Is it FIP?

My 6 month old kitten has been diagnosed as probably having FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). Her symptoms were very watery diarrhea, which actually started to get better after about two weeks, upon which time I took her to the vet anyway. At first I just thought hte diarrhea was associated with the stress of coming home from the shelter.

Anyway, her blood work came up wiht VERY high white cell count, 44,000, wich is like 4 times normal. she had some other changes that go along with FIP but I don't know enough to accurately report. She also tested 1:400 on the FIP titer, which may mean nothing as she came from a shelter, so its no surprise she has been exposed to the virus. The question is does she have the full blown FIP mutation. Her other bloodwork, along with her symptoms, all add up to FIP.

In general her appetite has been good and she has been growing (she started at 3.5 pounds and is up past 5 pounds now. Her poops are finally firming up some. She is on metranidazole, clavamox, enzymes in her food, as well as forti-flora (a probiotic) and ID canned and ID dry food. This routine has been going on about a week or so.

A few days ago she developed more of an upper respiratory symptoms, sneezing and watery eyes, clear fluid only. Yesteday she felt terrible and just curled into a ball, obviously had a fever. I thought she was just going to go downhill from there, as I had heard this can be the course of the disease.... you can lose them in hours or days if they get the "wet" form of the disease.

But after about an 8 hour nap yesterday, she woke up and felt better. Today she is running around like a regular kitten, going nuts, very little sneezing. She has her energy back and her poops are firmer.

So after that long story, I am wondering if anyone on this board has had experience with this disease and can relay their stories. My vet tells me sometimes they can live for a while pretty happily, or they can go downhil in a hurry.

I am especially curious as to any significance of the upper respiratory symptoms, coming and going, and the fever coming and going.

Also, at what point do we know she has the mutated coronoa virus? Could she still be fighting it off and recover? As you cna imagine, I've been pretty frantic about the whole thing. She's only been home about 6 weeks and she came with another cat. Both of them were in various states of being feral,but they have both tamed almost completely now, with lots of lap time and hand feeding. They are wonderful friends with each other and with us now and I can't imagine losing either or both... god forbid the other one gets it too.

please advise.
Thank you

I would seek a second opinion. FIP is a diagnosis made too often without cause--when a vet can't figure out what else it might be, they call it FIP. Do you have a copy of the test results? The ones I'm curious about are the Albumin and Globulin levels. Those can sometimes be an indicator of FIP, but nothing is definite with this disease. There is no accurate test while the cat is alive unless the cat gets the wet form and the fluid can be tested (but only by sending it to one of a few special labs that run the PCR test). A lot of other diseases look like FIP, so it's crucial to rule out all of those possibilities before diagnosing a cat with the disease. She could have had a parasitic infection causing the stool issues (some, like giardia and coccidia, can be a pain to get rid of) and the cold could be due to one of the upper respiratory viruses that she's trying to fight off.

I'd be curious to know what the albumin and globulin levels were, but I'd still seek a second opinion.

I have been reading absolutely everything I can find on the web about FIP, hoping I can find an alternative!

I have some of the blood results here but I don't know enough to interpret. Maybe you do. Its all in abbreviations.

WBC normal 5.5 to 19.5.... hers was 44.12 (I think these all get multiplied by 1000

LYM normal is 1.5 to 7.... hers was 11.72

Monocytes normal is 0 to 1.5.... hers was 3.9

GRA (what the heck is that?) normal is 2.5 to 14... hers was 28.5

McHc (some sort of liver thing?) normal is 30 to 36.... hers was 38.9

MPV normal is 12 to 17.... hers was 9.3

albumin normal is 2.2 to 4.4.... hers was 2.1

apparrently all her other blood work was perfectly normal

Her FIP test came back "positive" in the range of "1 to 400". I don't know it hat is a high or medium reading. I've read some literature that says its not high until its above 1200. But the test is senseless as far as I can tell because it only proves she has anitibodies to the corona virus that most cats in shelters are exposed to anyway. IT does not prove she has the MUTATED and lethal form.

Still, its the high WBC count, fever in the presence of ongoing antibiotics, and the other blood work, that has the vet thinking FIP. And yes, her fecal came back negative, although there are lots of false negatives I realize.

Thanks so much for your help. If you can interpret any of that bloodwork, that would be a step for me.

I would also get a second opion. Last year my 6 month old kitten had to be put to sleep because he developed wet FIP. I don't know what the dry FIP is like but my cat was very sick. He had fluid around his lungs and in his abdomen. He could hardly breath and did not eat. It was such and awful experience. I hope your kitten will be o.k.. I still think that having him nuetered two weeks before was so stressfull for him that it finally brought the FIP fully on. I just wish that there were more information about FIP, as well as a cure. I would think that your kitten playing is a great sign.

Yesterday my girl looked so miserable I was worried she was getting the "wet" form, but turns out she did not do so for now.

