Feline Infectious Peritonitis
There is now a licensed treatment for FIP!!
Remdisivir, is a licensed treatment, through a company called BOVA. It is expensive, therefore, always ensure your cats have top cover insurance. This is a huge boost for our feline community and means that not all cases of FIP are a death sentence.
Whilst there are other treatments, for FIP and for clearing FCOV, please note, that some of them are illegal in the UK and are not licensed.
FIP is a mutation of the Coronavirus. Coronavirus is present in 90% of cats and 90% of multi cat households
It is caught easier than a human catching a cold
FCOV is spread in cat poop and saliva
Cat uses the litter box and sheds the virus. One of your other cats use the tray and picks up the virus and so on and so forth
Most cats will never show any symptoms. Corona virus in itself is NOT harmful.
A few years ago, figures showed that it was very common in young male kittens that had been neutered within the last few months, however, it is not subject to one sex more than the other now.
It does tend to be kittens or old cats that are more susceptible. As stated on the buyer beware page, if you visit a breeder and you don't like the conditions, or the kitten looks ill, walk away
Stress is a big contributing factor in FIP as well as immunity and illness. Therefore, buying a kitten who is not well and moving it to a new home could potentially be a contributing factor
FIP is a mutation of the corona virus. This can be caused by low immunity, illness and cats already having feline Leukaemia (FELV)
FIP begins as one cell in the microphages (white blood cell) the mutation causes the white cells to completely destroy the red cells, meaning the cat could become anaemic.
There are two types of FIP. 'wet' and 'dry
FIP symptoms can be very rapid and without warning
Symptoms can be
Rapid weight loss
Lethargy
refusing to eat
Severe diarrhoea
Depression
Very high temperature
Jaundice
Wet FIP causes a build up of fluid in the abdomen and sometimes the chest. The cat along with the above symptoms could seem like they have a respiratory problem.
FIP is not a sign that your home is dirty. It is a sign that your kitten could have an immunity issue or underlying problem. It could also mean that there is a genetic immune deficiency in the lines and therefore if a breeder picks up on this, most will neuter the cats to prevent it happening again.
Please note Titer testing for corona/FIP can give false readings. Taking a cat to the vet is stressful, therefore the readings can be false.
Most cases of FIP can only be 100% determined through autopsy.
FIP is more common that you think. Here at Ragdoll Rescue, we feel it very important that FIP is talked about. It is nothing to be embarrassed about.
Please feel free to call us if you would like to talk about FIP.
Ragdoll Rescue are huge supporters of Dr Addie who is the leading FIP researcher at Glasgow University.
