Should I worry about my new kitten getting FPL after a previous death?

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.

First of all, Gene is beyond adorable! To answer your question, no, you should not be worried about him receiving two FVRCP vaccines in a one month span. This vaccine is typically given every 3-4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age to maximize the immune response, but sometimes circumstances result in an additional vaccine being administered. Not to worry - everything should be fine!

I'm so sorry that your last cat passed away from panleukopenia. This is a parvovirus that is passed through various secretions and can survive fairly readily in the environment. As a result, it's virtually impossible to fully disinfect all materials - particularly carpet, rugs, and upholstered furniture. Hard, nonporous surfaces are much easier to disinfect with bleach diluted with water 1:32 and left on the cleaned surface for at least 5 minutes. Since this parvovirus can survive for up to a year, I would not take the chance of bringing Rag home until he's completed his entire vaccine series. I hope that everything goes well! https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/panleukopenia/

Oh no! That is very frustrating to not be told the truth, but it is a good thing you know now. It is a little difficult to assess risk if it is uncertain if your kitten was raised by its mother. If so, and she was vaccinated, she could have passed some maternal antibodies on to your kitty. The biggest risk for kittens is through exposure to other cats. If your kitty is an indoor kitty with no other contact with other cats this significantly decreases his risk. What is most important now is to start his vaccinations with your vet, to have him tested for the kitty viruses (feline leukemia and FIV), and to have him checked for intestinal parasites (if not already performed/dewormer given). Just because he is older does not mean he can not get his vaccines, he will just need less vaccines than a younger kittens. Typically we vaccinate with FVRCP (for kitty upper respiratory viruses and panleukopenia) and rabies. If your kitty will eventually be going outside then vaccination for feline leukemia (after a negative test) is important. Your family vet can set up a schedule for Chase at his first visit. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Oh goodness that is concerning. You said you had her checked out. Hopefully she was vaccinated at that time as well, if not then she should be vaccinated immediately . Panleukopenia is included in the core feline vaccines. She should be boostered 3-4 weeks after the first vaccine and then again until she is about 16 weeks old. I am glad you disinfected it, hopefully she was not exposed. There is not much else you can do. Best of luck and I hope she does well. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

So FIP is technically from a virus, however, most cats are exposed at some point in their life (especially if from a cattery or shelter). However, only a select few will mutate to become FIP. We don’t know why this happens, or how to prevent it. Could it happen again? Yes. But very unlikely. I have been a veterinarian for 11 years and have only had 1 FIP kitten patient. I know it’s easier said then done to not worry. Sometimes I find it helpful to give myself some grieving time and my worries seem to be less the more “ready” I am for a new Pet. I’m so sorry about your kitten, and I hope your new addition is spunky and healthy for many many years!! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

I would worry a little more about the new kitten passing on diseases to the older cat - viral upper respiratory infections in particular are common. I'd recommend vaccinating both cats with the FVRCP combo and rabies vaccines. If the cats are going to continue to be outdoors then the FeLV vaccine would also be recommended, and I actually usually recommend vaccinating all kittens for FeLV since you never know if their lifestyle might change.