FIP. Wondering where it came from and if it could have been prevented?

harrisonsheart

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its been 3 weeks since I lost my beloved Harrison.
I found him when he was only about a week old. His eyes were terrible and near by neighbors informed me that the rest of his litter had already died. I was determined to fix him and find a home. He became attached to me quickly; crying out the second he heard my voice. Needing to sleep next to me at night. And so I named him ..and the rest is history.

He became my side kick. Literally. He never did get his sight, his left eye had to be removed and his right healed to be blind. He would come with me to work, family and friends houses. Random car rides.. the car was his favorite. My 2 y/o cat, Simon, had anxiety issues and was not friendly with anyone but me. Harrison brought out a fatherly side of him and ever since, Simon is now a cuddly mush care taker to all cats he meets. They would groom each other, harrison would wake me with kisses every morning, it was all around too good to be true. He fit into our family like a missing peice.


his surgery for his eye was quite stressful, and to top it off he was also cryptorchid, so neutering had to be a whole seperate surgery.

If he was born with FIP, wouldn't the cells have mutated then- during all the stresses of surgery?

I worry that my care for animals has cursed me. I have taken in fosters since, and I can't seem to shake the guilt.. that my poor Harrison's immune system just wasnt strong enough while I may have had a carrier passing through.of course any animal brought into our home was cuddled and kissed by him.. I wish I had had an ounce of knowledge about this disease. Unfortunately I discovered its existence the hardest way..
 

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his surgery for his eye was quite stressful, and to top it off he was also cryptorchid, so neutering had to be a whole seperate surgery.

If he was born with FIP, wouldn't the cells have mutated then- during all the stresses of surgery?

I worry that my care for animals has cursed me. I have taken in fosters since, and I can't seem to shake the guilt.. that my poor Harrison's immune system just wasnt strong enough while I may have had a carrier passing through.of course any animal brought into our home was cuddled and kissed by him.. I wish I had had an ounce of knowledge about this disease. Unfortunately I discovered its existence the hardest way..
@HarrisonsHeart   ...I am so sorry for the loss of your sweet Harrison. 


He sounds like one amazing cat, who never gave up.

Even with him being blind,...Harrison sounds like he changed Simon's life for the better and spread love wherever he went.

Unfortunately, I think that FIP is still one of those cruel diseases that even the vet community has not quite figured out.

My experience with fip is from the late 1980's(wet form) ...and less was known back then..so I will not be able to offer much help, to you now.

I'm still discouraged that there was a nasal vaccine which they tried out here, in the 90s, but then found it not very effective, according to my vet.

I'm not sure if they have developed any other vaccines, now.

These articles might help:

http://www.2ndchance.info/fip.htm

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_ftp.cfm 

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/CW_FIP.cfm

http://www.lbah.com/word/feline/feline-infectious-peritonitis-fip/     ...this one is a bit graphic.

My limited understanding is that it is caused by the coronavirus mutating, and then shedding itself from the intestines, into feces.  

That is why the suggestion is to clean, wash and disinfect the litterboxes more often. 

But as to your specific question, I'm not really sure what the 'triggers' would be to cause the coronavirus mutating in some cats and not others.

Please do not feel guilty, in thinking that your extra care for foster animals, has in some way led to Harrison's death.

I think there is just no way to know why some cats who carry the coronavirus, even in single cat households, and others who are in multi-cat households, mutate the virus into FIP.

Please go easy on yourself. 


You do such good work with taking in fosters, that I think that there is never a way to know how our cats will respond to the illnesses they have, or get later in life.

We just do the best we can, with what limited info we all have, at the time.
 
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This is one of those heart breakers, fip is always devastating, but when it hits in a kitty who truly completed your home and life, and bonded so much with, it's even more-so and hard to accept, I know.

While fip is still mysterious and complicated, here is my overview of this ugly death sentence.......

There are several common cold viruses in cats, herpesvirus, calicivirus, coronavirus, etc.

While the first 2 mentioned are tough and lifelong, corona is not, it is weak in the environment but highly contagious, which is why it's so common.

Corona has very mild symptoms though, and passes through a cat within days, sometimes not even showing any noticeable symptoms, maybe just seems under the weather for a day or so.