How long did it take for your little guy's belly to fill up with fluid?
Did he stop eating first. I heard this form can come on real quick.

So far our little one is still eating well.

One problem is we are going away for 10 days and leaving all the animals with a house sitter (who loves cats) but it would be terrible if the kitten went into crisis during that time period.

And yes, she does need to be spayed, which worries me. We won't do that until we know more about what is going on wiith this illness.

I was told Yoshi had the dry for of Fip last May. We do not know if he had it for sure or not. They found Kidney Stones after that and I lost him in Jan. I asked how he could have that because he has never been out and the other Cats are fine. Get a 2nd Opinion. I talked to Glotch about Yoshi. She knows alot. The test for Fip came out Pos on Yoshi.

In 1992 my 12 year old cat died of dry form of FIP. He went from being a healthy guy to dying in a very short time. When I first noticed it he looked like his eyes were getting clouded, and he was losing weight fast. He was taken to 2 different vets for diagnoses, so I could get a second opinion and in fact he did have FIP. The dry form affects them differently than the wet form. In my cats case he went blind and was getting very emancipated. He lived for 2 or 3 months after diagnoses, and It was an awful awful disease. I had an awful time dealing with euthenasia at the time, because he was my first cat I had in my adulthood, and I never had to face a decision like that in my life. When the day came when Red gave up I took him to the doctor and held him while he was put to rest. I still miss him and think of him.

I hope and pray that your kitty does not have FIP

I have heard that FIP is a hard disease to diagnose as the cat can be exposed to the virus and will not actually get the full blown case of FIP.

When Yoshi was pts he was down to 5.2 Pounds from 7.5 two weeks before. He looked older then Coco who is almost 16. Yoshi was just 5. His eyes didnt look right last May when we found out he was Sick. He had been 14 Pounds then was 8.5 when he went to the Vet last May.

The only way to 100% diagnose FIP is with a necropsy. Some cats will eventually produce the proper immune response and clear the infection, so the titer, while positive for viral infection, does not mean the virus will kill her. I would continue to do everything you can to support her immune system, avoid unnecessary vaccinations, and just keep your fingers crossed.

My Willow had the dry form. From the time I first took her to the vet (because she wasn't eating enough and I could just tell something was wrong) to her final day was 5 weeks. During that time she stopped eating completely and eventually we inserted a feeding tube. By the end she could barely move and had trouble breathing. Her test results showed high globulin levels, low albumin levels and anemia. We did an ultrasound that showed plaques or spots on her liver and spleen, and we tested samples from these areas that showed results consistent with FIP. FIP could not be confirmed until after she passed, when we did the triple PCR test that Auburn University offers.

Most of the values you listed relate to the complete blood count (CBC). Lymphocytes, Monocytes, and Granulocytes (the GRA one) are all types of white blood cells). Granulocyte is a general term that includes Eosinophils, Basophils and Neutrophils. Basically, she has a high number of white blood cells, which indicates either an infection or inflammation somewhere in her body.

MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration) and MPV (Mean Platelet Volume) refer to the amount of red blood cells and platelets she has. It looks like her hemogloblin levels are a bit high, and her platelets are a bit low. Some of this could be residual from her bowel issues. Her albumin level is a touch low. In many cats with FIP, their albumin/globulin ratio is under 0.4, usually because their globulin levels are high. If her globulin level is normal, that's a good sign that it may not be FIP.

Here are some articles about blood and chemistry values and their meanings:

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=987
http://www.petplace.com/cats/underst...s-2/page2.aspx
http://www.petplace.com/cats/underst...s-2/page1.aspx

My Zek had a high white blood cell count a few months ago. It was discovered when I adopted him and had bloodwork done at my boyfriend's insistence (he was concerned since sick cats tend to flock to me). Zek's WBC a bit on the high side when I brought him home but we figured it was just a cold. A month later it was double the high normal level at 40.7. Throughout his "illness" he acted completely normal--eating and drinking normally, running around like crazy, getting into everything, etc. We finally gave him some antibiotics in case there was an underlying infection, and apparently that helped. He was on Clavamox twice per day for 2 weeks. We tested him again, and everything was normal. It has stayed normal for several months now. A few weeks ago, he developed an allergy to something and ended up with some bumps on his leg, but I don't know if that is related to his high WBC. Regardless, he acts like a completely normal young cat with way more energy than any sick cat would ever have.

If your vet is pushing the diagnosis as FIP without more evidence, such as an ultrasound, I would seek a second opinion. The diagnosis of FIP is only made after the cat has passed and samples are sent for special testing or after all other possibilities have been eliminated.

i lost janet last october to the wet form of FIP. within 3 weeks he lost virtually all the fat from his body and went completely blind. he could not find his litter box, had no appetite at all and on the final day he seemed to be having some kind of seizure which is when i made the decision to have him pts. my vet had tested him for everything and all that came back was that he had a raised white count.

from the bottom of my heart i pray that your kitten does not have FIP.

