Coronavirus

Hi All My newly adopted 18 week old Kitty (Merlot) has been diagnosed with Coronavirus. I have been googling and reading loads online, but most information refers to FIP. The lab results I was given for the Titre test show 1:25 in a black box and then to the right <1:25. My Vet says that this means he has a low concentration of antibodies. A fecal test reported that he is shedding the virus.

I am extremely worried about my 2 other cats. I haven't allowed sharing of litter trays and I clean them out as soon as they poo and I bleach the litter trays at least once a day. But I know its highly contagious, so I am sure that they will now have it. My Vet offered to test the other 2, but I declined as I didn't think I would be any better off for knowing if they are positive or  negative - if they are positive I am going to worry myself silly as there's not a thing I can do to prevent them from developing FIP and if they are negative my instinct would be to separate the new kitten - but in a small House with 3 cats and 2 dogs, this couldn't happen; I am sure no one would adopt him quick enough (and anyway I love him too much) and if I did separate him, i could still carry the virus to my other cats on my clothes - so I didn't see the point in stressing them with a trip to the vets.

Currently Merlot has Diarrhea, although it is improving since I started him on Fortiflora and he's on a 10 course of Stomorgyl (3 days left) He also had a cough for about 5 days, which turned to a sneeze yesterday, but nothing today.  He weighs about 2.4kgs and is quite lively, growing steadily and seems very  robust & happy.

The only blood results I have as follows (Comes from a German Lab):

Alaninaminotransferaza 54UI/L

Bilirubina total 0.01 mg/dL

Phosphatase Alkaline 42.38 UI/L

Creatinine 0.57 mg/dL

Serum Amylase 388 UI/L

Serum Glucose 155.66 mg/dL

Aspartate 37 UI/L

Urea 31 mg/dL

Urea Nitrogen (BUN) 14.49 mg/dL

I wanted to ask for a full blood test, but I am worried about stressing him.

My Questions:

1) He's currently on RC Gastro Intestinal Wet Cat food. On Dr Addie's site she says to change over to Applaws especially Chicken & Pumpkin, but my vet says stay with gastro. I'm not sure who to follow. I also have the problem that they eat each others food - if I stay with gastro. will it hurt my other cats to be on it long term?

2) If 1:25 is a low antibody count, does it mean his chance of getting id of the virus are better?

3) I read that Colloidal Silver and Colostrom are good for cats with Coronavirus - anybody got any views?

4) Should I wait until he is at least 12months before getting him neutered (indoor cat) to reduce stress?

5) Someone told me that some of his blood results are low, but my Vet didn't say anything... should I be doing something to help the low scores?

6) My Vet hasn't come up with any treatment plan or action plan so I feel like I am flapping around in the breeze a bit... what would be the best course of action? I thought to try and keep the diarrhea under control and then get Merlot's poo tested monthly for shedding and possibly get the others poo tested too?? 

Until 2 weeks ago I had never heard of this virus and I feel so helpless as its really in the hands of God/Fate which Cats go on to develop FIP. the worse bit is I brought an infected Cat into my home where there was no Coronavirus and now I might have just signed their death warrants.

I've tried to rationalise all this, with the fact that so few actually develop FIP... but I am constantly cleaning, bleaching, watching litter trays, checking them for changes in their tummies - I am literally going mad with worry.

Anyone out there gone through this??

Thank you for any help, sorry I have gone on a bit x

SallyF said:

 

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Hi Sally and welcome to TCS.

I'm going to offer you a new perspective to a recurring question on Corona virus that should give you a happier perspective.

Short version:

You are worrying about basically nothing.

Longer version:

Many cats test positive for corona virus because its a very common virus, it just means that the cat had a cold.  It is neither predictive in any meaningful way for FIP, nor is it a test for FIP.  For every cat who develops FIP there are thousands that do not.

Nor is it generally believed that cats catch FIP from each other, the prevailing belief is that it is a mutation of the virus within the host cat that causes the illness, and that it is hard to transmit cat to cat.

I know you're very worried even though you have read how rare FIP is.  Think of it this way, once in a very rare while, someone gets hit by a car while crossing the street.    But you don't stop crossing the street just because there is a very low risk.  Our lives would become paralyzed if we stopped doing all low risk activities.  As an example if I did:

I would stop crossing the street.

I would stop driving cars.

I would stop plugging electrical appliances into the walls.

I wouldn't fly or take the train.

I wouldn't cook or use the stove.

I would never take another shower for fear of slipping.

I would never swim again.

Now to be serious, i am not making fun at all, i'm trying to make a point.  You're worrying about something in great disproportion to the risk, and secondly, there is nothing you can do about it.  If your cat isn't sick with a cold now, then he isn't transmitting corona virus to your other cats.  And if he was it wouldn't matter anyway (except that your other cats would catch colds)

There are much more common things to be worried about in cats other than FIP.  And while I'm not suggesting you worry about other things, i urge you to allow yourself to stop worrying about this disease which almost doesn't exist.

Personally I would not wait a year to get him neutered even if he is an indoor cat and especially not if he goes outdoors.  If he's indoors, he could start spraying.  If he goes outdoors he will encounter more cats being unneutered and this is much worse for his health than a corona virus positive test.

Your vet should be telling you the exact same thing and if they aren't, if they are feeding your worry then you are seeing the wrong vet IMO.

As the caretaker for two known coronavirus positive cats, age 6, I wholeheartedly agree with above. Even my vet downplayed it, as I came to realize he should. Indeed my thought is the shelter played it up too much, but then they're in the business of trying to avoid other cats getting it.

The reality is, this is just an extra data point that most cats never have. These two were in the shelter as kittens and got tested I suspect then. It's a well-funded shelter and the cats get very good medical care. But known coronavirus positive gives you nothing really useful to work with. You seem to already know this, as you have wisely (IMO) chosen not to bother with testing your other cats.

It is suggested that at least 50% and maybe as many as 70-80% or more of cats are actually positive for coronavirus exposure. That should reinforce how little use it really is in most circumstances. It's about as useful as saying your cat is male.

Thank you both so much for your help - it really has helped me so much and put things into perspective. I am thinking of changing Vets as mine is so unhelpful. You are both right, Thank you. I will keep your thoughts and comments in mind. THANK YOU!

Not to mention that fip occurs in young cats, the majority being during teenagehood.

SallyF said:

 
Thank you both so much for your help - it really has helped me so much and put things into perspective. I am thinking of changing Vets as mine is so unhelpful. You are both right, Thank you. I will keep your thoughts and comments in mind. THANK YOU!

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Unless your cat was extremely ill any responsible vet should be telling you how rare and unlikely this disease is.  If your vet is not doing this I would ask him or her why and if the answer isn't suitable then i agree with you, a change in vet may be needed.