Occasionally, a cat is unable to pass this virus, and it will remain in them sort of dormant-like.

Then out of the blue, it shows itself and begins to wreak havoc destroying their organs, etc.

It seems to go after weaker kitties, immune compromised increases the chance of the corona virus mutating into fip.

When you described the rest of the litter as well as your little one's eyes, I knew this was why. He was much more prone to come down with this illness unfortunately.

There was nothing at all that you could have done to prevent it. It was his dna, his genes that allowed him to be a target for this to happen.

What a terrible loss for you, but please don't let it discourage what you do to help kitties have a better chance at having a good life, a home, and love.

You have a rescuers heart as I do, but you must come to terms with the fact that, we will see the vulnerable ones, and despite our efforts, some are just going to come to us with issues we can't change. Some will be lost........

Here's something to think on.

Last night I spoke with one of my fosters (I have a cat rescue group) she was sobbing and devastated.

The 3 babies she was working so hard on saving had passed away.

She is the very best bottle/newborn foster possible, so I knew placing them with her would give them the best chance at surviving.

Despite hourly feedings, medicine, breathing treatments, lack of sleep, and dedication, they died.

It's so unfair, it makes me question life, and purpose, but know there is a reason, some other higher power involved in deciding this, and while their bodies are faulty, their spirits live on. He was loved, and had meaning to his life, as short as it was. 

His life with you will stay with you always. 
 

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I am so sorry FIP took your Harrison.  I was trying to figure out how old he was three weeks ago when he left you. It took my little Lurch also.  He was maybe 7 weeks old when he was given to me, found in a ditch with road rash and a head injury.  He could not see or hear and could only move in circles that first night.  He was only happy when being held, so I never let him go.  He did get his hearing and his sight back over time, and he relearned how to walk, although he started by going in circles.  That's how he got his name, "Lurch."  When he finally learned to run, it was a joy.  Four weeks later, he was gone.  It took me a year before I could look at his photo without crying.  He was my "Harrison" and I empathize with what you feel now.

In my experience, which is unfortunately quite  extensive, all but ONE of the FIP victims have been under two years of age.  I have  read that by the time they have lived two years, their immune systems are fully developed and can keep the corona virus from mutating.  I don't know if that is true or not, but the age thing has been true in my experience.  Most have been four months or less, actually.  One was 18 months.  Her sister had died of it at four months, leaving three siblings.  Two were adopted out and I kept one.  She was fine, no signs of any illness, until a year later after I was in a car accident. When someone brought me home from the hospital, she got out and was hit by a car.  She had a compound fracture of her shoulder and the only way to save her was to amputate the leg, so that was done.  She was recovering, the incision was fine, she was growing back her coat and then suddenly she stopped eating and retreated behind the bed.  Her tummy started to swell and she was running a fever.  I knew what it was, and I was going to take her to the vet in the morning, but she never woke up in the morning.  She fell asleep in my bed and never woke up.

I'm sure it was the trauma that set off the virus.  All the ones I know of had some kind of serious stress before they got sick with FIP.  Other vets have mentioned this too and suggested that if you have a kitten that has been exposed to FIP or is known to carry corona virus, avoid stressing them as much as possible.  No boarding, as few vet visits as possible, put off getting them neutered as long as possible, don't add any new animals to the house, keep everything calm....but I didn't know that at the time.  Lurch was neutered about two weeks before he got sick.  Had I known, I would not have had it done so early.  I don't know if it contributed.  Certainly he had plenty of trauma before that also, but we'll never know.  The FIP just showed up out of nowhere.  I studied FIP a lot after Lurch, and I'm sure at least one of the cats here carries it, because her sister died of it when she was about 9 months old.  This one has made it to three years of age now, so I think she's safe.  But she may be a carrier.   I won't bring any kittens into my house again.  I've brought some older rescues in and they have been fine, but I won't risk another kitten's life when it's likely that at least one cat here carries the virus.

As for carriers passing through, perhaps Simon is a carrier.  If he's the only cat in the house you can get him tested for corona virus.  I am not sure if the test shows he has been exposed to it or if it offers higher titers to show that he actively carries it.   However, if he were to test negative, you could be sure is is not a carrier.  In terms of your future rescuing, you may want to keep that in mind.
 
