How Contagious Is Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)? Our Vet Explains
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Dreaded by veterinarians and cat parents alike, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a serious disease. There are some promising new treatments on the horizon, but in many cases, FIP is sadly still fatal.
If your cat has been diagnosed with FIP and you have other cats at home, you are likely worried about your other kitties developing this awful disease! The term “infectious” is a bit confusing because, while a virus causes FIP, it is not considered contagious (i.e., it does not spread between cats).
We'll briefly review what is currently known about FIP and offer some things to consider that may help protect your other cats.
What Is Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)?
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease resulting from a mutation of the Feline Enteric Coronavirus (FeCV).
FIP typically presents in one of two ways:
We do not fully understand why this mutation happens in some cats with FeCV and not others, but genetic factors and stress (physiologic and psychological) are suspected to play a role.
You might be thinking that the life of an average house cat is anything BUT stressful! However, many things that don’t seem like a big deal to us can be upsetting for our feline friends.
Examples of stressors that might make mutation of the virus more likely include:
Is Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Contagious to People?
No. Feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV) is not the same coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) does not affect people.
Can Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Spread Between Cats?
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is not considered to be a contagious disease. Feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV) spreads easily between cats via contact with infected feces (poop), but the mutated virus that causes FIP does not seem to be shed by affected cats.
FIP is sometimes diagnosed in more than one cat from the same household. However, this is not thought to be due to direct transmission between cats.
If My Cat Passed Away From FIP, Is It Safe to Bring a New Cat Into My Home?
Fortunately, the feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV) does not survive for long in the environment. In ideal conditions, it has been shown to live for up to 7 weeks, but typically, the virus dies after just a few hours outside of a cat’s body.
To be abundantly cautious, some veterinarians recommend waiting 2 to 3 months after losing a cat to FIP before introducing a new cat into your home.
Additional precautions you can take include:
Here are a few other things to consider before bringing home a new kitty:
Is There Any Way to Protect My Cat(s) Against Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)?
Currently, the only way to protect a cat completely against feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is to prevent an infection with feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV). Unfortunately, this is nearly impossible because the virus is so common.
There is a vaccine available for FeCV, but it is not considered to be very effective, and it does not protect against mutation of the virus. The Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) does not currently recommend this vaccine for most cats.
If we refer to some of the examples listed above of stressors that can increase the risk of FIP, there are some things you can consider to protect your cat:
Check out the Indoor Pet Initiative for additional tips to help keep your cats happy and healthy!
If you are concerned or have questions about your cat's health, you can also speak to a vet from the comfort of your own home to help make a plan. They can determine when an in-clinic vet visit should be made.
Conclusion
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is still a scary diagnosis for a cat. Fortunately, it does not seem to spread between kitties, but we still have much to learn about why certain individuals are affected, how to treat them, and whether the disease can be prevented.
Featured Image Credit: Zhuravlev Andrey, Shutterstock
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Dr. Sharon Butzke DVM (Veterinarian)
Sharon has been drawn to animals for as long as she can remember. She was raised in Ontario, Canada and fulfilled her childhood dream when she obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2009. Since then, she has worked in a variety of small animal clinics, with a focus on cats and dogs. She loves sharing her knowledge and empowering people to take the best possible care of their pets! Sharon currently resides in British Columbia with her husband, daughter, and a loveable Great Dane named Parker.
