Even cats exposed to FIP will not necessarily go on to develop the disease, so blood tests have no real predictive value. Understand though, before you embark on this course, that your cat will most likely take a turn for the worse and die, and that it can happen quickly, especially with the wet form of FIP. FIP comes in a ‘dry’ form with symptoms of weight loss, lethargy, and fever, and a ‘wet’ form which comes with the same symptoms plus fluid retention in the lungs and/or stomach. Ask any pet owner who has lost a beloved animal and you will quickly realize your reaction is not over the top and it will get better. Treatment of dry FIP involves finding which organs are being affected, then mitigating pain and other symptoms involving those organs. Fulfilling the Stereotype: Why Do Cats Loaf? Most strains of feline coronavirus do not cause disease. Symptoms of feline infectious peritonitis can be treated, but FIP is an incurable illness. I imagine that since you’re here, you likely own a cat — or two! If you continue to use this site we’ll assume you’re happy to receive all cookies. Vets recommend euthanasia in an attempt to save your cat from a painful death, not to kill a cat that would likely survive. If the vaccination is given, the schedule is one dose for cats at least sixteen weeks of age, followed by a second dose three to four weeks later. If you are worried that your late kitty's belongings will transmit the virus to your new kitten, don't be. There are many strains of coronavirus, and most of them cause no disease in cats. Joe Inglis says: FIP is a very difficult disease to deal with as it is both hard to diagnose and almost impossible to treat. As previously mentioned most cats carry the virus, but it usually only rears its ugly head in younger cats and in households where several cats live together. The trouble with trying to answer unanswerable questions is that the end point is often a lot of guilt being picked up by the pet owner. However, many healthy cats and sick cats with non-FIP illnesses are also positive to these tests and can be mis-diagnosed. I'm a publisher and editor at Cat Checkup. When is it Safe to get Another Cat after one Dies of FIP? The vaccine is administered nasally if it is deemed beneficial to the cat. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a virus that provokes a fatal immune deficiency response in some of the cats that carry it. In a cat with clinical signs consistent with FIP, FCoV RT-PCR positive results on fluids or tissues may indicate active FIP. No simple diagnostic test exists for feline infectious peritonitis. Not all cats infected with the virus causing FIP will become ill, but cats who do develop signs of FIP will likely succumb to the disease eventually. Some people feel better attempting to push their cats into the lucky 5% by intensively caring for them and trying every possible treatment. Most cats that die from feline infectious peritonitis are under two years old. Can I? It takes a special person to love a cat. These harmless variants are called feline enteric coronavirus and many cats carry them. FIP is difficult to diagnose, so taking your cat to the vet as soon as you suspect a problem can help them get a diagnosis. Mostly, FIP is a young cat killer, but it can theoretically affect any cat. If a blood test then shows a high amount of coronavirus antibodies the diagnosis may be confirmed on that basis alone. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease that occurs worldwide in wild and domestic cats. FIP is caused by a mutant form of a nearly ubiquitous pathogen called the feline coronavirus. If have multiple cats and do not want to euthanize your cat, but are worried for the others, rest assured they are not likely to catch the illness from the infected cat. Cat Health. Symptoms may seem mild at first. Blood tests exist to determine if your cat has been exposed to feline coronavirus, but with the exception of PCR, are not specific to FIP. Cats who develop FIP have an immune defect or deficiency that causes the white blood cells to replicate, rather than fight, the virus. The letters 'FIP' stand for feline infectious peritonitis. If the vet suspects one cat may be suffering from the disorder, they may suggest they be kept away from any other cats in the household and to ensure they have their own litter trays. Hi, I'm so sorry to hear that your kitty likely has FIP. The question of why some cats come down with FIP symptoms and others never get sick is a complex one. The reason why some cats develop the symptoms of FIP and others don't is down to their immune systems - ironically those cats that respond most strongly to the virus are those who suffer from the disease as the disease itself is caused by an overreaction of the immune system to the virus rather than the virus itself. Animal Health Diagnostic Center. Can My Dog Get It? Peritonitis, or inflammation of the abdominal cavity, is only one feature of this systemic disease, which can cause ocular inflammation, neurological signs, liver problems, and fluid around the lungs. I think your vet is right about that because very few problems cause fluid to accumulate in the abdomen, especially in a cat this young. 