FIP and/or pneumonia???

Really I don't know. The vet told us it was FIP for Sissy. The one last night had the exact symptoms and progression. There are three now following and possibly another. If there ever was a chance it was distemper or calicivirus would it cause the belly and chest fluid?? And if it does, could they be treated?? What makes it worse is that it is New Years, no vets will be open tomorrow. And I don't know where we will stand by Friday. Is there anything that can be done for these cats if it wasn't FIP?? If it is distemper can it be treated? I am only going by the vet and the symptoms, but if it is not a correct diagnosis and there is something to be done, by all means, I would do it. In the meantime, until Friday, is there anything I can do to help these cats until I can get someone blood tested? Looking at some symptoms for distemper, I would consider it a possibility, because there was a diareah issue pending prior to this with a few cats. I would never want to know the vet told us one thing, and that we could be more effective treating them differently for another...Thanks for the info zoeysmom, I appreciate it, and want to know anything that could be an option to help. If it is a matter of testing one to find out if it is possible to prevent and save more deaths, than I will find a way!! We just feel so hopeless, figuring we are in FIP hell, and that all you can do is sit back and watch them go. That is the worst thing for anyone who rescues! You always want to help anyway possible and not have the cat be sick in anyway...

I really wish I could be more help in the coming days, but it is really difficult to know what to do when we don't know what is wrong with them.

There are other things that could cause the fluid. Whether it is likely to be calicivirus or distemper, I do not know. While I was trying to find some information about your situation, I found a number of things that COULD cause fluid buildup, but nothing definite.

I believe Calicivirus can be treated, as can bacterial pertonitis (I am still unsure of what causes this...as I said in an earlier post, I could not find much information about it. But, I do recall coming up with various bacteria/parasites.). Distemper is more difficult to treat - that said, I'm not too familiar with distemper, but what I know about it doesn't really match your situation. I could be wrong though. Those are just a couple of options.

Here is a post from the Yahoo! group about some of the differential diagnoses. Warning, it is a little bit overwhelming, but I think you can eliminate all possibilities that are not infectious/contagious, and that are slower progressing.

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http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/in...m/bc/56900.htm

FIP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any condition that causes peritoneal or thoracic fluid accumulation and in any chronic wasting disease of cats. Effusive FIP with peritoneal involvement should be differentiated from ascites due to congestive heart failure or hypoproteinemia (renal and liver disease, glomerulonephritis, malabsorption, parasitism), neoplasia, bacterial peritonitis, pansteatitis, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, pregnancy, and trauma. Differential diagnoses of effusive FIP with pleural effusion include cardiac insufficiency, neoplasia (lymphoma), pyothorax, chylothorax, cryptococcosis, lung lobe torsion, diaphragmatic hernia, and trauma (hemothorax). Differential diagnosis of noneffusive FIP includes neoplasia and other systemic infectious diseases such as toxoplasmosis, nocardiosis, actinomycosis, tuberculosis, and deep mycotic disease (cryptococcosis, coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis).

Please be aware that this list may be longer, I would for example add IBD, Feline Panleukopenia, mycoplasma infections, chronic URI, stomatitis, tick borne diseases, FIV, FelV. Much depends also on how knowledgeable your vet is on FIP and other feline diseases.
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The one thing that I would be interested in seeing from your tested kitty would be if his/her liver is functioning properly. During my research, that organ came up often and does seem to be a POSSIBLE culprit for fluid accumulation.

Unfortunately, short of an emergency vet, I'm not sure what you can do to help your kitties until you can get one of them in for blood work. Keep them comfortable and try to get some fluids and food into them (you may have to force feed/syringe water them).

I really hope everyone makes it through to Friday and maybe then you will have some more answers.

First, words cannot express how sorry I am for you in your loss of these cats.

Second, and I know this is probably a stupid question, but could anything be transferred from your clothing - to the kitties who never had contact with each other but apparently came down with the same illness?

Third, God bless people like you who do this work in rescue for animals.

Yet another possibility: Suppurative cholangiohepatitis

Usually caused by an infectious agent, such as e.coli bacteria. (So, it's not really contagious, it would go back to a common environmental factor).

You can find more info about it here: http://www.petplace.com/cats/cholang...tis/page1.aspx

Originally Posted by threecatowner

Second, and I know this is probably a stupid question, but could anything be transferred from your clothing - to the kitties who never had contact with each other but apparently came down with the same illness?

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Not a stupid question at all. It is possible, especially with some of the hardier viruses.

I am now devastated! I feel so sick inside myself watching this. Ten are affected. Two gone. One going. Three sneezing. And four mid way to very sick. I don't know what to do! I am losing all my babies!!

The bloated stomachs don't seem to fit with distemper.....are any of these kitties UTD on their distemper shots?

Fingers crossed that some can pull through till tomorrow - in the UK, we have emergency vets on call 24/7 that you can at least speak to, do you have something similar there? Might be worth ringing all the vets in the area and listening to answerphones just in case, even if you just speak to someone.

