Cat Viruses & Pregnancy

Kittens inside the womb are still susceptible to disease-causing viruses.

A virus can severely affect the health of your cat. Viruses that cause diseases cause immune suppression. In addition, there are many disease-causing viruses that affect pregnant cats and her kittens. It's important to understand these viruses and how they can affect kittens in the womb.

Viruses

Two common diseases in cats are feline AIDS and feline leukemia (FELV). According to Pet Place, "Both viruses hold down an infected cat's natural immunity to disease." Bacteria and viruses cover areas of your cat's body including her mouth, nose, lungs, skin and intestines; however, a healthy immune system would help prevent these diseases. Symptoms of these diseases include diarrhea, pale gums or infection affecting the gums, weight loss or breathing difficulties. In addition, there are many other viruses that affect the health of your cat. These viruses include feline calici virus (FCV), feline corona virus (FCV), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), feline panleukopenia (FPV), rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus infection), cat avian influenza, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and the cat swine flu virus (H1N1).

Upper Respiratory Infection

One of the most common infections in cats is upper respiratory infections (URI), also known as the cat flu. Feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1) also known as feline rhinotracheitis virus and the feline calicivirus (FCV) are two common viruses that cause this disease. Upper respiratory infection can affect cats of any age; however, it is usually most severe in young and senior cats. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing and breathing difficulty. If this infection is left untreated it could result in a fatal outcome.

Pregnancy

A cat can become pregnant during her first heat, which usually occurs anytime between four and 12 months of age. Signs of a pregnant cat include an increase in appetite and pink or enlarged nipples. A cat is usually pregnant for 60 to 67 days.

Cat Pregnancy and Viruses

It's important to understand that kittens inside the womb are still susceptible to disease. Pregnant mothers infected with the feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1) or feline calicivirus (FCV) virus can infect her unborn kittens while they are still in the uterus. According to the Cat Fancier's Association, "If a pregnant cat becomes infected during pregnancy, the kittens may either be aborted or be born with brain or liver problems that can cause death."

Vaccination

Speak with your veterinarian about vaccination options as a variety of vaccines are available to help control infection depending on the circumstance. However, it's important to understand that vaccines do not usually prevent infection but will drastically reduce the severity of the disease. According to Pawprints and Purrs, "In households where cat flu is endemic, queens should be in kept in isolation from other cats and, where possible, the kittens remain in isolation until vaccinated."

References

• Pet Place: Viruses
• Pawprints and Purrs: Cat Flu
• The Cat Health Guide: Feline Viruses
• The Cat Fanciers' Association: Respiratory Viruses