Kittens are born FCoV free. Help them have the long and healthy life they deserve. Feline coronavirus (FCoV) does not cross the placenta to the unborn kitten. Kittens are protected from FCoV infection by antibodies they receive in their mother’s milk, when these antibodies wane at around 5-7 weeks of age, the kittens become susceptible to FCoV infection and the consequent risk of FIP. Do not invite pain and heartache into theirs and your life. FIP doesn’t discriminate and it is merciless. Prevent kittens from being infected by FCoV.
- Prepare kitten pens/nesting areas
- In shelters or rescue groups, disinfect pens between occupants using 1:32 dilution of sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) and hot water
- In breeding catteries or family homes, the queen will seek a cozy and quiet space to give birth. You can help her create this area by providing her with a freshly cleaned, towel-lined box or tub and place it in a quiet, dark room. Please clean floors and surfaces using the above mentioned 1:32 dilution of sodium hypochlorite and hot water.
- Vacuum diligently, removing any microscopic dust sized particles of infected cat litter
- Color code and dedicate litter trays, food and water bowls to kitten section and disinfect frequently with sodium hypochlorite (1:32 dilution – meaning 1 cup of bleach and 31 cups of hot water). Please make sure to rinse dishes thoroughly in hot water upon disinfecting
- Provide nice, clean, newly washed bedding, avoiding any type of chemical smells
- Practice barrier nursing
- Deal with the kitten section before tending other cats; meaning, deal with the least infected area of the environment and gradually move up to the most infected area (i.e. FCoV shedding cats)
- Clean hands with disinfectant before going into the kitten section o Have shoes and coveralls (clothes) dedicated to the kitten section
- Very large shelters should have disinfectant foot baths between each major area
- Early weaning and isolation of kitten
- Test queen for FCoV antibodies either before or after kittening
- If queen’s antibodies titer is greater than zero, the kittens should be removed to another clean pen when they are 5-6 weeks old, or at least keep the queen’s litter tray out of the kittens’ reach
- If the queen has an antibody titer of zero (FCoV free), she can remain with the kittens until they are older
- Keep kittens isolated from any other FCoV infected cat(s)
- At 10 weeks of age, test kittens for FCoV antibodies
- Have a least one litter tray for each cat that you have (ideally one per each cat plus one more)
- Place litter trays as far away from food and water as possible
- De-clump litter trays at least once per day (ideally twice or more)
- Make it as easy as possible for yourself to clean the litter trays as often as possible (site litter trays in places which you frequent throughout your day)
- Use a non-tracking (clumping) cat litter
- Use a dirt trapper mat beside the litter tray
- Vacuum frequently (at least once a day – ideally keep a hand held vacuum close to the litter trays and vacuum that area as needed)
- Sterilize litter trays with steam or boiling water and disinfectant at least once a week (ideally a mixture of household bleach and hot water in a 1:32 solution. Other options include steam and surgical spirits. Please make sure to avoid any disinfectant containing phenol which is toxic to cats – most pine-based disinfectant contain phenol.
- Trim the hair of back legs and tail (trim the “trousers” of long-haired cats to reduce the chances of feces getting trapped on them).