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harrisonsheart

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Thank you all for your input and support. I have put researching fip myself down for a while as it is affecting my own stability. The disease is so complex its hard not to find a blame.. Recovering from his loss has been overwhelming. I have lost many humans and this felt no different.. he was only 18 months when he passed.

As for Simon, he has gone back to his anxious ways and is back on ovaban for over grooming. He is still his loving self and yes, we do have 2 other cats besides him still that show their love and affection. I do worry for them as Leo is the same age as Harrison and Japedo only 8 months old. But they seem strong and well and are given llysine vitamins daily. I will not be taking any kittens into my home until they are old men.

I have been thinking that maybe next Christmas I will go to the shelter and adopt the oldest cat there.I think that will help my heart :)

I appreciate this site more than I can express. It is comforting to know I am not alone, as it is also heartbreaking. Working in the animal health feild, I still have yet to speak to someone in person that has even heard of this death sentence.

My heart goes out to all of you and your losses. I still quietly cry for Harrison before I go to sleep at night ..for it is all too quiet with out his loud purrs and fur tucked under my chin.

I do realize that had I not found him he'd have been dead long before his time. I gave him the best love he could have gotten from this world and I feel so lucky to have done so for he did the same for me.

All my pets are special and I love them more than words can say. Harrison was special in a way that he made my heart grow even more so.


 
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harrisonsheart

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I am so sorry FIP took your Harrison.  I was trying to figure out how old he was three weeks ago when he left you. It took my little Lurch also.  He was maybe 7 weeks old when he was given to me, found in a ditch with road rash and a head injury.  He could not see or hear and could only move in circles that first night.  He was only happy when being held, so I never let him go.  He did get his hearing and his sight back over time, and he relearned how to walk, although he started by going in circles.  That's how he got his name, "Lurch."  When he finally learned to run, it was a joy.  Four weeks later, he was gone.  It took me a year before I could look at his photo without crying.  He was my "Harrison" and I empathize with what you feel now.

In my experience, which is unfortunately quite  extensive, all but ONE of the FIP victims have been under two years of age.  I have  read that by the time they have lived two years, their immune systems are fully developed and can keep the corona virus from mutating.  I don't know if that is true or not, but the age thing has been true in my experience.  Most have been four months or less, actually.  One was 18 months.  Her sister had died of it at four months, leaving three siblings.  Two were adopted out and I kept one.  She was fine, no signs of any illness, until a year later after I was in a car accident. When someone brought me home from the hospital, she got out and was hit by a car.  She had a compound fracture of her shoulder and the only way to save her was to amputate the leg, so that was done.  She was recovering, the incision was fine, she was growing back her coat and then suddenly she stopped eating and retreated behind the bed.  Her tummy started to swell and she was running a fever.  I knew what it was, and I was going to take her to the vet in the morning, but she never woke up in the morning.  She fell asleep in my bed and never woke up.

I'm sure it was the trauma that set off the virus.  All the ones I know of had some kind of serious stress before they got sick with FIP.  Other vets have mentioned this too and suggested that if you have a kitten that has been exposed to FIP or is known to carry corona virus, avoid stressing them as much as possible.  No boarding, as few vet visits as possible, put off getting them neutered as long as possible, don't add any new animals to the house, keep everything calm....but I didn't know that at the time.  Lurch was neutered about two weeks before he got sick.  Had I known, I would not have had it done so early.  I don't know if it contributed.  Certainly he had plenty of trauma before that also, but we'll never know.  The FIP just showed up out of nowhere.  I studied FIP a lot after Lurch, and I'm sure at least one of the cats here carries it, because her sister died of it when she was about 9 months old.  This one has made it to three years of age now, so I think she's safe.  But she may be a carrier.   I won't bring any kittens into my house again.  I've brought some older rescues in and they have been fine, but I won't risk another kitten's life when it's likely that at least one cat here carries the virus.

As for carriers passing through, perhaps Simon is a carrier.  If he's the only cat in the house you can get him tested for corona virus.  I am not sure if the test shows he has been exposed to it or if it offers higher titers to show that he actively carries it.   However, if he were to test negative, you could be sure is is not a carrier.  In terms of your future rescuing, you may want to keep that in mind.

