FIP in cats

Hello,

I'm just looking for any information/advice on a cat that has FIP.  My cat Maggie will be turning a year old next week and has been tested and my vet says she has FIP.. I am completely devastated I never thought or researched about this disease and when I did I was heartbroken.  My vet has told me there is no treatment and that the only option is to put her down when her quality of life diminishes.. Right now maggie has a slight fever, low appetite, and lays around most of the day.  I hate seeing her this way and feel like I MUST do more for her rather than just give up and put her down.  I have looked into 4life and they have a transfer factor product for felines, I have ordered that and will start giving her that asap.  Does anyone have any knowledge/ words of encouragement for me.. I will listen and consider any options anyone has for me.. thank you so much..
this is my sweet girl Maggie.. 

I am so sorry for you and your kitty.  Is it possible to get a second opinion?  As far I know, and I could be wrong, there is no test for FIP.  I have no personal experience with FIP, but I did a search for all the threads here on TCS, and here's the results.  Maybe one of these threads can help you.

http://www.thecatsite.com/newsearch?search=FIP

First of all, how does your cat feel? Is she really sick at the moment?
I'll start by saying that I live in Europe (in Italy to be precise), so what I'm going to say might be true for my country, but not in the US (you're generally more technically advanced than us and this is true also for diagnosis techniques and tests); anyway, from what I know FIP is caused by a virus mutation (viruses invade a body and start replicate themselves; at every replication, mutations in their RNA can occur. Some of these genetic modifications are potentially more dangerous than others). A large variety of FCOVs (Feline Coronavirus, the pathogen of FIP) is absolutely innoccuous (it could give your cat occasional diarrhea at worst) and some cats even manage to expel the virus, while most of them keep its proliferation/replication under control. In some subjects, however, a weak immunitary sistem can lead to the onset of FIP, which is always deadly (feline interferon can generally slow the illness, but doesn't cure it), but must not be confused with a positive test for FCOV. Then those symptoms could be referred to other illnesses that can be treated succesfully.
Did your cat get a blood test? (I guess she had it, otherwise you couldn't have seen the positivity to the Coronavirus) One of the parameters that are generally taken into consideration to diagnose FIP is the level of total proteins and most of all of alpha1glycoprotein (both are much higher in cats with FIP than in healthy cats).  Anyway, I'd definitely seek a second advice from another veterinarian before considering euthanasia.

HI thanks for the info, yes my cat got a blood test and i find out tomorrow the results.  The reason I am asking about FIP is because my doctor is very convinced that she has it but that is why we did a blood test just incase.  Maggie has a fever, very lethargic, finicky appetite, and my vet said she has fluid in her abdominal region..  She is also a bit underweight.  From all this my vet suspects she has FIP.. I rescued Maggie from the streets she was a stray and only 5 weeks old when I found her in the road.. She thinks this can be another sign of possible FCOV exposure.. She said it's common in strays and is often passed from the mother to her kittens... Anyway I find out for sure on Monday but I am just trying to prepare myself if she tests positive..  I don't plan to euthanize right away at all I'm really look for all options possible..  Right now I have ordered transfer factor for felines I have read a lot of testimonials on it so it won't hurt to try....

There's still no test that will conclusively tell you that she has FIP while she is still alive.  If the vet states this in that way, I would be looking for another vet.  

The test they are probably looking for is coronavirus.  It is not common to test for this in otherwise healthy cats, but it is known that some number higher than 50% (and maybe much higher, I've heard 70%+) of cats are positive for coronavirus and the vast majority of them do not have or ever get FIP.  So this test does not prove anything at this point.

Diagnosing FIP is a matter of ruling out other possibilities.  Lethargic, bad appetite and fluid in abdomen in a one-year-old cat may well be FIP I suppose.   But you can't know if for certain, only suspect it after confirming that it's not something else that might cause these things.  The fluid buildup is the big one I guess in this case because many things can cause poor appetite and such.  But heart problems are another thing that can result in fluid buildup.  Not that that sounds a whole lot better in a young cat but it may have some hope of treatment.

