Feline Coronavirus: What Owners Should Know
📝 Summary
Most cats carry feline coronavirus and shed it in stool within two days; many show no signs, and gut cases often self-resolve. It can, rarely, mutate into FIP when the virus replicates strongly. Cut risk by avoiding multi-cat crowds, vaccinating, cleaning, and boosting immunity.
1 What It Does
Most cats carry it (a few lack the receptor); infection is certain on contact and shedding starts in two days. Many are symptom-free; a minority show gut signs (vomiting, diarrhea) that usually self-resolve, though severe cases need months to recover. Don’t panic over gut upset.
2 Can It Become FIP?
With some probability, if the virus mutates it becomes infectious peritonitis (FIP). As an RNA virus, genetic change during replication can turn it into FIP, needing conditions like a strong viral load and high replication.
3 Reducing Spread
Avoid multi-cat settings; vaccinate and check antibody levels; clean often; boost immunity.
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