FIP? nightmare

I'd have to do a little hunting, but I'm with you on this one. I mean - when Tuxedo first had his issue with anemia, our really good vet was out of town. A different vet at the practice got his blood work back, and with the low red blood cell AND low white blood cell count, he said "It's probably FIP!" He had us bring in ALL of our cats for corona virus testing, and had them all stay in QUARANTINE for 2 days. Naturally we're completely freaking out.

Our great vet gets back from vacation, and is appalled. He can't believe the other vet not only freaked us out unnecessarily, but even bothered testing the other cats - because exposure to the corona virus is just that - exposure to the corona virus. It is what causes a COLD.

In cats with a compromised immune system, somehow it mutates into FIP - but they don't know why or how. Just that it is uncommon. It is also difficult to spread around.

Well, Tuxie had an autoimmune disease that had nothing to do with FIP.

And if convenia has cleared up the fever, it seems to me she had an upper respiratory infection complicated by a bacterial infection. (Colds are a virus, after all, and antibacterials don't help them get better - but if there is additionally a bacterial infection, they clear that up, leaving the immune system stronger for having to fight just the virus).

I have no idea what in her blood work would make your vet think "FIP." If it was just the fever.... that's just strange.

I'd ask around at work or among friends to see if anyone has a vet they rave about, and I'd be getting a second opinion. You can get a copy of the current tests and blood work to take with you rather than repeating it.

Most infections start with a fever. With FIP the lymph nodes become enlarged, the cat goes off its food, becomes lethargic and then depending on the wet or dry the symptoms will increase.

There is an FIP website that was created a few years ago that is the BEST out there. Unfortunately the owner was murdered last year so I don't know if her website is still online. I will check and see and if so post the link-

http://www.allpetsnews.com/articlepc.php?id=39


This is the most up-to-date thorough article on FIP IMO

Almost all cats have been exposed to the coronavirus that can turn into FIP. Veryvery few will actually get FIP. So don't worry about "exposing" your other cats; chances are they have that coronavirus floating around somewhere in their systems already. Some vets are wacky about the whole thing--I know one person whose vet told her to put down her new kittens because they tested positive for the virus! If all cats that test positive for coronavirus were put down we wouldn't have a lot of cats left. . .

The best thing to do is to keep their immune systems strong with good nutrition and proper vet care. Hopefully the kitten doesn't develop FIP, and recovers quickly from whatever is ailing her!

I am sorry to hear of your problems and I really feel for you - I had a foster kitten die of FIP two years ago (confirmed at autopsy, and then an adult foster cat who had been spending a lot of time with the kitten also died. The kitten's symptoms were recurrent fever that did not respond to antibiotics or anti-inflammatories, lethargy and not eating, and fluid in the lungs and abdomen visible on ultrasound. The adult cat vomited and could not keep food down, was also lethargid and also had fluid in the abdomen. Both died within a few weeks of symptoms starting. They both tested positive int he early stages for coronavirus exposure, and the adult cat's levels went up considerably on a second test.

Naturally I was terrified for my own cats, although they were kept separate. It was more serious for the other fosters which did share space and litter trays etc with the cats who became sick. I put them, with my vet's agreement, on a course of Transfer Factor to boost their immune system, My daughter adopted two of the kittens, kept them on Transfer Factor for a few months and they have been fine. though they tested positive for exposure. TF is made from cow colostrum and just helps general immunity = it does not cure anything but can do no harm.

If your kitten does not have a recurrence of fever, then the chances are things will be fine. But I know how scary it is abd I send you all the good vibes I can muster for things to get better.

Hi something to keep in mind, as others have said....... there is no definitive test for FIP........ it is the coronavirus that shows up and there are several forms of that. It can develop into FIP but it does not in most cats. Just like most people will be exposed to the flu viruses but most of them won't get pnuemonia, a more serious complication. A vet can say from testing that your cat has been exposed to Corona but the diagnosis of FIP is based on that plus sypmtoms. That is one of the reasons FIP vaccine is not given by many vets, there is no good test or shot at this time.

