After cat flu, how long to disinfect home & items for a new cat?

I'm am sorry for your loss. Wait at least 1 month. Vacuum and clean as thoroughly as you can. Hard, non porous surfaces (and bowls, toys, etc.) can be washed in hot, soapy water or the dishwasher. Rinse in a 1:32 dilution of bleach. Any toys or bedding that cannot be sanitized, should be thrown out. Normal exposure to air and sunlight will usually kill the FIP virus in the environment within 2 weeks.

Hi Laura. Good question. Flu viruses don't live that long after being off the host, so if you can put the items in your car and leave them there for about a week you can then give them to your family with no worries.

I recommend getting a cat when you no longer live with your current roommate and her cat. As many of half of all cats with calicivirus infection may continue to shed calicivirus particles intermittently or constantly for several months or for a lifetime. As calicivirus is extremely contagious through either direct contact with an infected cat/cat shedding viral particles, breathing the same air as an infected/carrier state/shedding cat, or contact with contaminated objects such as food bowls and toys, it would definitely be best to wait and to be sure that your new cat/kitten receives all required boosters of the FVRCP vaccine as well as the rabies vaccine early on. Good luck!

Once a cat is exposed to calicivirus, it will go through an incubation period of 2-6 days before developing clinical signs which typically last for 14-21 days. During this entire time, the cat will potentially be infectious to other cats. At a minimum, infected cats will shed virus in their bodily secretions for 2-3 weeks. Following apparent recovery from the disease, as many as half of all infected cats may develop a carrier state in which they will continue to shed the virus. In some of these cats the carrier state may only last for a few months, but in a small percentage of cats the carrier state may persist for life. Carrier cats may or may not show any signs of infection when they are actively shedding calicivirus and serve as an important source of infection to susceptible cats. I would say it would not be safe for you to bring the kitten home for at least one month. I would also recommend re-vaccinating your old cat with the FVRCP vaccine if it has not been given in the last 6 months to boost his immunity.

First off, I'm so sorry you recently lost a kitten! An effective disinfectant to feline distemper is bleach. I would use bleach to clean the entire house. You need to get rid of all the kitten's belongs, as they will have the virus on them and it can be passed to any new cat. This includes bedding, toys, and litter boxes. Get all new stuff for the new cat. The most important to way to prevent the next cat from catching is vaccination. I would recommend getting an older cat, around four months of age, who will be fully vaccinated. I hope this helps!

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with a respiratory tract inflammation/infection. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. If the other cat is not vaccinated I would recommend to wait until the signs are completely resolved and treated. Yes, vaccination for the daughter's cat is best. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

There are several upper respiratory PCR tests available that can screen for a number of different infectious diseases that can infect and spread between cats. The Idexx Feline Upper Respiratory panel is one example, but I'm not sure if this particular lab is utilized in the UK. (I'm sure UK vets use a comparable panel!) Influenza (flu) is less of a risk in cats compared to calicivirus and herpesvirus, although other infectious organisms, such as Mycoplasma, can also cause upper respiratory illness. Calicivirus is shed continuously, so if a cat is infected or carrying this virus, it should show up on the panel. Herpesvirus sheds intermittently, so as you mention, odds are good that a flare and shedding will occur during a time of stress and thus be detectable on a test, but there is no guarantee. While there is no way to be 100% positive that a new cat is completely free of all infectious upper respiratory diseases, I think it's reasonable to test the adopted cat shortly after adoption, then quarantine them for 2ish weeks while both waiting for the test results and allowing your current cat to acclimate to the presence and smells of another cat in the home.