2572212 | VAT registration No. I'm so sorry you lost your cat. If you have a cat with FIP and you’re interested in obtaining PI, have your vet contact Dr. Legendre at [email protected]. Can My Older Cat Get FIP? It’s been great to recently speak (over email) to some Your Cat subscribers. If that is the direction you choose, your vet will be able to recommend the best course of action and will likely check on your cat often. The illness is specific to cats. Some say that stress is a trigger, but the truth is, no one really knows. Feline infectious peritonitis is infectious, caused by a coronavirus, but the FIP-causing form of the virus appears not be too highly contagious. This is almost certainly why your mother and daughter cats have both been affected whereas the other cats in the household have shown no signs. Exposure to faeces in … Feline infectious peritonitis is relatively rare in cats. At first, cats exposed to FIP exhibit no symptoms at all. Cats ingest the virus by cleaning themselves off after contacting the stool of an infected cat. Kittens get eaten, injured, starve, or get sick. The disease is caused by a virus which is very common and affects most cats to some degree or other. The virus that causes FIP is very common and is something that your cats could have been exposed to at any point, despite being indoor cats. FCoV RT-PCR positive results in tissues from a clinically normal cat are only indicative of infection with FCoV. Now, it's not just peritonitis that this disease causes, but that is probably the most common presentation and what we think of when we think of a cat suffering from FIP. No treatment is available for either form of the illness. Researchers continue to look for new drugs to treat or cure feline infectious peritonitis. Cats catch FIP by coming into contact with the saliva or feces of other infected cats. Product data was last updated on 2021-01-19. my little cat Teddy I think has FIP ..he is very poorly but I am trying everything to keep him with us. Your vet will likely have a pretty good idea just by looking at your cat whether FIP is the cause if its symptoms. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has categorizes the FIP vaccination as “not generally recommended.” This not not necessarily mean the vaccine is dangerous or bad, just that it isn’t a vaccine that most cats need. Dogs cannot contract feline infectious peritonitis, and neither can people. really thank you for starting this up. Only a small number of cats go on to develop full-blown FIP after the latent period. Cats commonly contract various strains of coronavirus but very few ever go on to show symptoms of FIP. The reason why some cats develop the symptoms of FIP and others don't is down to their immune systems - ironically those cats that respond most strongly to the virus are those who suffer from the disease as the disease itself is caused by an overreaction of the immune system to the virus rather than the virus … Dry FIP kills more slowly, usually within two years of the first appearance of symptoms. FIP is much more prevalent in multi-cat households, shelters, and breeding colonies. Of course, most of us don’t want our pets to live in the wild, because the wild is cruel and relentless. A cat with dry FIP will usually die within two years. If your cat has FIP, it isn’t your fault and nothing you could have done or not done would have prevented it. Only a small percentage of those kittens will grow up and develop FIP. Most cats will develop the wet or effusive form of FIP, which … Feline infectious peritonitis is a devastating disease of cats for which there is no treatment. Sneezing, wheezing, fever, lethargy, and diarrhea become worse and worse as time passes, and antibiotics are ineffective. No one can force you to euthanize your beloved pet. You may have just gotten to know and love the animal. When the feline coronavirus mutates into a strain of the virus that has the ability to cause disease it is referred to as the FIP virus. FIP is a horrible disease, and it's still not that well understood. In the wild, cats have lots of kittens because most kittens never live to be adult cats. Even though a very small number of cats do recover from FIP, rest assured your vet is not trying to bully you into euthanasia or take part in some grand conspiracy to take FIP lightly. A vaccine exists but it is not recommended and cannot be given to all cats. Unfortunately, routine blood testing for feline coronavirus is not clinically useful. Because FIP so often first presents as a feline crisis, your vet may suspect FIP right away, but no single blood test can pinpoint the illness. In 1981, scientists discovered a strain of feline coronavirus that is nearly identical to FIP but only causes mild diarrhea in infected cats and clears up quickly and easily. They are all indoor cats, full vaccinated and only two have shown any