
Animal shelters
Outdoor areas
Multi-cat households
Boarding facilities
Grooming salons
Human Carriers
Humans can’t contract parvo from cats, but they can unknowingly be carriers of the virus. Shoes, clothing, and hands that have come into contact with contaminated surfaces or infected cats can bring the virus into your home.
What Cats Are at Risk of Feline Parvovirus?
While all cats can get infected, some have a higher risk because of lifestyle and environmental factors.
Kittens
Kittens’ immune systems are still underdeveloped, especially those under 12 weeks old. Because they are still young, they aren’t able to take vaccinations to protect them from the virus.
Unvaccinated Cats
Unvaccinated cats have a high risk of contracting parvo. Vaccination against parvovirus in cats is the most effective way to prevent the disease. The virus itself cannot be killed, which means it will be extremely hard to treat your cat.
Pregnant Cats
Pregnant cats can transmit the virus to their young before giving birth. FPV can cross the placenta and harm developing kittens, often causing severe birth defects, miscarriage, and neurological issues.
Malnourished Cats
Malnourished or sick cats have weaker immune systems, making it harder for them to fight off the virus. This makes them have a weakened defense against the virus.
What Are the Symptoms of Parvo in Cats?
It’s difficult to immediately detect parvovirus in cats because its symptoms can resemble those of other illnesses. However, it’s important to know that these signs may already be the onset of parvo in your cat.
Lethargy and Weakness. One of the first signs that your cat may be infected with parvovirus is extreme fatigue and lethargy. Cats may appear tired all the time or would rather rest than play. They would also have difficulty moving and walking.
Loss of Appetite. Infected cats often show a complete loss of interest in food and water, even if it's their favorite treats. Because of this, secondary symptoms might appear, such as weight loss and dehydration.
Vomiting. Persistent vomiting is a common symptom of parvo, ranging from clear liquid to yellow or foamy bile. Vomiting is the result of the virus affecting the digestive system, irritating the stomach and intestines.
Diarrhea. Cats with parvovirus can also have diarrhea. In severe cases, blood will be present, indicating damage inside the body, particularly the intestinal lining, as the virus targets the cells in the gut.
Fever. In the early stages of feline parvovirus, a high fever may develop as the cat’s body fights the virus. The fever may not appear immediately after infection, but the progression of the virus will increase your cat’s body temperature.
Abdominal Pain. Since parvovirus in cats severely affects the intestines, it leads to irritation and inflammation of the GI tract. Cats with abdominal pain can show tucked bellies, arched backs, or sensitivity when touched at the stomach.
How Many Days Does Parvo Last in Cats?
FPV generally causes illness that lasts 5-7 days. Symptoms may begin 3-7 days after exposure. This is when the virus multiplies in the intestines and bone marrow of the cat before the illness becomes noticeable.
Even so, an infected cat can spread the virus before symptoms appear, leading to outbreaks.
How Do Vets Diagnose Parvovirus in Cats?
To give you an overview of what to expect, here are the common techniques and laboratory tests our vets use to detect parvo in cats.
Physical Exam
Our vets will first perform a physical examination of your cat to get an initial assessment of your cat’s condition. We’ll determine the next diagnostic tests your cat needs depending on the clinical signs observed.
Fecal ELISA Test
This quick test detects the presence of parvo in your cat’s stool. While highly effective, it may sometimes yield false negatives if the virus is not yet being shed by your cat, which is usually during the early stages of parvo.
Complete Blood Count
Parvo attacks the cat’s bone marrow, producing a low white blood cell count. A CBC will be conducted to help determine the low levels of white blood cells, which can confirm that your cat has the virus.
Polymerase Chain Reaction Test
The PCR test detects cat parvovirus in feces or blood samples. This test is highly sensitive, able to detect even trace amounts of FPV, making it highly reliable. However, it does come at a much higher cost.
Imaging Tests
In some cases, our vets may recommend X-rays or ultrasounds to check for intestinal and other gastrointestinal damage caused by the virus. This helps us to determine the areas affected by the inflammation and irritation.
What Is the Treatment for Parvo in Cats?
While there is no definitive cure for parvovirus in cats, we use various treatment methods to help manage the symptoms and prevent complications.
Intensive Fluid Therapy
Affected cats will receive IV fluids to help treat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances from severe vomiting and diarrhea.
Supportive Medications
Medicines that help manage symptoms and overall discomfort will also be prescribed if needed. These will help with vomiting, diarrhea, secondary infections, and more.
Nutritional Support
Nutritional support is also given to cats infected with parvovirus to prevent malnutrition and worsening its condition.
Can Cats With Parvo Survive?
The survival rate of feline parvo depends on how early the virus is detected and the care given to the cat once diagnosed. The cats' age and overall health also affect their survival.
According to a study on FPV, around 20-51% of cats survive through intensive veterinary care. However, kittens are at the highest risk of parvo and have the lowest chance of fighting off the virus.
How to Disinfect Your Home After a Parvo Infection
Since feline parvovirus is highly resistant to standard cleaning products, you should put time and effort into disinfecting your home properly.
While your cat is recovering at the pet clinic or hospital, we suggest that you do the following:
When cleaning surfaces in your home, use a bleach solution of bleach and water with a 1:32 ratio (e.g., one cup of bleach should be diluted in 32 cups of water).
Wash your cat's bedding, litter boxes, and food bowls with hot water and disinfectant. It would also be a good idea to clean your linens and other items in your home, as the parvovirus can easily spread and survive on surfaces.
You may need to find a temporary home for your other cats, or do not bring in any other cats into your home for several months, especially for unvaccinated felines and small kittens. This will make sure that any remnants of parvo in your home are gone, lowering the risk of an outbreak.
The Importance of Vaccination for Parvovirus in Cats
Cat vaccination is highly effective in preventing feline parvovirus. It’s essential to find the best way to protect your cats from the dangerous disease. With a regular vaccination schedule, your cats will have a significantly reduced chance of contracting the virus.
Kittens must get vaccinated as soon as their bodies are ready, as the virus can easily target young and immunocompromised cats. This should be around 6-8 weeks old. Early protection is always a good practice.
Along with this, we also recommend keeping your cat indoors. This significantly reduces the risk of the virus getting transmitted to your cat.
Additionally, vaccination helps prevent the spread of the virus around the cat community. This makes it safer for every cat in grooming salons, boarding facilities, and cat shelters. Overall, vaccinating against parvovirus is the best way to protect your feline companion.
“When it comes to dangerous diseases that threaten their health and well-being, we must do everything to protect our cats.
- Dr. Lidija Krvavac
Final Thoughts
Parvo in cats can easily spread from a single infected cat in the community. Because of this, you must do your part as a responsible cat owner to vaccinate your pet. This will help protect your cat’s health and prevent the spread of the dangerous virus to nearby cats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Share
