How long to keep cat out of 'sick' room?

My older cat has been confined into my bedroom for the past 1.5 weeks due to URI. She got it from the kitten I adopted. Kitten is healthy now. Older cat will be ready to roam the house again in a couple of days. How long does it take for the virus to die? When is it safe enough for my kitten to come in the bedroom again. I don't want kitten to get sick again. Do I need to desinfect the carpet? Thanks so much.

When our kitties had a URI, we didn't disinfect the carpet, and the problem didn't seem to spread. We never had to separate the cats as they all seemed to always get it around the same time, so we just give everyone meds when it first shows up (which, thankfully it hasn't for a couple of years now ).

If your older cat has finished her course of medicine, I would think it would be fine to let her roam the house again - especially if she's not snotty, sneezing, experiencing weepy eyes - basically has no signs of the illness AND the meds are done. I don't think your kitty will catch it back again from the older cat.

But just in case, I'd call the vet's office tomorrow to confirm that it's OK to let her roam.

Laurie

When we have URI in the shelter, they recommend that we stand outside in the sun for 20-30 mins before going home to our cats to minimise the risk of infection so I don't think it lives all that long.

I would just give the room a good clean and wash the comforters etc and air it out.

Did they see your vet for the URI? Some of the strains can be much stronger than others and your vet would have a better idea of what to do for that strain