Sue, FIP mimics many other diseases. If I were you, I would tell your vet that you want your kitty off of clavamox and you want zithromax and also Albon. I would start your kitty on those medications immediately. You should see improvement within a few days- if you don't you might be looking at FIP. There is no clear way to diagnose FIP at this time. Not even a necropsy will determine FIP one hundred percent of the time.


Good luck- I have more problems with diseases in shelter kitties than I do in strays and ferals off the street. Crowded conditions, living on top of each other in small cages, forced to eat, sleep and poop in a small area, people coming and going, stress can cause all sorts of health issues. Shelter living for cats is pure stress 24/7- even when they are not living in cages but sharing large rooms with other cats-

Here WBC is down to 28k, albumen and globulins are within normal levels. This much change after just one week of treatment. we've added lysine to her regimen to help immune system. she's still on clavomox and metranadizole as wella s forti flora. I am less pessimistic. the doc says she's a "Corona virus kitty, but not yet an FIP kitty" so she still is fightiing. we'll do all we can to support her. She ahs alos gained 8 ounces in a week, up to 5 pounds 8 ounces from just a week ago, so still grwoing. Her poops are not totally normal, but improving. she's still sneezing some, but less so. she is a fighter, and I am hopeful but not ttoally relieved yet. she is stilll in hte battle for her life. the vet says she is a sweet kitten, and I could not agree more. she sleeps with us at night. she purrs and is just so affectionate and wonderful. we are hopeful she at least has some time with us. after saturday's fever, thought we were losing her fast, but I was over-reacting. Looks like she has some time anyway.
thanks for all your help and please keep up the wonderful advice and moral supoort. you all are a terriic help. bless you!

Prayers for her to get better

sue, i have a corona virus kitty here as well. Be sure the Lysine doesn't have propylene glycol in it. If it does, toss it immediately and go to a health food store for the type without it.

You are welcome to PM me if you would like. I have been dealing with it now for over 6 months.

the lysine came directly from the vet's office and is specifically for cats, so I assume it is good stuff (?).

So you say you have been dealing with this for 6 months! Is your kitty healthy still, or does he/she show any symptoms? Do you do regular blood checks? I'm just wondering if this is something we just keep treating forever until either they get sick, or can they kick the virus and turn into a normal cat?

So far my vet is calling her a "corona kitty" not yet and "FIP" case. That gives me hope. She is running about fine today.

Its one day at a time.
Also she gained 12 more ounces in the last week. Growing like a weed. Soon will come into heat! Have to figure out when to spay her, but I'm on vacation soon, so will be leaving all this complicated med schedule for our cat sitter.

Sue, I am never one to suggest NOT spaying, but make sure she is in the best of health first. My first Smudge came down with FIP immediately after neutering. He wasn't sick before, but the stress of the operation made him sick. We lost him less than 3 weeks after neutering.

Yes, we want to spay her for sure, but want to do it when she is strong enough. If her blood work shows continued improvement, then maybe it will be time. Meanwhile if she goes into heat, we will just have to deal with it. We can keep her locked up away from male cats. We live miles from anyone, but I'm sure their will be a few tom cats who could find her even miles away, I hear. She is not allowed outside anyway.

I just wnat to know if htere is a chance she can fight this virus off and be a regular kitty. Right this very minute she is looking terrific, but she has been that way before and then later gotten down looking, so I'm not trying to raise my hopes too much.

I lost my babies to suspected FIP a few months ago. I definitely would've done things a little differently had I known what I was in for...

Many kitties have fought against this and won.

There is hope!

As long as she's still eating and gaining weight, things are looking very good for you. My Chloe did very well on the prednisolone for awhile...

Determining FIP is not easy as I've discovered. This day and age determining if it is  FIP is more accurate unfortunately after the cat has passed . Biopsies are performed by evaluating fluids in the chest and abdomin for the "wet"type and clinical symptoms mostly are used  for the DRY type (chronic fever,lethargy, loss of appetite, depression, and eventually possible paralysis in the dry type In some cases one or both eys can turn color. .. I'm currently going through it now with a 13 month old "Jackson" who is going down hill rapidly with the drytype . He first tested positive for the feline coronavirus. This did not necessarily mean that he had FIP. only that he was exposed . . On secondary testing there were indications of high globulin levels & high protein  levels. All things combined can  give your vet enough information to give a clinical evaluation of FIP.   If your vet has used antibiotics for the cat's fever(providig he/she has one ) with little or no results and your cat shows signs of the above combined with lab results of high globulin/protein anemia, elevated white count , there is a good chance of fip. I'm no expert however i've done the research over the last few weeks trying to see if there is something i can do to save my little fella's life.  FIP ALWAYS  wins out.   

regards  Steve