Your lurch had been through so much. It's a wonder he didn't come down with theeach disease earlier on. That's what I wonder for Harrison.. his eye surgery was so stressful. He had to stay overnight on fluids afterwards because he wasn't waking up well. He was even still "tripping out" when I came into work the next morning. This is where I am at a loss. Why not then? I wish I could just know. So many odds and ends. So many reasons it could mutate. So many things you should or shouldn't do.no black and white. 1 huge gray area..[emoji]128543[/emoji]
 
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harrisonsheart

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so many should have, could haves. Looking back and doing research it seems I've made the perfect scenario for Harrison to develop fip. When all along I always thought I was doing everything in all of my cats best interest. I hope I can overcome this guilt.
 

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@HarrisonsHeart...I wish there was some way to take all the guilt you are feeling out of the equation. Guilt, to me, is such a useless emotion, and not helpful at all.

I do believe you were, and are, doing everything in your cats' best interests. I just wish that you would believe that.


The problem is, because you suffered such a loss, that you are still grieving, and in this grief...we tend to throw all the negative things our way...but forget about all the positive things that we had done for our cats. The end result is that because they are gone, we just end up questioning every move we made, and trying to figure out...if we could have done things differently, and then somehow we could have changed the outcome.

(I had another cat that died of complications from being felv+ and fiv+, and I kept thinking that I should have tried harder, and done more, been more observant,...gone to the States, or ordered supplies, treatments from there, and tried experimental treatments,...anything really to help Sparky. It did take me a good 6-8 months to finally 'let go' of the guilt. But one good thing that happened, was that I did find this Site, while Sparky was dying, and afterwards, I stayed and learned so much more, than I ever thought I would about cat care, cat health, and am still learning everyday. Not to mention, that so many people here, have that universal love for their cats, and it's so amazing to read about.)

It's true what you said about 'having to stop doing research' on the disease, for our own selves. Because it gets to a point where we become too consumed, sad, angry, burnt-out by all the reading...and it never seems clear-cut anyhow.

It's good to actually stop, and focus on other things, both for getting through Grief, and for our own clear thinking. When we are grieving, I don't think we are very clear.

(I had a slight health scare two weeks ago, but everything is fine, and probably had to do with too much drinking of caffeine,...but the only reason I mention it, is that it made me realize that I have to be healthy to be able to take care of my cats, and be around for them...besides the fact that they give me a lot in return, too. It also made me realize that I can make a few changes to take better care of myself with sleeping, eating healthier, and getting enough rest. If my animals rely on me, I have to be as good to myself, as we are in looking after them.) So I hope that you look after yourself, too.

Losing your Harrison will take a lot of time to get to a place where you won't be angry, sad, or feel any guilt. I don't think Harrison would want you to feel any of these emotions.

I hope that your Simon can also get back to accepting the loss, too, and that Leo and Japedo help him out with their presence. (those are really neat names for cats.)

I'm not sure about that whole 'age thing' with FIP...because I thought my rainbow Jasper was older...about 3 years old...but I would have to look back at the records.

It seems like there are no guarantees with anything in Life, and all sorts of illnesses can strike our cats.

I guess we just have to enjoy whatever time we have...and just cherish the time we do get.

I really do wish you well, and that you find strength, peace, and an easement of your loss.


I also love the photo of Harrison with your dog. (I think your dog's a Rottweiler, and that photo shows how special your Harrison is. Or maybe your dog is, too, for trusting your cat.

(I don't think my black lab retriever has as much trust in my cats as your dog does. It's a great photo.)
 
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harrisonsheart

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@catnap thank you so much for your kind words.

The unknown just kills me. in time i will be able to accept that he is gone, but retracing steps has taken over my mind.

