Leopard Cat

　　Cat infectious peritonitis is a fatal infectious disease caused by coronavirus (CORONA VIRUS). The disease course is usually progressive, and because the virus infection can spread throughout the body, it causes poor prognosis and results in the death of the affected cat.

　　This type of coronavirus usually has the ability to invade macrophages and other types of white blood cells. Similar viruses can also infect dogs, pigs, and humans. For example, the recent SARS outbreak was caused by this type of virus.

　　However, the FIP virus (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) that causes cat infectious peritonitis only infects cats. Although this disease often occurs more frequently in kittens, cats of any age can be infected. Generally, after infection with the FIP virus, disease mainly occurs in growing cats aged six to twelve months. Currently, confirmed cases have gradually appeared in some areas, which is a serious concern for cat owners.

　　Be Careful When Contacting This Terrible Virus

　　The main transmission route of the FIP virus is through "contact" infection. This virus usually appears in oral secretions, respiratory secretions, feces, and urine. Therefore, any way that can contaminate food or water is a route of transmission between cats. Sometimes pregnant infected mother cats can also transmit the virus to unborn fetuses through the placenta, causing disease in newborn kittens.

　　The FIP virus rarely survives more than a few weeks in a normal environment, and it can be killed by common disinfectants and bleach. If there are multiple cats at home and signs of infection appear, owners should immediately perform full disinfection, seek veterinary care promptly, and strictly isolate the cats, which are the primary preventative measures.