My daughter's cat was diagnosed by a Vet and he told my daughter the cat would be dead within a year, she was devastated of course. Pebbles lived another 6 yrs and died at age 16. I had a cat that the Vet told me as a kitten she had FIP, Tigger lived to be 17 and died of congestive heart failure.

Good luck, I hope whatever is going on you get it under control and all will be ok.

I just wanted to see how kitty's doing?

Kitty is actually doing just fine (knock on wood). She's recovered completely from the illness she has and her energy is back 110%. She's racing back and forth in the house, attacking everything that moves. She's a blast!
I don't think she has FIP. Of course it's not impossible but I don't thing there is any more reason to believe that she has in than any other cat that has ever been sick. She did test positive for the corona virus but after reading up on it I've found out that over 80% of cats that have lived with other cats have been exposed to the corona virus. It doesn't mean that a cat has FIP at all like my vet made it sound. Since I've educated myself I've realized that this vet has no clue what she's talking about so I'm taking anything she says about this with grain of salt.

I've let the kitten out of isolation and I'm planning to have her spayed and put up for adoption soon. What frustrates me about my vet leading me to believe that she had FIP, other than the fact that it terrified me, is that I had a potential family lined up for her. When I found out that she may be seriously ill I emailed them and told them to look for another kitten.
Oh well, she's a great kitten and we'll find her another home. Anyone looking to adopt ?

I AM sorry about her potential adoption - but on how great she's doing!

And yup - the common cold is a coronavirus. Sorry your vet scared you too.

I'm happy she's better too except for when I feel little sharp kitty teeth sink into my big toe at night Every time I move my foot in my sleep she feels the need to attack. SHe has no lack of energy, that's for sure

Silly humans - moving under the covers and hoping not to be attacked!

I think it's pretty common to confuse FIP and FIV. Even some vet professionals don't really know the difference. But, as mentioned, they are not related.
I'm wondering, has anyone here ever had a cat beat FIP?
ETA: My kitten just had a titre test (sp) that showed exposure. We don't yet know if she has it or not. The vet seemed to think it's likely though.

My Dexter-kitty was diagnosed with the wet form of FIP in May of 2005 and given only a short time to live - the vet prescribed some steroids, antibiotics, and a medication I barely remember now but when I researched it I found out it was formulated for canines (and the pills were HUGE).  Long story short - I stayed up night & day for about 3 days researching everything I could find on the 'net and happened across a homeopathic vet in Australia www.holisticanimalmedicines.com   and ordered the FIP nosodes and other formulas recommended by Diana for my Dex.  My husband & I nursed Dex around the clock - I worked during the day so I took the night shift with him, and hubby took care of him during the day.  In addition to the homeopathic remedies I also put colloidal silver in his water,  gave him Brewer's yeast, PB-8 (acidolpholous), took him for acupuncture treatments, and fed him only high quality wet foods because dry food made him vomit for years.  After the first devastating illness that had him on the brink of dying he recovered, would have some setbacks usually associated with URI (spring/fall season changes with chilly drafts etc) he had a good quality of life and was my constant companion.  Occasionally he would vomit foamy fluid and I would know that it was time to start up all the treatments again.  He developed seizures which occurred maybe 3x a year and he always sounded like he had asthma but he would play and love and cuddle and sleep in my arms the rest of his life.  I don't know that we "beat" the FIP - one vet said that because he didn't die in a few weeks that the diagnosis wasn't correct - but every test pointed to that diagnosis in 2005 and years later as well.  He was very high maintenance (and so worth it!) and I took a lot of ribbing in my family for how I fussed and worried over him - my husband used to say that Dex couldn't even fart without me knowing about - but he was the cat I waited my entire life to have and I wasn't going to lose him without a fight.  Dex was born in July 1999 and he passed away 6/18/2012.   My philosophy with my health and my babies' health is to choose the most natural course possible.  Western medicine is great for diagnosis and acute care - I wouldn't turn my nose up at giving my cats prednisone to get things calmed down if they are in acute distress - but since antibiotics and steroids are, in essence, immune suppressors I personally believe they should only be used in the short term when used at all and every effort should be made to get immune (re)builders on board ASAP.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Sharie