Bordetella bronchiseptica appears to occupy a position along a continuum
with "pathogen" at one end and "commensal" at the other. The pathogenesis of Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb)
infection in cats is still unknown, but is expected to be comparable to that
in other species.
Transmission of infection occurs between in-contact animals directly via intimate contact
or by droplet infection. Bb does not survive for long periods outside the
host and is readily killed by many common disinfectants and extremes of pH and temperature.
However, in a heavily contaminated environment, particularly within infected mucus, survival
may be long enough for indirect transmission to occur.