Yesterday, I rec'd the devastating news that one of my babies tested positive for FIP. Needless to say, I'm pretty heartbroken, b/c from what I understand, FIP is untreatable and deadly. I've been doing some research online, and according to what I've read, Winchester (my baby) hasn't got much time left: supposedly, once diagnosed, it's just a matter of days or a few short weeks before he gets to the point where he should be put to sleep. But I'm confused..
Looking at him, you would never know there's anything wrong with him. He doesn't look or act sick, he's eating & playing as usual, and is as alert & spirited as he always is. What led me to believe that there might be something wrong with him was a recurring "cough" & slight fever that comes & goes every few days, and which has been occurring now for several months. My vet has been treating him with antibiotics, which seems to ease the coughing and lowers the fever, but as soon as Winchester goes off the antibiotics, the symptoms re-occur. When the symptoms reappeared this last time, my vet said he would need to run some tests before he could further treat Winchester. The tests were done, and the results for FIP came back positive..
I'm confused b/c it is my understanding that once a cat is diagnosed with FIP, it's only a matter of days or weeks before they either die from FIP, or they need to be put to sleep. But as I've mentioned, Winchester doesn't seem sick at all, with the exception of the coughing/fever, and this has been occurring for several months now. Wouldn't he have been gone by now if he does indeed have the FIP? Or at the very least, wouldn't he be regressing at a much faster rate? As I sit here now typing this, he is running around playing "chase the ball" with my other babies! It doesn't make any sense..
I obviously don't want to lose Winchester. He is the most sweetest, loving cat I've ever had, and even though I have 4 other babies, the house would not be the same without him. I'm hoping & praying that the diagnosis was wrong, which is obviously wishful thinking on my part, b/c I doubt that there could be any mistakes with the test results. But why isn't he behaving or looking like he's supposedly in the final stages of FIP?? Could anyone please enlighten regarding FIP?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated..
KittKatt
Looking at him, you would never know there's anything wrong with him. He doesn't look or act sick, he's eating & playing as usual, and is as alert & spirited as he always is. What led me to believe that there might be something wrong with him was a recurring "cough" & slight fever that comes & goes every few days, and which has been occurring now for several months. My vet has been treating him with antibiotics, which seems to ease the coughing and lowers the fever, but as soon as Winchester goes off the antibiotics, the symptoms re-occur. When the symptoms reappeared this last time, my vet said he would need to run some tests before he could further treat Winchester. The tests were done, and the results for FIP came back positive..
I'm confused b/c it is my understanding that once a cat is diagnosed with FIP, it's only a matter of days or weeks before they either die from FIP, or they need to be put to sleep. But as I've mentioned, Winchester doesn't seem sick at all, with the exception of the coughing/fever, and this has been occurring for several months now. Wouldn't he have been gone by now if he does indeed have the FIP? Or at the very least, wouldn't he be regressing at a much faster rate? As I sit here now typing this, he is running around playing "chase the ball" with my other babies! It doesn't make any sense..
I obviously don't want to lose Winchester. He is the most sweetest, loving cat I've ever had, and even though I have 4 other babies, the house would not be the same without him. I'm hoping & praying that the diagnosis was wrong, which is obviously wishful thinking on my part, b/c I doubt that there could be any mistakes with the test results. But why isn't he behaving or looking like he's supposedly in the final stages of FIP?? Could anyone please enlighten regarding FIP?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated..
KittKatt