Can my cat get coronavirus from me, or can I get it from them?

Hello. Please do not worry about this. While coronavirus was cultured in the nose of a few dogs that lived in homes with infected people, they were, & stayed completely normal. Nothing has been described in cats. Just about every species has its own coronavirus unique to them. It is a very unique set of circumstances that PRESUMABLY allowed the virus to jump from animals in China to a human host, no worries about this happening in our pet community. So yes, the feline coronavirus can mutate to a virulent form that leads to FIP, but the thing to remember is this is an enteric, or gut virus, not a respiratory one that we are seeing in people. There is absolutely no connection between Covid-19 & the Feline Coronavirus. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Coronavirus itself is in most cases harmless to cats and many cats will have a coronavirus infection that will go unnoticed. The problem in a very small minority of cases is that this virus mutate into a new form and becomes what is known as FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) which is a fatal disease. The mutated virus cannot be transmitted to another cat. To summarise, risk is minor, but still exist.

In general, viruses are species specific. However, with this being a new virus (or so they believe) it cannot be known at this time if the virus can make the jump between species. I recommend to take the same precautions with her as you do yourself. I hope this helps.

FIP is caused by a mutation of feline coronavirus and the disease itself is not contagious. Feline coronavirus is very contagious but in most cats will not cause symptoms or even will only cause mild diarrhea. Only 1-5% of cats with coronavirus will develop FIP. I think its fair to be cautious but the likelihood of your cat developing FIP is very low. If you prefer peace of mind then maybe consider helping your sister find another pet sitter.

Feline coronavirus is a virus that typically causes mild gastrointestinal signs in cats or kittens. If the virus mutates, however, it can result in the deadly disease of FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). The virus is spread through either inhalation or ingestion of infected fecal matter. It sounds like your cat is infected. If so and your housekeeper is handling the litter box, she should change clothes before cleaning another home with cats present. The virus is relatively fragile and can be inactivated by most commercial cleaning products. Hope this helps!

According to the OIE, the current spread of COVID-19 is a result of human-to-human transmission, and, to date, there is no evidence that companion animals can spread the disease. Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals which may compromise their welfare. They can become passive vectors of the disease for short period of time, but cannot get the infection.

There is a vaccine for the coronavirus that causes FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), however it is rarely used due to its ineffectiveness. Core vaccines for kittens and cats include FVRCP (rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia) and Rabies. Lifestyle vaccines, given based on risk of exposure, include FeLV (feline leukemia) and Bordatella. Vaccines are started at 8 weeks of age and boosted every 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. You can sanitize hard, non porous surfaces in your home with a 1:32 dilution of household bleach and water. Allow for a 15 minute wet contact time. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Wash all bedding in the hottest water allowable by fabric. The feline coronavirus can survive in the environment for 7-8 weeks in optimal conditions. Have any kitten purchased or adopted physically examined by your veterinarian to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any pre-existing conditions.