Table 3.

Common methods to prevent FCoV infection and control feline infectious peritonitis outbreaks in multicat environments

Method	Effectiveness	Advantages	Disadvantages	Comments
Individual cages	Effective	Decreases exposure to FCoV	Requires bigger infrastructure and personnel Decreases socialization of cats	If not an option consider monitoring potential shedders in group facilities.
In-cage spot cleaning	Effective	Decreases stress by preventing frequent rehousing of cats	Requires more frequent staff monitoring of litter trays	Not only may decrease the viral load in the environment but presents a more appealing environment for potential adopters.
Isolation or quarantine of cats exposed to FIP cases	Inefficient	None	True quarantine is hard to be performed Decreases socialization of cats	The majority of cats in the same environment are already infected with FCoV when FIP arises. It can take months for FIP to develop, and it occurs in a small percentage of the population
Staff workflow from new cats to longer term residents	Effective	Reduces exposure of more vulnerable population to shedders among longer term residents	Staff compliance with protocol may present a challenge	Fomites can easily transmit FCoV between different areas. This method will not eliminate but may reduce fomite transmission between populations.
Segregation by length of time	Partially effective	Limits exposure between populations Increases socialization	May be difficult to arrange distribution of populations within physical plant limitations	As younger cats are at an increase risk of infection, segregating the younger cats and kittens from adults helps limit their exposure to FCoV
Segregation by antibody status	Effective	Prevents exposure of naïve cats Increases socialization	Requires isolation of new cats until serology results are available	Expense of serology may be a limiting factor.
Grouping by shedding status	Effective	Prevents reinfection of cats Increases socialization	Requires frequent serology or fecal PCR testing to determine shedding status	Only 1/3 of the seropositive cats shed the virus. Repeated fecal PCR test are required to document shedding. Expenses of lab tests may be a limiting factor.
Isolation and removal of chronic shedders from facility	Partially effective	Decreases risk of FIP by reducing frequent re-exposure to FCoV	May require depopulation if chronic shedders are not adoptable. May increase risk of FIP in other cats at the adopters environment	Shedding decreases once the cat is isolated. Chronic shedders should be adopted only to single-cat households.
Visitor's flow from new cats to longer term residents	Partially effective	Reduces exposure of more vulnerable population to shedders among longer term residents	Keeping visitors consistent with protocol may present a challenge Predisposes new cats in the shelter to be adopted more frequently than long term residents	Visitors should be encouraged to adopt long term residents.
Vaccination	Partially effective	May decrease incidence of FIP in the long term	At the age of vaccination (16 weeks) the majority of cats in a shelter have already been exposed to FCoV	The vaccine is ineffective when cats have already had contact with FCoV. Not currently recommended for shelters.
Depopulation	Ineffective	Decreases amount of FCoV present in the environment Decreases the risk of exposure of new intakes to FCoV Prevents adoption of FCoV-infected cats	It must be followed by extensive disinfection of facility and introduction of strict biosecurity protocols. Poor shelter reputation regarding euthanasia of “healthy cats”. Decrease moral of shelter staff attached to resident cats.	Depopulating only certain “sick” individuals is not effective as an apparently healthy cat may be chronic or intermittent shedder. Depopulating seropositive cats is not recommended due to the small number that may ever develop FIP. FCoV can easily become endemic again if other strict measures are not implemented.