It may well be, sadly, that your cat has FIP, but do not buy into some vet who says they can tell for certain.  They can't.  It is important to make sure she is not suffering from something else that would respond to treatment for a longer term.  Perhaps you have already done this, but the description so far makes me a bit suspicious of the vet.  I don't want to give you false hope either, but it is important to know the realities because with suspected FIP or positive coronavirus tests a lot of misinformation still exists.

As long as Maggie appears to be enjoying life I would just keep doing what you are doing now, loving each other. None of us know how long we'll have with our precious ones, so just love them all you can now. She may very well not have FIP, so don't give up hope. A second opinion would certainly not be out of the question, I wouldn't much care for a vet to tell me that 'putting her down' is an option, I would want that as an absolute last resort.  I'll pray for you both and wish you many years of happiness, bless you for loving her so much. 

This is true.

I also think that many cats are misdiagnosed simply due to the fact that, while it may share symptoms that are seen in an fip cat, they can still be many other reasons as well.

The coronavirus test will only be able to rule out fip if it comes back negative, meaning no exposure to the coronavirus, meaning fip impossible.

A positive result only means it can not be ruled out.

If the test is pos for corona exposure, the next step would be to draw tummy fluid and examine it.

There is a pretty specific look to it, pale yellow/straw colored, cloudy-ish with a high protein content and a window of specific gravity common for fip cats.

To be perfectly honest, please don't waste your time, heart and money on so-called remedies.

It truly is 100% fatal, period.

If a cat with fip has ever lived and recovered, it was never fip to begin with.

Hoping for the best!  

I completely agree with 2bcat; a 100% certain diagnosis of FIP can be obtained only post mortem (after the cat's death) in most cases. Sadly the symptoms you reported are consistent with a FIP diagnosis, but there are other possibilities too to consider before coming to the conclusion that it must be FIP. From what you say it seems that your cat might have a wet form of FIP as she has liquid in her abdomen. This circumstance, while it darkens the prognosis- cats with wet FIP generally die sooner than those with the dry form- makes the diagnosis  a little easier because you can take a sample of the liquid and analyze it. I was told that the FIP effusion has a very high level of proteins and those proteins have a particular structure, but again a diagnosis of suspected FIP can be obtained only through a panel of exams, not from a single test. So I second what the others have said about seeking a second opinion from another veterinarian.
One more thing: consider that abdominal effusion in FIP cats is very abundant and progresses very rapidly (this is a cat with FIP fluid: http://homepage.usask.ca/~vim458/virology/studpages2007/Amanda/fipbelly.jpg). If after two days, you can't see it with your bare eye, there is a chance it is not FIP. Anyway, go and ask for a second advice.

Thanks everyone, I got 2 different opinions from 2 vets and they over looked her and her symptoms and looked over her blood work and both suggest FIP.  They told me the same thing, not much we can do. They gave me antibiotics to help with fever and I purchased transfer factor to help boost immune system.  I know chances are very slim.  So I am just going to pray and enjoy the rest of my time with her and hope for a miracle.  She still eats well and drinks water so I am thankful for that.

Hi thanks, I know there is no cure but treatment for her fever doesn't hurt.. So I will be doing anything to better her quality of life.. Both vets told me 90%  fatality rate so even though it's slim, not all cats die from it... I know not to get my hopes up though.. Just going to enjoy her as long as i can.. thanks

found her asleep on my bible, she seems to be seeking out a miracle too.  

AshleyLucas said:

 
Thanks everyone, I got 2 different opinions from 2 vets and they over looked her and her symptoms and looked over her blood work and both suggest FIP.  They told me the same thing, not much we can do. They gave me antibiotics to help with fever and I purchased transfer factor to help boost immune system.  I know chances are very slim.  So I am just going to pray and enjoy the rest of my time with her and hope for a miracle.  She still eats well and drinks water so I am thankful for that.

