FIP Shows up 4 to 5 years later, worried about other cats in household

Back in 2008/2009 I had a kitten and an adult Havana Brown die of FIP. Both came from the same breeder. Two existing cats, one Burmese, the other a black short hair alley cat, were exposed to the two that died. My beautiful black cat lived her life out to the ripe old age of 16+ - she died this past December. The Burmese, who has always been scared and easily stressed, was lost w/out her dear companion. In 2010/2011 I introduced a stray cat and also a Havana mix shelter cat and both have been relatively healthy. The stray cat has had off and on issues w/allergies but nothing that hasn't been manageable. Now, today my Burmese tested FIP positive. She had developed cold/flu like symptoms in recent days so the vet wanted to test her. I have just introduced a kitten (around 3 to 6 months old) to the house at the end of December.

I'm so worried now that all the cats - in particular the new kitten - will contract FIP. The vet wants to start the FIP vaccines - first w/the new kitten - and then the other two cats.

I'm so worried and any advice on what I can do to help me cope with this would be so appreciated. Please help point me in the right direction. It hurts so much.

I am so very sorry to hear of your Burnese' diagnosis. I do think that FIP can come out of dormancy under times of stress or a medical condition that has lowered the immune system. A cat without clinical signs may still be an FECV (a mutation of FIP) carrier and may pass the virus to another cat. In any cat infected with FECV there is a chance that the virus may mutate into the FIP causing form. It is such a cruel disease and I am sure this is terribly difficult on you. I can't advise you one way or another about giving the new kitten FIP vaccines. I do hope that someone who has better knowledge comes along with some thoughts. Here are some articles on FIP and I am sending mega vibes for your Burmese and the new kittens.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/fip-in-cats
http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_ct_feline_infectious_peritonitis

Thank you so much for the kind words and reply. I feel so helpless and so sad. There's so much different information out there on FIP and so many unknowns. One vet says the positive test isn't always a sign that it's FIP and that transfer from cat to cat is from feces and some say from saliva - I'm trying to be cautious with the other cats and hoping for the best.

Hi aerobobcat!

I can empathize with your helplessness and sadness - in fact, just reading those words brought me right back to a truly horrible period of time almost ten years ago which I'll never forget. Those feelings turned to anger, then to a determination to learn as much as I could, so as to never again be in that position. Different disease. Incompetent Vet.

Perhaps some focus on investigation might help you. In any case, here you are.

I have not delved into FIP. I have, however, been keeping an eye out for developments from research. I've also bookmarked a few recent things - Ill give the links.

First off, though, from my experience and journey into all things cat-health, I'll tell you where I would go to get the very latest info and advice. The big picture is that, for almost every chronic feline condition/disease, there are specialized online groups. Most of these groups were started by people with cats affected by that condition, people who were passionate about securing and providing the very best/recent treatments/care for their cats. Most of these groups have been running for many years and have accumulated a vast amount of information and experience - and are always in the know about the most recent and leading edge treatments/therapies and theories.

So, specifically, there are two of these specialized groups focusing on FIP (that I have bookmarked):

1. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FIPCatSupport/

2. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FIP/

#2 is the older of the two (1999)....for some reason, probably better known to its members - or, to the members of the newer group!) its activity level has dropped off significantly, and is now a very "quiet" group

#1 does have significant history (11 years) and is extremely busy

I find that the easiest, less complicated way to participate in these groups is to get a separate email addy for each - Yahoo's best - the groups' format is different from these forums, email messages being the medium. It takes a little getting used to, but the payoff can be priceless.

I always tell people: take it for a "test-drive" - join up and simply read the back-and-forth messages, then you can decide whether/not you want to post and participate. Anyways, that's where I'd be posing my questions, were I in your shoes.

Now, other recent links I can give you:

http://www.dr-addie.com/WhatIsFIP.htm  This DVM used to be "the oracle" - I have no idea how up-to-date any of that may be

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/fip.html (I don't know this person's credentials, but I'm fascinated. If I were going to "get into" FIP, I'd want to pursue that line further - it's dated 2011)

http://www.catchannel.com/catalyst/new-cat-fip-treatment.aspx (this, from Oct 2012, announces a new drug therapy - I'm sure the groups will know more on that)

In 2011, The Winn Feline Foundation sponsored a symposium on FIP, bringing together leading experts (Winn has been sponsoring large numbers of research projects and trials on FIP). The key presentations are available in audio format online in two parts and a third Questions and Answer session::

1) http://petworldradio.net/winn-symposium-part-1-dr-alfred-legendre

2) http://petworldradio.net/winn-symposium-part-2-dr-niels-pederson

3) http://petworldradio.net/winn-symposium-part-3-q-a    Questions and Answers

If you ever want to assess the "freshness" of a site, this will tell you how to check for updates: http://www.digitalquest.org/2008/07/how-to-check-web-pages-last-update.html

Hope some of this helps.

This is not good. I'd like to know what test was given that showed an FIP positive result? I was under the impression there is not conclusive test available for FIP. Either that or I've missed something along the line. Yes, FIP can be in dormant form and resurface from what I've heard. You've gotten some excellent links to read for other posters. Wishing you all the very best

I am so sorry. FIP is a terrible and cruel disease. I lost three cats to it some years ago, all within three months. One was a stray adult I took in with an injured paw, one was a kitten who turned up here, and one was a foster kitten from a litter that I was looking after for the shelter (she did not become ill till after the litter went back to the shelter for adoption). The adult and first kitten were inseparable during their time here, always together and sharing all facilities.

So I am very wary when people say it cannot be transmitted cat to cat, as some do. But I think probably that it is a combination of factors - the presence of the virus, a genetic predisposition, stress, maybe other things too. No other cats in the household were affected, and my daughter adopted two other kittens from the foster litter and they are fine 4 years later.

My vet tested the adult cat for the virus and the results came back with very high titres; he said way beyond the levels expected in a carrier. Though nothing can be conclusive, his other symptoms confirmed FIP, particularly fluid in the abdomen, vomiting, lethargy and high but fluctuating fever. We did not test the first kitten - his symptoms were very clear and he died before we could even make a decision to pts. The shelter dealt with the third cat and I do not know what they did.

We put my daughter's cats on to Transfer Factor for 6 months to boost their immune systems. It is not expensive and obtainable online. It is made from colostrum, that gives calves their mother's immunity so is harmless. I do not know if it helped but they are OK, though Mina has just had a near-death experience with pancreatitis.

Very good luck with this, my heart goes out to you.