Companion Animals

Cat Feline Coronavirus Litter Management

Managing feline coronavirus transmission through litter hygiene is key to reducing FIP risk in multi-cat households and facilities.

Key Facts

Feline coronavirus is shed in faeces and transmitted via faecal-oral route
Shared litter trays are the primary transmission route between cats
Individual litter trays reduce FCoV transmission and stress in multi-cat households
Daily litter tray cleaning reduces viral load significantly
Quarantine of new cats before introducing to FCoV-negative groups prevents new infection

Welfare Considerations

Managing FCoV transmission through litter hygiene directly reduces the number of cats exposed to FCoV and therefore the number at risk of FIP mutation. The investment in individual litter trays and daily cleaning is a low-cost welfare intervention that reduces FIP mortality risk in multi-cat environments.

What You Can Do

Provide one litter tray per cat plus one extra in multi-cat households
Clean litter trays daily with disinfectant to reduce FCoV viral load
Quarantine new cats from existing residents for at least 2-4 weeks