Thankfully i do have my other babies and Blake, the Rottweiler, to keep me afloat. Blake is me in dog form; he has always been fascinated by cats. When I said Simon used to only trust me before Harrison came along, I should have added "and Blake too". He has been obsessed with him since just a kitten. View media item 343471
View media item 343472

 

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Thanks for sharing the photos.  I do understand your ongoing pain.  I said I have "recovered" from losing Lurch, and yet the other day while driving home, I heard a Taylor Swift song I love called "Never Grow Up," and it was one that had stuck in my heart around the time that Lurch died, and next thing you know, I'm driving down the road with tears streaming down my face as if it were just yesterday that he died.  He was the one who showed me I had a carrier in the house.  Before that, I didn't know.  I would never have let him near any of the other cats if I knew then what I know now.  Two things come to mind from that too -- "When you know better, you do better."  and "You can't change the past, you can only learn from it."  I'm fostering a kitten now, he was a bottle baby who came in at 10 days, his eyes had just opened, and now he's nearly 5 weeks old.  He sleeps in a carrier in a room my cats never go in, and he gets to play on a futon covered with a sheet my cats have never touched, when my cats are out in the fenced yard, and on the weekends he spends time with his future family, the people who rescued him from under a dumpster and who will be keeping him when he is eating on his own, and I can't help thinking that if it weren't for Lurch, this little one might have been exposed, but now he is protected.  In a few more weeks, he will be safely out of here.  All my cats are apparently healthy now.  No one is sneezing, no one has the runs, and all are shiny and sleek and blooming in health.  I will continue to try to keep kittens out of here, but in a case like this, I was the only chance he had because his rescuers have to go to work all day and he needed to eat every 3-4 hours at first.  So thank you, sweet Lurch, for teaching me to be careful and not let this baby run around on the floor like you did, and sleep with me like you did.  He will have a chance to grow up, like you never did. 

You can't change the past.  Harrison will be waiting for you when you leave this life, and Lurch will be waiting for me, and until then, we will just have to love the cats we have and do the best for them that we can.  I'm really sure that our connections to every one that we ever loved will bring us back together in the end.  I choose to believe it.  It helps. 
 
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harrisonsheart

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I guess I'm not alone. lately, love songs have been getting the tears flowing. and that makes me feel so silly.  I'm glad I'm not the only one...

But i am very sorry you are still struggling. I don't think it is anything we can fully recover from. 

I've thought many times about him waiting for me wherever it is we go when we die, and I hope more that anything that is what will happen.  I too will try my hardest to believe that, every day. 

I sometimes think that if I had known i could have separated him from the world entirely and protected him from all harm. 

At the end of the day, Lurch and Harrison both had lives, as short as they may have been, that they would have never had to begin with, without us. 

They both felt the most love they could have possibly endured in this world. Had I not found Harrison, He'd have died cold, scared, and alone, long ago. 

we must remember that. I know I try too... as guilty as i feel...as much as i struggle... I try so hard to remember that. 


good to you for helping the little baby. she is lucky to have you. i hope she lives a long loving life. 
 

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Yeah, that video of Harrison and those photos totally 'make my heart happy'.
  


What a 'lovey dovey' cat Harrison is. The way he plays with your hair is awesome. I cannot even tell he is blind. And then he starts to nibble on your fingers, and purr like a motorboat.


A totally cool cat. He starts to tap on the desk. 

And yeah, that dog Blake...I think he may 'think he's a cat, too'....because he allows both cats to sleep so close. Wow. 

Ha, ha...so Harrison would know the 'real voice...vs the fake boyfriend voice'....well, it is kind of hard to get an exact voice, and even if your boyfriend sat in your chair, I guess Harrison would know him by different scents, and clothes, and sounds. Most cats do get super happy when their guardians return from work or shopping. They act like we brought them presents or something.

I think that is why us humans like our animals so much. They are always excited to see us.

What do you mean @HarrisonsHeart...that you don't get to share your photos, often?
 
 
  When you feel up to it, then you can share them all over the Cat Site.


There are so many places you can post just photos, or just threads, too.

http://www.thecatsite.com/f/5815/the-cats-meow....  not sure, but I think this one is for cat stories.

http://www.thecatsite.com/f/29/fur-pictures-and-videos-only... this one is for pictures and videos...and you definitely have to re-post Harrison's video, so more people see it.

http://www.thecatsite.com/f/41/cats-and-other-animals.... this one belongs to Blake and the cats.

and of course, the 'crossing the bridge forum' ... where many members find support after losing their cats. All the members there, know how it feels.

http://www.thecatsite.com/f/19/crossing-the-bridge

Hey @HarrisonsHeart...thanks so much for understanding my last post. I re-read it and thought that parts of it, might have sounded too harsh...which I didn't intend it to be. It was the parts that I mentioned how certain emotions were difficult, and not entirely helpful...but in all honesty.. 'we basically feel what we feel.'  There is kind of no way around it. And you'll feel things in your own timeframe, so no one should tell you to be 'over it' or 'move on already'. Grief and loss are such a personal thing. (I think that people around you, probably don't want you to be too sad, so they may say things without thinking, or not be able to relate to losing a special cat.)

