FIP potential problem

Hi everyone

I really just needed a place to release my sadness and anxiousness.  Our new little kitten, Ava, who is due to arrive to us on 1 Feb, may now not be a good idea.  The breeder rang to tell me that one of Ava's brothers died and autopsy said it was from FIP.  The other kittens also have a bit of diahorrea (they are testing for cause, but I did read that diahorrea can mean they have the Corona virus).

I'm pretty sure if her brother died from FIP, it is likely that Ava has the Corona virus - it is this harmless virus, which many cats have, that mutates into fatal FIP.

So now we have some decisions to make.  First of all, we don't want this little one to bring harm to our resident 2 yr old cat, Kato.  Also, my husband is newly in remission from leukemia - which is likely to recur - so I don't know yet if that's also a problem.

We have made a very expensive appointment to talk about it with a feline specialist tomorrow.  I hope we make the wise decision - and I am so sad as I think it means goodbye (for us anyway - maybe someone else who wants a single cat may want Ava).  

We have waited so long for Kato's friend!  Through unemployment, then leukemia.  Very sad.  And anxious as I don't quite want to emotionally process anything (pre-emptively) until the decision is made and arrgh!

tammyp said:

  First of all, we don't want this little one to bring harm to our resident 2 yr old cat, Kato.  Also, my husband is newly in remission from leukemia - which is likely to recur - so I don't know yet if that's also a problem.

We have waited so long for Kato's friend! 

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I dont know "on straigh arm" how really infectious FIP is (I have a vague memory the infectious reputation is worse than it is). But let me say so. If you were anywhere in breeding or showing, this little Ava would be a big NO NO.  "Not even a shadow is allowed to fall on Ceasars wife´s reputation".  

I understand your Kato is a good purebred, no?  And Ava too.

For your husband it is essential not to be stressed.  A sleeping leukemia, like some of these cat pestilences, not seldom does burst open firstly during time of high-stress.

So, you want a companion to Kato, and your money reserves are now thin.  Nor you cant wait for a new kitten. 

Two solutions:

Take a adult pure breed, who does need a new home. They go cheap, perhaps 200 dollars or even less, instead of perhaps 1000 for a 12 week kitten.

Take a nice healthy kitten / cat from some well kept shelter / rescue group. Or even a cat from a high kill shelter...  As long as you are sure it is healthy and friendly to other cats...  With a little luck you may even find some decently "look alike".

In the name of Ava if you wish: Ava you couldnt save, but this other you could.

That are my thoughs, in any case.

Good luck!

Hi Tammy :hi: First off, I am so sorry to hear of your situation. Sounds like you've had a rough time of it and my heart goes out to you and your husband. There are a ton of questions and threads about FIP right here on TCS at http://www.thecatsite.com/newsearch/?search=FIP&type=all Feel free to browse the threads you might find appropriate for your situation.

Did the breeder say it was dry or wet FIP? I've had a bit of experience with it via extensive research on the topic. FIP is extremely difficult to diagnose except during an autopsy which you have indicated was already done on a litter mate. From what I've been able to glean from info I've read is that FIP is highly contagious in "cattery' like environments... shelters, rescue groups etc. Any place a lot of cats commune together and have close contact with one another.

Definitely go by the advice the vet gives you. In my case, I did not do that. Don't get me wrong, I love my vet and trust him completely but felt, in my gut, his diagnosis was wrong with my cat Ramsey after I brought him home. My other cat had been vaccinated so I wasn't worried about her and she despised the new kitten and would not go near him anyway... much less share the same litter box with him and she wouldn't even drink out of the same water bowl with him. So in a way, that was a good thing at the time.

After extensive research, 3 visits weekly to the vet for bloods, fluids etc. I decided to follow a woman's path in Florida. I had the vet put him on a kitty dose of Zithromax. I wound up using 2 doses of it (long story) and have never had any issues with Ramsey since.

All that said, I'm very glad you are talking to a vet about this.

Please keep us posted!

Oh I'm so sorry!

My understanding is that FIP itself isn't contagious. Of course, there's no point in adopting the kitty if she does have FIP. :heart2:

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fip.html

My wife and I recently lost our fist kitten to FIP, it is a horrible disease that not only kills our beloved feline friends but leaves emotional scars on these affected cats' humans.  I recommend starting with www.sockFIP.org, and go from there.  My wife and I have read a lot of articles and studies about FIP and interviews with leading vets and researchers in the field.

FIP is, as you already know, a mutation of coronavirus.  What causes the mutation doesn't seem to be unanimously agreed upon by the scientific community, but the factors include genetics, amount of exposure to the coronavirus, age, and stress.  Young cats (<2 years) and old cats are the most vulnerable.  Some experts say once a cat has coronavirus (which many cats do) they will either develop it or they won't and you won't know until it happens.  Others feel cats that are repeatedly exposed to other cats shedding the coronavirus then there is an increase in "viral load" and thus are at a higher risk of the FIP mutation.  Others feel stress (over crowding, moving, new pets) plays a very large role in causing the FIP mutation.

With an established healthy cat to be put at risk, and considering your husband's health, it might not be the best time.  If you do adopt the kitten, I wish you the best and hope it'll be healthy and your companion for many years.

Hi all,

we had our appointment, plus talked to Kato's breeder last night.  Basically the upshot is there is a risk to Kato, but small.  Even if we didn't introduce Ava to Kato, there would still be a risk to Kato as this risk is present for all cats given the corona virus is so prevalent.  Risks are higher for cats under 2 and for older cats.  No risk for Dave.

In the long experience of Kato's breeder, she had a kitten die at 6months from FIP, and the litter mates were fine and still going strong (about 8 years now).  The Feline Specialist also confirmed that other litter mates don't seem to be at too much more risk than any other kitten.  Key factors are stress, genetics (although its not unlocked how as yet - fortunately korat breeders have established excellent genetic diversity so these cats aren't as at risk as others who are more inbred).

I'm pretty exhausted and kind of don't know yet what decision to make.  I would wonder what will happen to the kitten if we don't take her.  We are taking Kato in for his annual vaccinations this afternoon - 1 month early, so that if we do get Ava, Kato won't have the added stress of vaccination to compromise any of his immune function at a time when he will need it.

If we don't take this kitten, we will hope for another female.  Most likely from the same breeder as Ava in any case! (The new litters will be strictly segregated).  We have extensively explored cat breeds and of course shelter rescue - but after 6 months of research, conversations etc, we decided that the best friend for Kato would be another Korat as 'no one keeps up with a Korat except another Korat' and 'Korats know their own'.  Kato is so full of energy there is no question we need a match.  Also, because Korats - and Kato for sure - are so territorial, we want a female for best success.

The point about emotional burden is pertinent.  Dave is very very strong in mind, so I don't think it will affect him too badly re leukemia if the worst happens.  Kato is another story.  He is very very sensitive - before Dave was diagnosed, Kato left off his energetic life and sat curled up inside Dave's jumper for 2 days.  He also peed on the bed. 3 days later we had the diagnosis.  And as for me, yes, my health is affected by stress.  My heart will be rent. But on the other hand, any and all cats will die - we don't know when - and ultimately I know I provide an amazingly stimulating, loving, health-food-full, clean life for my cat(s).

As you can see - I haven't made up my mind yet!!

It's a heartrending 'no'.  But despite tears, I do feel a bit more peace.  When I was contemplating and attempting 'yes', I kept getting anxious with 'what if' thoughts.  Onward to the future (we've donated some money to help Ava find a better fit than us).