3 Month Old Kitten with persistent fever need help!

Hi everyone. I thought I would try here to get as much help as possible. I have a baby 3 month old tabby Persian kitten who has a doll face and is the cutest thing in the world. He is my first pet (I'm 24 years old and capable of the responsibility). Anyway, he had a case of Giardia when I got him at 6 weeks and we have been trying to treat it with different antibiotics which weren't responsive.

I went to a new vet and she prescribed 100 mg of metronidazole and fenbenol paste (paste for 5 days) to take daily for 10 days. 9 days in, or basically 2-3 after I stopped the paste and was only on the 100 mg pill, he started showing signs of lethargy, fever, wasn't eating or drinking. He wasn't my little rascal anymore.

I took him to another vet and they said his liver is inflamed along with his kidney being damaged due to the high dosage of metronidazole. They put him in emergency care and gave him fluids to balance his electrolytes. He's been in there since Monday and his fever isn't going away. The doctors are stumped and they think it might be FIP now.

They're putting him on steroids as of yesterday to see if that would work. I don't wanna lose my kitty to FIP and I keep reading online that 80% of FIP diagnosis aren't usually accurate. The doctors told me if he's unresponsive to steroids then they might need to put him away. He's so small I just can't bear the thought of that and I am just hoping someone out there can tell me that it's not FIP.

Additional info: his bilirubin levels where a little higher than normal but that could be from the liver inflammation caused by the metronidazole
They opened him up yesterday (surgically) to check for what they thought was an intercesseption but they discovered fluids in the abdomen instead (which I read could mean multiple other things other than FIP)

Please help me out with your stories
FYI I am neurotic so I keep the house clean always and everything about him and his stuff clean as well

oh my gosh I wish I could say something to make it better but idk anything about that. I have a 3 month old Persian as well and I can't imagine how upset I'd be if she were to become sick. As new kitty mama's we try our best. Really hope he gets better. Sending positive vibes~

Update: I went and checked on him just now and they gave him a small dosage of anti inflammatory steroids last night and he had just finished all his food. He used to nibble at it earlier.
The nurse came to put more food and he started going at it.
I know it could be the steroids effect but I am hoping that the steroids aren't just a way to cover up his FIP.

I would love to hear more of our similar situations because it'll help put my mind at ease. I'm going to see him again in a few hours after work.

aww, I'm so glad to hear that. Eating is a good sign, I would say. How did he get the parasites? From a different cat at the breeder?

I am assuming it's from his mom while he was lactating
They released him home tonight but he's wobbly, can't coordinate and I am almost sure he has gone blind.

I have understood and accepted that it might be FIP in its horrible wet form. But I want to know how long it would take because If he doesnt get better on the steroids then I don't think I'll make him suffer any longer

Do reach out to me with as many pieces of advice as possible. I love my baby kitty but I don't want him to be in further pain.

Where did you get this kitty from?  I would contact them and see if they know if any littermates are experiencing the same problems.

How's he doing?

Hi. He passed away last Friday. It broke my heart but there wasn't much I can do. He got a seizure and went completely blind.
What I want to know is if it's okay to introduce another cat within 2 weeks time.l and what I can do to completely rid of FIP

I'm so so sorry to hear that. You did everything you could and I hope that gives you some peace of mind.

Go to a good breeder! Read through their website and check if they have been tested for these diseases. If it doesn't list it on their website, ask them. People who love their cats and breed them correctly will LOVE when you ask them questions before picking your pet! I'll give you some suggestions as to what to ask the breeder before deciding if it's safe:

– At what age do you place your kittens?

Most of the time, breeders will place kittens between 8 and 12 weeks. I got mine at 9, almost ten weeks, which is okay, but I do notice that she missed a few things that she might've learned from her mum if I'd waited a little longer. The breeder did give me the option to wait another two weeks until she was 12 weeks old, but assured me that it was safe to bring her home when I did. I wish I had waited a little longer though, for her sake. She doesn't really know how to clean herself properly (she really concentrates on her face and paws only) and although I've seen her get better at it, I think this is something she'd done better if she'd observed her mom a little longer. Also the playing and pouncing was the worst when she was around 10-12 weeks old, that's generally when they do this a lot with their littermates. Up to 12 weeks is also where they learn most of their social interaction with other cats and humans, and learn what is acceptable behavior and what is not. I personally wish I hadn't been so selfish and eager, and had waited two weeks for her to fully develop those things.

– What paperwork do you give with your kittens?

With cats like Persians who are purebred this is usually a contract, CFA papers, health certificate, rabies certificate, vaccine records, and other. This is your guarantee (their PROMISE) that you are getting what you signed up for: a healthy cat. If you'd gotten a contract with this cat, that had passed away, you would have gotten a new free kitten. But of course you want to avoid this alltogether.

– What support do you offer new owners? 

Usually they will want you to keep in contact and tell them how things are going. If he's eating, playing, and developing normally. This is a good thing, and means they take responsibility for their kittens.

– Do you take advance deposits?

Usually you will pay half the price in advance to ensure, for both you and them, that your chosen kitten will be yours and not given to anybody else. If you're lucky they will even send you pictures of your kitten while he stays at home and learns everything he needs before he switches homes to meet his new mama (you!)

– Have the parents ever been sick / Have the parents of the kittens been tested for PKD?

– Are there any genetic problems or diseases that I might run into in the future?

A reputable breeder will be honest and tell you that Persians do have a tendency to develop PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) and PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy).

– How long have you been breeding?

– How many litters of kittens do you have every year?

– Are the kittens being dewormed? If so, how often and how should I continue to deworm after getting him?

– Are the kittens getting vaccined before I get him?

– Are the kittens well socialized or are they being raised seperate from the household?

– What are you feeding the kittens, what litter are they using?

Other things:

– Meet the parents of the kittens first, and look around in their home to see if everything looks as it should.

– Don't continue on if the breeder has lots and lots of kittens

– Don't continue on if the breeder breeds more than 2 different breeds of cats

– If the breeder is intimidated by you asking so many questions, don't proceed. A breeder who breeds correctly will gladly tell you allll about her cats and with some you don't even have to ask these questions, because they will go on and on about how great their cats are and how well they are being taken care of.

Don't rush. I'm guilty of this myself but I wish I'd taken things a bit slower and had enjoyed the adopting process. I was very eager to get my kitten home. I'm lucky that I did do research and got enough support from the breeder to ensure my kitten is the happy, healthy kitten she is today.

Again I'm so sorry for you loss. And I'd love to keep in touch and know how your next adoption process will go!