My foster kitten had FIP. Are my cats at risk despite separation?

Question

I fostered a litter of kittens in oct 2017, and just heard that one of them died of FIP. I have 3 cats of my own. They were kept separated from the kittens at all times and we always washed our hands after handling the kittens, but should I be concerned about my cats coming down with it? My cats are all between the ages of 7-8, fully vaccinated and in good health.

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Great question. I personally would not be worried about your cats contracting FIP. The coronavirus is found in the saliva and feces of infected cats. Therefore, cat-to-cat contact and exposure to feces in litter boxes are the most common modes of infection. Contaminated food or water dishes, bedding, and your clothing may also serve as sources of infection. It doesn't sound like this is a concern based on your description of how you separated the cats, washed your hands, etc. The coronavirus can live in the environment anywhere from 3-7 weeks. After 3 weeks, however, the number of virus particles present is probably too small to cause infection. Many disinfectants will kill the virus, including household bleach diluted 1:32 in water (1/2 cup of bleach per gallon of water). So, you may want to do a thorough cleaning of the area where you housed the kittens and it may be best for you to not get any foster kittens for at least a month to try to prevent the new ones from getting infected. Hope this answers your questions. Best wishes.

My foster kitten had FIP. Are my cats at risk despite separation?

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