symtoms. FIP Symptoms: Kitten Lethargic with a Fever. You may decide you never want another cat, ever, but that reaction is most likely a temporary one. This means that only certain cats are likely to be at risk of this disease, and also that particular families of cats are more likely to be affected due to similarities in their genetic makeup and therefore their immune responses. Due to the near-impossibility of accurately confirming a diagnosis of FIP before a post mortem examination, you do need to be aware that it is not a 100 per cent certainty that this is what is affecting your cats and it could be that their renal problems are down to another disease process such as an inherited kidney problem for example. Symptoms of the dry form of the disease include lethargy, fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, depression, and weight loss. FIP is a disease caused by a mutated (changed) strain of feline coronavirus. Feline infectious peritonitis is highly transmittable from a new mom to her infant kittens. Scientists believe that the virus elicits an abnormal immune response in those cats, and that is what enables the virus to spread inside the cat and kill it. If your cat does not recover, at least you tried. Understand that grief is normal. Scrupulous cleanliness and attention to the health of the cats in the group setting is the only real preventative. This means a human in contact with an infected cat is likely contagious to other felines. Cats who have ascites will often appear pot-bellied and their belly may feel like a water balloon. They have presented with dry FIP, not the wet form and both have renal failure. FCoV can also be transmitted through different bodily fluids. Contains a proprietary blend of herbs. With this said, if one cat has developed the condition and no others in a househ… Most cats carry the feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) which, rarely causes disease in itself. Feline infectious peritonitis is one-way nature culls weak kittens early on. An average of 40 per cent of domesticated cats has FCoV in their faeces. With wet FIP, fluid-filled lungs cause breathing trouble. “FIP occurs via the virus mutating within the individual cat alone and finding a way to evade the normal immune system.” The better news is that FIP is not transmissible between cats. Dogs and people can carry coronaviruses but they can’t catch them from a cat, even a very sick cat. Answer: I'm sorry about your cat. Since this is not a contagious disease, one can argue that one does not need to wait before getting another cat. It is more commonly found in multi-cat households and does not affect other animals or people. Once the vaccine is given, yearly boosters are recommended. How can a cat get FIP? Personally I don't think there is a great deal of point in keeping your other cats separate due to the fact that if this is FIP they have almost certainly already been exposed and not reacted badly to the virus, or it could be that this is not FIP but a genetic problem and therefore of no risk to your other cats. Creatures of Habitat: Where Do Cats Live? The reason being is that the virus is transmitted via a cat's faeces and when they groom each other. Sadly, there is no cure for this condition. (Q) I have two cats (mother and daughter) who have just been diagnosed with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Many so-called feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) tests are actually tests for antibody to the virus which causes FIP, feline coronavirus, (FCoV). The virus is shed in feces and cats become infected by ingesting or inhaling the virus, usually by sharing cat litter trays, or by the use of contaminated litter scoops or brushes transmitting infected microscopic cat litter particles to uninfected kittens and cats. The cats that don't get sick don't have this change. Even house cats can develop FIP, either because they came in contact with it from their mother as a kitten, or sometimes from another indoor cat that never develops symptoms. FIP is caused by a type of feline enteric coronavirus. Cat breeders who sell kittens which are FCoV infected and develop FIP risk being prosecuted or sued. Kissin’ Kittens: Do Cats Like to Be Kissed? I have read estimates that 50 percent of cats in … Even house cats can develop FIP, either because they came in contact with it from their mother as a kitten, or sometimes from another indoor cat that never develops symptoms. The stomach appears distended, though in most cases the distension is not painful. Consider these facts before embarking on a complex round of drugs and other interventions that may ease symptoms but will not help the cat to survive. If stress was a factor, why would kittens from the same litter not all come down with feline infectious peritonitis after a chaotic period like a move or the loss of a mother? the faeces of cats. FIP is associated with a viral infection called feline coronavirus. In order for the FIP vaccination to be administered, a cat first has to be tested for