Does someone have experience with this disease?!?

Question

My cat might have FIP, but the vet is not a hundred percent sure. Did anyone elses cat have or had FIP, if so can you plz tell me the symptoms, and how can you be a hundred percent sure if she has it or not. She got a blood clot in her eye last week that went away with medication and she did have an upper respiartory infection two months ago but other then that she is healthy. I dont know why my vet is worried but shes got me worried too, so if someone can help me thank you.

and my cat is 7 months old.

Answer 1

Found this. Check it out.

Answer 2

hi sorry that this is off the subject but your comment about when i fell out a window made me laugh lol it was quite funny lol =)

Answer 3

Our rescue director was at a vet conference two years ago, and one of the leading FIP researchers made a statement there that more cats are euthanized from the false diagnosis of FIP than actually die of the disease!  

According to most statistics, the corona virus mutates into FIP in less than 5% of cats that have that virus.  Most cats from a multi cat household will have some level of the corona virus in there systems, but very few of them will actually get FIP.  It seems that FIP is a "popular" thing with vets now, and so many of them claim FIP when the real answer is that they are not sure if anything is wrong with your cat.  

The problem with diagnosing FIP is that it mimicks many other things.  There is no real test for FIP in a live animal - at the current time it can only be diagnosed post-mortem.  What your kitten is experiencing sounds like normal kitten stuff.  A blood clot in the eye isn't a symptom of FIP, and I think every kitten I have fostered has had a URI!  

I'm not a vet, but my advice to you is to enjoy your kitten, and find a vet that doesn't resort to this kind of scare tactics.  

Answer 4

My cat is 14 yrs. old but thanks God i haven't any experience like this.

Don't worry she will be fine

Answer 5

You need to Google FIP.  I am computer illiterate or I would have given you the sites.

This is a nasty disease.  I hope your kitty does not have it.  I have helped treat others with it where I work and it is not pretty.   It is difficult to test for and so the best you can do is some supportive care until the symptoms either continue to progressively get worse leading you to know for sure or else go away.  

I am sorry you are going through this and will send my prayers to you both for a speedy recovery.

Answer 6

That is a very tough situation in which you find yourself and your kitten. Symptoms of this Corona Virus include,respiratory infections, sneezing, watery eyes,fever, fluid retention and frequent urination.

Unfortunately there are no accurate tests available while the cat is alive to find out if, in fact the cat has the disease. Positive titers to FIP may exist in cats who were exposed, but do not actively have the disease.

Many cats develop the Cornona virus, but few actually develop FIP. So you are in a situation which is quite difficult for sure.

I found an article that will shed a great deal of light for you on your issue, which you should discuss with your vet. Print it out, as it is really full of all kinds of information which need to be  handled.

http://www.listnow.com/helpingpaws/artic...

If your cat does have the disease, it can be treated with antiviral medications, such as interferon. Cats can live with this medication, happy and "healthy" lives. So please don't jump to the conclusion that your cat has to be euthanized.

I hope this helps you, and good luck to you and your kitty. Don't despair.

Troublesniffer

Owned by cats for over 40 years

Former breeder of Oriental Shorthairs and Siamese

Free Lance author/blogger for http://www.petside.com

Answer 7

There isn't a definitive test for FIP so your vet will do a blood test to see what levels of FCoV (Feline Corona Virus, also called FECV) are present.  FCoV is present in many cats, but sometimes a mutation causes disease.

The most common form is "wet FIP" where the abdomen fills with fluid.  Dry FIP is less common and usually diagnose when the vet has eliminated all other possibilities.

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/fip/info.h...

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?...

http://www.newmanveterinary.com/fip.html

There are no clinical signs associated that are unique for FIP. The classic form involves a build up of fluid in the abdomen (which gets distended) and/or chest (causing breathing difficulties), but other diseases can also cause this.  

Initial clinical signs are vague: lethargy, loss of appetite, inflammatory lesions in the eye (which is why your vet is concerned) and nervous system (causing abnormal behaviour, wobbly movement or tremors).  It then progresses rapidly.

If he suspects FIP, you vet should perform a thorough clinical examination, ultrasound for small amounts of fluid collecting in the abdomen, including the eyes and a neurological assessment. Blood tests are used to rule out other diseases that cause similar symptoms and to look for symptoms often seen with FIP.  These tests may have to be repeated later on as a cat in the early stages may not give helpful test results.  The higher the cat scores with problems in all of these, the more likely it may have FIP.  

Hopefully the tests will show your cat has some other cause of illness and your vet is just being cautious.  Cats can get blood clots and eye injuries.  Cats with FIP usually seem generally poorly and don't respond too well when other conditions are medicated because their immune system has already been overwhelmed by the mutated coronavirus.