The five last night are still around right now. We decided very late to try to give each the amoxi drops (what was intended for the little boy two days ago). So we did that, and now we will get some sub q's fluids and begin again for today. Try to work on boosting them up, and saying lots of prayers!! One little one is still in bad shape, but we are going to try everything possible. Last night we felt like we had no choice but to give up completely and watch their fate, but we will try to do everything for today. Also, will give the healthy ones a b vitamin boost and some can food to help them try to stay okay. Need a miracle here to try to help them!! Thanks everyone for the support and advice. This is my outlet to try and cope with this devastation!

I'm so sorry that this situation has gotten to this point! You must be devastated. I am sad reading this news, I can't imagine what it is like to be the one giving it. Keep your head up. You are doing your best with these cats. Like Booktigger, I am crossing my fingers that some pull through to tomorrow or that you can find an emergency vet.

I've googled shelter/cattery outbreak and various combinations: I've come up with calicivirus and distemper most, with some mentions of FIP (haven't read about such a quick developing outbreak like yours...but, heck, who knows...I'll believe anything at this point!), salmonella, and bartonella. While none of these necessarily match the symptoms of your cats specifically, it has to be something!

I know this is hard, but please remember that you are helping these cats by giving them warmth and care in your home. Take comfort in that you have been able to do this for that cats, even the ones that don't make it through this.

Well, we are trying! We gave some sub q's to the ones who really needed it. Gave amoxi to the six that are showing signs. Syringe fed any who were not eating. Gave some pedialyte. And gave most of the healthier cats some wet can and B-50 complex. Everyone is now relaxing mostly. Two of the six treated are playing, so that is a good sign. One, Mickey, he looked better before and then after he ate, looked like last night. I am wondering if the food makes the virus hurt more in the intestines. He looked like himself again, but then went back. The three Sadie babies are all not too good. Two did eat on their own today, and the little one is very sick, but now all three don't look great. I literally have spent the last 5 hours with them for that round of sub q's and antibiotics and special feeding, but if it is any bit successful it well worth it. If they feel better, so will I! Continue prayers everyone!! Thanks alot!

I am sorry to hear all the sad news. I hope you don't lose anymore kitties.

Ask your vet to test for distemper. They can do the snap test in their office and you will know in 10 minutes if it is distemper or not. Your best bet is to start eliminating what it might be, instead of setting your mind that it is FIP.

I just feel so helpless. I'm so glad what you are doing seems to be doing some good. keeping them warm and hydrated seems to be helping. Hugs and vibes.

Any news on your babies?

4:33 am here. Every day has been so long dealing with this. The stress and anxiety is terrible. And the whole thing is devastating! We just lost another one, Smudgee Sadie baby. One Wednesday, she showed signs of having fluid in her. Yesterday she even ate some cat can and drank water. We gave her sub q's yesterday and today also, and amoxi drops. But by this evening, same symptoms as Sissy. And we just lost her about 2 1/2 hours ago. We now have the two other Sadie babies that she was with that are also being treated, and a fourth Sadie baby, who was seperate from them, now just started showing signs of sickness today. (They are about 17 months old.) One in another area showed signs of the yellow diarreah that goes with this. So I am watching him, he's only about 25 weeks. So now we are still treating sick, and watching the others. But seriously, we do not know how to cope with this. It is absolutely beyond us. One sick cat is always enough, but losing 3 from this in 8 days and 5 total within 25 days, it's bad...We are spending hours and hours trying to fight this disease/virus. And trying to take care of the healthy ones, to make sure they keep up their resistance, is just as important. Have no idea where this came from. All along everyone has done well aside from minor issues. Then this happened, and ruined everything!!We are trying to keep everyone as contained as possible in their crates, to avoid catching this. So everyone is sitting around and they know something is wrong. Now we are pretty sure it is FIP due to the same symptoms and fluid, but I would want to be sure it is not distemper. If FIP is so rare and not contagious, how did we end up with it? I still don't understand because when looking up info about it it says that less than 5% get it, and that even less than that will effect multiple cats in a household...It makes no sense, but definetly has destroyed us!!

Originally Posted by nowonder

If FIP is so rare and not contagious, how did we end up with it?

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And hence my doubt.

Have you taken anyone to the vet yet?

If you have not already....please do. Take a sample of the yellow stool as well.

Just a reach here........the cat food?? Is everyone getting the same thing?? I am at a loss right now too. Some how I am thinking this is air born. Unless before everyone presented signs, you transmitted this by touch And it has moved really fast. Blessing and love to you all. I don't know how you are coping. My next question, is anyone other then you a larger care center, foster home, and are they having problems? If this gets loose in your area it could roll like fire through out and really take a toll on the area.

Originally Posted by wingss2fly

Just a reach here........the cat food?? Is everyone getting the same thing??

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That has crossed my mind as well.

It reminds me of a bad case of botcholisum (sorry about the sp)
Something the cats have taken in, via foods or air, something all cats have come into contact with has a germ or virus. It has been transmitted to them from one source.
You need to have blood and feces samples done. This is like when a large cruse ship gets sick, and they have to quarantine them.