hideyo,
my understanding is that corona viruses are contagious, and very common (i've seen statistics ranging from 85-95% of cats in a multi-cat environment will show a positive corona-virus titre--and that almost as high a percentage of humans will show the same thing!). however, the most recent thinking is that FIP comes not from the common corona virii themselves, but from a MUTATION of the common virus. the mutation is not contagious--and so far they don't really know what causes the virus to mutate, nor no way to predict if any specific cat's corona-virus exposure might result in such a mutation.
i know that the feline genome project is providing evidence of a genetic predisposition to the mutation occurring, which may be why there was an initial belief that FIP was infectious in and of itself. at the sanctuary, in the special-needs section where there were no FIVs or FeLVs, but lots of cats with non-immune-supressive problems, the only cats we lost to FIP were, indeed, a mom and two adult children (!) who had survived distemper contracted when the kittens were two months old. the other two kittens, both with CH from the distemper, never developed FIP.
i hate FIP more than FeLV, even, because you can't predict it, you can't prevent it, and in most cases, you can't really treat it....
i hate FIP more than FeLV, even, because you can't predict it, you can't prevent it, and in most cases, you can't really treat it....
--
MaryChristine
AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats
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