exposure to feline coronavirus. Cats and Peanut Butter, and 9 Other Dangerous Foods for Felines. If your cat is diagnosed with wet FIP, it is suffering and death is close. It is fortunate that the mutation only occurs rarely. There was a range of feedback on the magazine; some thanking us for a prize they had won, a few wanting to know why the number of Cat Chat pages had been reduced, and others getting in touch to say they’d enjoyed a particular feature. Company Registered in England no. Feline coronavirus (FCoV), which causes feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in a small percentage of infected cats, is shed in the faeces. But I'd like to know how my cats contracted FIP? What Is Feline Infectious Peritonitis (Fip) and How Do Cats Get It? Common symptoms of the wet form of FIP include: Common symptoms of the dry form of FIP include: Essentially, the cats immune system is spreading the virus throughout the cat’s body rather than trying to eliminate it. If you know of an infected cat you need to keep cat’s that aren’t infected well away from the cat and any objects they come in contact with. This devastating illness affects the immune system of cats. Because we do love our cats, and because feline infectious peritonitis most commonly hit cats under two years of age, it feels especially tragic. Researchers hypothesize that two things have to happen in order for a cat to develop fatal FIP: 1) the virus has to mutate into the FIP form, and 2) the cat has to have an immune deficiency response to that mutation that allows the virus to spread quickly throughout thee cat’s system. Lung Ailments: A Widespread Source of Feline Woe Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats caused by certain strains of a virus called the feline coronavirus. — so helping you better understand them is my aim. MINDPET-MED Fast Clinical Pet Thermometer for Dogs, Cats, Animals with 3... more likely to treat the dry form of the disease. Once coronavirus turns into FIP, it no longer is contagious. For every rule, someone will present a dramatic exception. Most cats that become infected get the acute form of FIP. Dr. Utchen my cat just passed away from a disease called FIP. DL-931 11/07. Your vet will instead try to alleviate your cat’s symptoms by draining fluids as they accumulate and through blood transfusions. Vets want a cure for FIP. Your email address will not be published. We have two other cats and I have been told it is likely that they will all have the disease. Effusive FIP is characterized by a build up of fluid in the cat’s abdomen (ascites), lungs (pleural effusion) or heart (pericardial effusion). Feline enteric coronavirus strains can mutate to the more harmful type of virus and cause FIP disease. Antiviral drugs and immune response modifiers show some promise but for now, nothing has emerged as a cure. Your vet is more likely to treat the dry form of the disease, which can go one for as long as two years than to treat the wet form, which heralds imminent death. The number of cats that come down with this devastating illness is very small when compared to the general population of cats in the world. It most commonly affects the abdomen, which is where we get … That means it doesn’t kill 5% of these cats. But if not, we get something called FIP, which stands for feline infectious peritonitis. The vet confirms the FIP diagnosis blood tests and with a biopsy. FIP is diagnosed by its symptoms when other feline diseases have been ruled out. This means vets have to rely on the cat’s history, its symptoms and by lab examination of accumulated fluids during visits to the veterinary office. Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease of cats that is seen worldwide. Feline infectious peritonitis cannot be cured. Older cats can come down with the illness however, especially if they are over fourteen years of age and/or have another feline immunodeficiency disease such as feline leukemia. It is totally safe to get a new kitten at this point. In the wet form of feline infectious peritonitis the stomach and/or lungs of the cat fill with fluid. 3. By Melodie Anne . Sometimes, FIP can only be diagnosed through ruling out other diseases. Why that one, and not the others? Diagnosis/Treatment Unfortunately FIP is difficult to definitively diagnose. How to Minimize the Your Cat’s Risk of FIP. FCoV is caught by inadvertently swallowing the virus, through contact with other cats, litter trays or soil where other cats have toileted. However such is no consolation for people who have gone through the distress of watching their kitten sicken and die. Wet FIP often appears as a crisis and causes death shortly after first appearing. Many cats carry the virus around and never develop feline infectious peritonitis, and no routine test for the virus exists. FIP is most commonly passed from cat to cat via inhaling or coming into contact with the feces or saliva of the infected cat or items they have come into contact with. Many cats actually have the disease but never show any signs of it.