The feline coronavirus is a disease that worries many owners, for this reason it is so important to be properly informed about its transmission, the symptoms that the animal experiences and the treatment that we must apply in case of contagion.
The coronavirus is named for the small crown shape it has. Its special characteristics make it a particularly dangerous virus, so we must be very careful and we must be vigilant if our cat has been able to come into contact with infected animals. Discover on our site everything about the feline coronavirus as well as the symptoms and the ideal treatment for cases of contagion.
What is coronavirus in cats?
It is a virus that has some small projections on its exterior, which give it the characteristic shape of a crown, which should your name. Feline enteric coronavirus is a virus with little resistance in the environment, so it is easily destroyed by high temperatures and disinfectants.
It has a special predilection for the epithelial cells of the intestine of cats, giving rise to mild and chronic gastroenteritis. The virus is expelled through feces, the main vehicle of infection. One of the main characteristics of this virus is its ability to mutate, giving rise to another disease, known as feline infectious peritonitis. It is a typical disease of cats under 1 year old or elderly and weak cats, immunocompromised and living in groups.
Feline coronavirus - Human contagion
There are various strains of coronavirus, some only affect animals such as cats, dogs and pigs, while others are exclusive to humans. Thus, a cat with coronavirus cannot infect a human, because it has a different strain than the one that can affect our body.
Feline coronavirus symptoms
Feline enteric coronavirus causes mild gastroenteritis and chronic type, generating symptoms such as the following:
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Abdominal pain.
- Lethargy.
- Fever.
Many cats are quite resistant to the disease, developing no symptoms, becoming carriers and shedding the virus through feces. However, as we said, the danger of the coronavirus is its mutation, which gives rise to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
Feline Infectious Peritonitis Symptoms
Feline infectious peritonitis is a disease caused by a mutation of the coronavirusfeline enteric. It can manifest itself in two different forms, the dry and the wet form.
Dry FIP - Symptoms
In the first, the virus can affect multiple organs, generating a wide variety of symptoms, such as:
- Weightloss.
- Anemia.
- Inappetence.
- Lethargy.
- Fever.
- Depression.
- Fluid buildup.
- Uveitis.
- Corneal edema.
Wet FIP - Symptoms
The wet form is characterized by the formation of fluids in the animal's body cavities, such as the peritoneum and pleura (abdominal and thoracic cavities, respectively). In this way, the symptoms would be:
- Swollen abdomen.
- Diarrhea.
- Fever.
- Lethargy.
- Inappetence.
- Constipation.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Inflamed kidneys.
In both forms it is observed in cats fever, loss of appetite and lethargy (the animal is not attentive to its surroundings, it takes time to react to stimuli).
How long does feline coronavirus last?
The life expectancy of cats with coronavirus will vary depending on the severity of the disease, although in both the life of the animal is shortened. In wet FIP, which is the most severe form of coronavirus in cats, the disease can kill the animal between 5 and 7 weeks since the mutation occurred.
In the case of dry FIP, the cat's life expectancy becomes just over 1 year. For all these reasons, it is vitally important to go to the vet as soon as possible.
How is feline coronavirus spread?
Suffering and overcoming the disease generates a certain immunity in cats that does not last too long, which means that the animal can become infected again, repeating the cycle. When the cat lives alone, the animal can self-infect, through the litter box because, as we said, the coronavirus spreads a through the feces of the animal.
In the case of living several cats together, the risk of contagion increases greatly, because they all share the same litter box, passing disease each other.
How to eliminate the feline coronavirus? - Treatment
Being a viral disease, there is no treatment. It is common to try symptom treatment and wait for the cat's immune response.
Yes, preventive treatments are recommended to prevent the spread of the disease. Vaccination would be the treatment of choice, as well as offering cats several litter boxes, which reduces the chances of contagion between them.
If you want to introduce a new cat to the family, it is recommended that it be vaccinated.
