VACCINATION AGAINST NATURALLY-OCCURRING FIP IN A SINGLE LARGE CAT SHELTER

Feline coronavirus-naive cats that were immunized with a temperature-s ensitive feline infectious peritonitis vaccine prior to entry into a l arge shelter had a 75% reduced incidence of FIP over the subsequent 16 months compared to cats receiving a placebo. Vaccination did not caus e accelerated disease and no unusual illnesses or deaths were associat ed with the use of the vaccine. It appears, therefore, that vaccinatio n may significantly reduce FIP losses if given according to the manufa cturer's instructions to cats 16 weeks or older and prior to their int roduction into environments with a known potential for FIP virus expos ure.