I get the 'retracing steps',too. Like we never want to make that same mistake again, or more mistakes. Problem is, sure, we can learn, and do things slightly differently in the future...but then again, other issues might arise, and we may have to make different decisions. Or we miss out on focusing on all the good aspects of enjoying our cats, if we're constantly worrying about all the illnesses.

I think our cats teach us things, even if their lives are short, or long,...but it is different for everyone, and learning about ourselves, through our cats, is like a gift they give us.

One of my long ago high-school friends had mentioned that before her grandfather died, he had told her that everyone had a purpose in life...and when that purpose was over...then you'd be needed elsewhere...heaven..etc...wherever else the 'soul's journey' had to go. So I kind of believe this is true for our animals, too. It's like they have shorter lives, but then have to go on...and their 'energy never dies' ...but just changes form. (catwoman707 mentioned something similar in her post, about the spirit living on. And it does make sense, since in Physics...energy does not get lost ...only changes.)

And no, you don't sound crazy at all, for having a recurring dream, and finding Harrison again. Who knows, you might find him in another form, or see glimpses of him in different animals, too.

Even in people. Anything is possible. (Another member here, lost her only-cat, and wants to 'feel his presence' again...in dreams, or in the day/night...so who is to say that it won't happen one day.)

Sounds like the feeling you had with Harrison was so unique, and looking at his video of him playing with your hair, and purring up a storm...I can totally understand why.

Harrison does not even seem blind, and his lovely nature really shows on that video. The part where he started to paw at the desk made me smile, because it looked like he was playing keyboards, or his own type of game. He also didn't mind his toes being touched and rubbed. He was one 'laid back' cat...so I get why you miss him so much.

The questions you are asking are very valid questions, yet I don't think that you can ever get exact answers for them. That kitten dying suddenly could have been 'heart related' and not FIP, because it was so sudden. It could have been born with some genetic mutation, that affected her organs...like some 'kittens are smaller, or do not develop properly, and so their organs are weaker'. Without doing a necropsy on a cat, I don't think you can scientifically know, and even if you did one, I don't know what would be able to show up, on the results.

Oh, how did you come up with the name 'Harrison'?...and is that a bowtie he is wearing?

Another member here, also said ...'to take it one day at a time'...so that may make it easier. But having other animals around, like you said, definitely helps. They make you happy, so you got to do the same for them.
 
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harrisonsheart

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I'm glad! yes, he was very aware of his surroundings. He rarely bumped into things. There was one thing he would ALWAYS do-  if I were getting ready in the morning, he would frantically run up the stairs into the bathroom and jump on the toilet where he would "watch me".. but if it was opened .. the poor babe would nearly fall right in. he was so fast, there was no saving 
you're right about them all having a purpose to teach us something. Before Harrison I would have never thought I would be the owner of a blind or disabled anything, nevertheless falling completely in love. I wish I could be a "mother" to them all now  (:

as for the dreams.. yes, I do believe that they must mean something. In fact, with out them, I don't think I would believe in much. Maybe they are just a collection of our thoughts and hopes, maybe sometimes more than that. My sister passed away 5 years ago, I rarely dream of her. but when I do, she gets closer to me every time. the last 2 times she even spoke to me, asking questions like, "How old are you know" "how is so&so" ect. very weird. But it's these little things keep me hopeful that one day we will all see each other again somehow. Or at the very least, it is nice to see them in dream land. 

The other thing you said about energy only changing and never dying, that is also something I hold onto. My holistic vet said the same thing and I have had too many "paranormal" experiences / feelings for that to be untrue. 

