Feline Infectious Peritonitis - contd.
Litter boxes should be kept clean. The use of vaccines has been controversial, but a new vaccine called Primucell, given intranasally, offers local protection in the nose and back of the throat, which are common sites of entry for the virus. Studies have shown that the vaccine is safe, and although it is not completely effective, it does offer some protection against FIP. It is advised to test a cat for coronavirus prior to administering this vaccination, as the vaccine is unlikely to be effective if the cat is incubating the disease. Also, cats will test positive for exposure to the virus following vaccination.
Because of the increased risk of FIP in areas highly populated with cats, breeders and owners of catteries especially should concern themselves with prevention. The way newborn kittens from infected mothers are handled from birth determines whether they will become infected with the coronavirus. One to two weeks before delivery, the birthing area should be kept free of cats and should be disinfected with a bleach solution made by adding one part bleach to 31 parts water. If the mother cat tests positive for the coronavirus, the newborns should be removed from her at five to six weeks of age to prevent infection; before this time period, they will be protected from the disease by the mother's antibodies.
