HELP! Don't know what to do. :(

Last year, I adopted 2 kittens from a No Kill Animal Shelter. I had lost my 18 yr old cat and this helped ease my depression. A month ago, one of them had to be put to sleep because she had wet FIP. Needless to say, this was one of the worst days of my life! She was only 1 1/2 years old. My other cat seems perfectly fine. He has no signs of FIP. The only problem he seems to have is fleas, which he's being treated for. Both cats when they were little would groom each other ALL the time. The one that eventually had FIP was like a mother hen to him. He has been going thru mourning and is very clingy to me right now. I am wanting to get another companion for him but I am SCARED to death that he will contract FIP or that the new kitty will get it or already have it. It breaks my heart to see how lonely he gets. He eats me up when I come home from work because he's been in the house alone all day.

I took him to the vet today in the hopes that I would get an answer but all I got was more confused. She said that it was more likely than not that he had the disease and she suggested running different tests on him. I'm not so sure that I want to put him thru that. He was shaking like a leaf today. Also, what should I do about getting a new kitty?

Thank you.

I don't really have any words of advice for you, but you might want to call the shelter you got the kitties from and talk with someone there about what to do. I know others will come along shortly to help you out here, too. In the meantime, you might try getting him a small stuffed animal to be his "friend" and see if that helps him with his loneliness.

I had a kitten die from FIP and it's a genetic mutation of the corona virus which the majority of cats have already. Cats don't catch "FIP".

When my kitten died I waited about a month before getting another cat just because I didn't want to stress my other cat so soon.

But it's super likely that if you adopt a new cat it's carrying the corona virus so what's the point of waiting really or having your existing cat "tested"? They could try to see if you cat has the corona virus but what would that tell you-- just because he has it doesn't mean it would ever become FIP.

If they say he doesn't have it, chances are the new cat will.

Oh and I wanted to add- when my kitten died, I emailed the SPCA and told them he had FIP- just because I was scared they'd call to check up on him or something. They were very sympathetic and told me I could stop by anytime to pick out a new one for free.

I hope that helps I know how hard and confusing it all is

Thanks SweetKara. I figured that my cat must have the virus as much as he was around Penny and they were licking on each other. I'm just terrified that he's going to get FIP and I don't know how to avoid it since there is no treatment for it. I know that tests are being done because I joined a group called SOCK FIP awhile back. It's initials mean Save Our Cats and Kittens. They are doing research on this horrible disease.

One thing I can't understand is why do they say that cats have 9 lives when there are more DEADLY diseases for them than there are for dogs. The only thing I can think of is that dogs don't live as long as a HEALTHY cat will. I had a cat that lived to be 18 and my aunt had one live to be 19.

Stephanie,

I did contact the shelter when my Penny got sick and after she was put to sleep. They told me that they just had to put down a Siamese cat for FIP and they offered their condolenses. That was it!

If it makes you feel better I think it's SUPER rare for someone to have 2 incidents of FIP. Back when my kitten died I asked on here and no one had their other cat come down with it later. It's like lightening striking twice in the same spot.

My vets said in all of 2008 they had 2 cats die from FIP and mine was one of those 2.

SweetKara,

That does help. I wish my vet had talked with me about that when I took my other cat to her yesterday. She made me feel like Kirby would probably have it. This is the 2nd time that I have had a cat with FIP though. But the
1st time was 20 + years ago and it was a 5 year old cat. I took her to the vet for constipation and she came out with Leukemia and FIP. She had to be put to sleep a few months later.

I would like to get another cat or kitten as a companion for my tom cat but am a bit nervous about it. Plus I'm not sure which to get because Kirby is VERY spoiled. But I know that he gets lonely when we are not around.

Thanks for your help!
Cherri

Originally Posted by SweetKara

If it makes you feel better I think it's SUPER rare for someone to have 2 incidents of FIP. Back when my kitten died I asked on here and no one had their other cat come down with it later. It's like lightening striking twice in the same spot.

My vets said in all of 2008 they had 2 cats die from FIP and mine was one of those 2.

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