I think I've finally come to peace with the disease itself. or as much as I possible can. I think that Harrison has always been destined to have it and I just prolonged it. Either way, I gave him more than he thought he'd ever have and I have to be thankful I was able to do at least that much. 

I have thought many times that I wish I could dedicate my life to finding a cure.. if only I was filthy rich. I figure there is no cure because the disease is so rare and any treatment for cure would need to involve multiple medications / treatments of sorts. because of these reasons there would be no profit.... that's all most people in charge care for. and that is a shame. 

My research will slow down, but I think I will always be hopeful and look around from time to time for answers or new discoveries. it's just how my brain works with things like this. and I've accepted that. I will take it a day at a time though. Today I am already better than yesterday. Blake is bugging me for a walk so I'm going to make it even better by taking him to our favorite place; the beach! Speaking to great people like you on this site has without a doubt been a huge comfort. 
 
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donutte

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Wow, the tears are just flowing reading this. I have nothing particular to add because by some miracle, I never heard of this disease before coming to this site. And I've had more cats in my life than I can count. 30, maybe more? It's possible it happened with cats my family had before I was born, I heard about a few kittens they had that died of reasons unknown (this was back in the early 70s). But yeah, never heard of it till I came here. Just like I'd never heard of a few things. And then suddenly, hearing about it so much after that! I have a good friend that lost one cat due to an obstructed bowel. She adopted another kitty, and she died from wet FIP. My heart sank when she said her kitty was at the vet with suspected FIP, and then died the next day.

Thank you for sharing Harrison with us. He was such a beautiful boy.
 
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harrisonsheart

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@@Donutte no, thank you for taking time to read about and appreciate him (:

I too never even heard of FIP until it happened to me. I work in an animal hospital 4 years now, my brother 8 years, and my mother 18! And this was a first for all of us. At the very least I would like to at least spread the word so more caution can be taken, although unfortunately it's not easily escaped especially for us cat lovers / rescuers. I almost feel like it's a curse.. the perfect storm for those of us that just want to rescue. With 3 more cats left, Now I just stay on top of litter boxes daily, disinfect weekly, wash food bowls regularly, and keep themon llysine vitamin chews. There's not much more I can do but hope for the best.

Death of a cat is never easy but like any other being, when it's a baby it definitely hurts in a diferent way. I hope your friendis through with the bad and haS a chance next time around
 
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foxxycat

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I'm so sorry for your loss. I too have had sick cats that I did everything humanly possible to save her but she was needed elsewhere. My Flash came down with weight loss and low red blood cells. We never found out why. She got a transfusion even when the vet didn't recommend but we were hoping it was a parasite infection-sadly it wasn't it. I got three more weeks but it was the hardest three weeks as I knew deep inside it would end. She didn't loose her spunk or act sick other than not eating. She wanted to be outside. I opted to get her sent to the Bridge because I just didn't want to wait for her to crash. It caused a big riff between my boyfriend and I...he didn't speak to me for almost a week. I couldn't get the vets to talk some sense to him. He kept saying she is grooming herself and ate a bit but her anemia was getting dangerously low-I didn't see the actual test results-sometimes I wish I didn't jump and get it done but I didn't want to see her get so ill at the end. I had guilt and still have guilt about this but I know I did everything I could and things just went that way despite money and competent vets.

Sending you hugs and honestly I don't know much about FIP, that was one of the things they said Flash could have gotten. If she did it was the dry form and didn't have fluid buildup. But three months prior she had a dental cleaning and I really wonder if anesthesia is what caused the start of her loosing her red blood cells. The other thing was we gave her Frontline a month ago. So I don't know if she got a reaction from this. I know the day she came home from the dental that they charged me for 45 min of gas when they told me its only a 15 minute procedure-and they didn't answer my question about why I got charged for more gas...so for now I am very hesitant on any dental cleanings unless its necessary=but this is my insecurity-I know many many cats don't have an issue with it..just sadly Flash got very sick...they said she had non-regenerative anemia. we must have done every test under the moon-ultrasound=nothing showed-blood work pcr type test where they break down the cells to see exactly what's in her blood. they wanted to do bone marrow aspir but I didn't think she was stable enough,..I just opted to take her home and try to make her happy.