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Did you know that if giving antibiotics makes the fever go down then it is likely not fip?

Just thought I'd throw that in.

Love the pic, sweet punkin kitty.

I am sorry to hear. Maybe you should seek second opinion. My vet told me my cat had fip and she did not. Possibly get ultrasound of stimach. There us a test for the virus b4 fip but not fip.hope this helps

Just a warning but cats with fip should be quarantined from other cats.

I'm sorry to disagree with mgilbert32, but quarantine of fip cats is generally useless: they got ill at least days, if not weeks before signs of the FIP begin to appear. Meanwhile, they have obviously spread the virus in the litterbox (Corona virus is generally eliminated through faeces) and in the  feeding bowls and there is a high probability that all your cats are now positive to the FCOV (feline corona virus) test. This is the bad news; the good one is that only 10% of cats that are tested positive for FCOV will develop fip in their life.
I can tell this from personal experience: two years ago I looked after a lady's three kittens while she was away on vacation; shortly after she came back, one of the kittens started showing the symptoms of FIP and died a couple of weeks later. The other two, who had always shared litter boxes and bowls and had always played with the sick one, are perfectly fine and bursting with health after two years. I had a cat myself that died in 2011 of an illness we could not diagnose (because she passed away before we could start a complete panel of tests), one of the suspects was fip anyway. I didn't isolate her from the other two cats, always let her eat from any bowl (not just from her own) whenever she felt like eating, didn't get the other cats tested after her death and after 4 years they're absolutely healthy.

I agree with @serena77  in that it's useless to isolate once symptoms occur, it's already done, they're all exposed, but fip is not contagious, and the coronavirus is extremely common to be exposed to, nearly all are exposed at some time in their lives.

Thank you for the input, yes I know it's pretty much impossible to quarantine since she's probably had this since she was 5 weeks old.. But 2 of my cats are over the age of 2 and I read an article stating cats over that age rarely develop fip.. And both vets I talked to said they would be fine.. I do have a 6 month old kitten though that I am a little concerned might develop it but I started giving her immune support as well and I will have a blood test for her soon.. I'm watching her closely..

Does anyone have experience personally with the transfer factor I'm giving to my cat? Like I've said I've read a lot of testimonials on it and I know Maggie's odds are slim but im trying absolutely anything.. Any personal experience? This is what it looks like, feline complete goes into her food and is for overall well being and transfer factor PLUS is for her immune.. They both are actually, but the PLUS is more towards helping her fight this..

@ashleylucas hello, I am sorry to read about Maggie. Have you had any luck with treatment? Do you know if she has the wet FIP or dry FIP? My cat is exhibiting the same symptoms as yours did, and I am currently in denial. He has lost weight which is different from your case. His weight loss is why I got him examined. I can currently see his spine and hip bones. He is a hairless sphynx and about to turn 1. Any advice you can pass on will be greatly appreciated. I am taking him to a vet specialist this week.

My words of encouragement: be happy for what you can do, what's in your power is all you can do. Consider most cats die alone and with no health care. Consider that all living things die. A victory has already been won in that You Care. Death is inevitable. When it's time, have peace so that your puss can go off without a guilt trip. Let him/her go when he/she is ready. (He'll go anyway, you may as well give him permission.) My priest counseled me before I had my best put down; reminded me that cats' souls are not in danger of being lost like humans'. (So no need for time for a deathbed reconciliation). I'm a religious person, so I think we have to do what we can and have humility to k ow we can't do everything. We can ask for what we lack. Pain and death are inevitable, but they aren't the last word. Again I want to say... The victory over indifference has already been won in your case. I think God might say 'thanks for caring, I've got it from here.' It's natural and healthy to grieve. Give yourself the respect to be allowed to do it well. Put your hurt with a higher power and know that you're never alone in the pain of loss. Such is the price of love. And time will dull the pain, but not the love. Don't be afraid. (I write from having lost, and anticipating future losses... suspecting FIP also.)