I only hope your guilty feelings some day float away and replace with love in your heart. You didn't do anything to cause this. We only  learn as we go. I am so sorry again for your loss.

My heart goes out to you-I know exactly the guilt feelings and thoughts of could of would of should of. She came back and haunted my cats for a week or so or at least I thought so because they kept looking in a particular section of the house where she used to sleep. I hope as time goes on and you continue to process your emotions that you will get to a point of letting that guilt go.

I agree with you about wanting to be filthy rich so we can find a cure for this horrible disease. XOXOXOXOX
 

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I learned a lot about FIP because it invaded my home for a couple of years, so I dissected it  as best I could.  I've been glad to have the knowledge because more than once, I've suggested it as a possible diagnosis for people to ask their vet about when their cat has the appropriate combination of history, age, and symptoms.  If vets don't have a lot of experience with it, they can miss it., but if the owner comes in with a clear history and a suggestion that the symptoms just MIGHT indicate FIP, that can actually help a vet consider it.  And if that combination is so clear to someone like me by just reading what someone posts on here, but the vet basically ignores it all and doesn't look into it further, then we can at least suggest the owner get a second opinion, and suggest an accredited animal hospital in the area if there is one.  The AAHA hospitals require their vets take a certain amount of continuing education every year, and that's very valuable, as new things are coming up all the time.  Anyhow, my unfortunate intimate knowledge of FIP becomes valuable in retrospect because I can help others who are dealing with it.  Also, with 8 different cases in two years, I can see how it manifested slightly differently in every cat, and also have a small study group that supports some of the generally known tendencies of the disease (of my 8, only one was not under 2 years of age, and two pairs of the 8 were siblings.  (There seems to be at least some genetic propensity between siblings.)
 

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We just lost 2 kittens this spring from what the vet considered FIP. The first just turned a year old & had been spayed at 8 months. She started to gradually lose weight & energy. When the vet examined her belly had abnormal fluid build up. She lost her appetite at the end. The second kitty was related to the first through the mothers. She had just had her second set of vaccines & started same symptoms--losing weight & lethargic. So we lost her too at almost 5 months of age. We only have one left now & she is not related to the other two. I just hope she doesn't develop it too. I have done so much research on this awful FIP. Some suggest that there could be a genetic link in some bloodlines. Most cats exposed to the corona virus do not go on to the mutation to FIP. Such a terrible disease & I pray they find a cure.
 
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harrisonsheart

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I'm so sorry for yout losses ):

When I saw the holistic vet, she told me that had I brought Harrison to her from the start, she would have suggested never vaccinating him at all considering his history. I don't think his particular case had anything to do with it though since a whole year had passed since he had gotten them. The only thing that changed was bringing home Japedo- but I highly doubt that caused a stress because Harrison was extremely desensitized to other animals- we first lived at my mother's which is pretty much a farm, and we frequently visited and stayed with my sister who has 6 of her own cats. I can't think of anything that specifically triggered it. Like I said in my first post- even after highly stressful eye surgery and a separate neuter (because he was criptorchid) he still went on a whole year in good health.


Last weekend a client brought in a day old kitten and insisted we take it .. even after trying to explain to him it probably wasnot abandoned and the mother will be looking for him but that's another story... sigh

Anyway, I got very lucky after bottle feeding 2 nights and searching in shelters endlessly- I found a foster cat mom to nurse him along with her babes. My mom is going to adopt him when he'S ready too (:

One thing that shocked me though, because I've never really dealt with a shelter (I've found all my cats on the street with the exception of Simon at the grocery store.) That they spay neuter AND give vaccines at only 2 lbs. Am I the only one that thinks this is way too early? Mine are all done at 6 months. For Japedo at 9 months last week, because I was paranoid. Regardless of FIP risk I think it's too soon, and especially knowing what I know now it makes me nervous for the kitty. I tried to say something about having it done myself but they definitely just thought I wanted to get out of a fee, so I left it alone.
 
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harrisonsheart

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foxxycat foxxycat no one knows your babe better than you do. I always tell clients that are going through similar crisis- that when it is thier time, you just know. I'm sure you did all the best for her from what you felt was right in your heart at the time.

Thank you for all your kind words and support, it means the world at this time. Sending hugs back :)
 
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