My sweet little angel was just diagnosed with FIP this morning

I'm heartbroken...beyond heartbroken. The kitty I'd waited 35 years to get will be taken from me in a matter of days I'm afraid.
I don't know where to begin... everyone at the vet told me not to give up hope. The receptionist there had a kitten with FIP who against all odds pulled through from near death and lived 19 happy years after diagnosis. She told me to get some neutra-cal and A/D cat food & syringe feed her. I've been doing this all day and she's finally gotten up on her own for the 1st time today. But I'm afraid it won't make much of a difference in the long run. If I can at least keep her comfortable until it's time that's enough for me.

My other huge concern is my other babies. I have a 1.5 year old cat and a 6 month old too. Izzy (my sick baby) is 5 months old and I got her when she was just 6 or 7 weeks. Then a month later I got Oscar who was 3 weeks older than izzy. They have always played together & are best buds. So naturally I'm terrified he's going to fall ill also. However, unlike izzy who is a very tiny petite kitty (only 3lbs) Oscar is nearly triple her size and probably close to 15 or 20 lbs. He's very healthy and I haven't seen any warning signs. But then again I had absolutely no clue izzy had this either. I thought it was a uti. I was in utter shock at the vet this morning when they told me. I'm still in shock.

I guess I just needed to get all my feelings out there. I'm not sure if there's any advice anyone can give me or not. But thanks for reading my post and listening.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Are you talking about FIV or FIP? 

I'm so sorry about Izzy's diagnosis   I'm reading way too many of these threads lately

FIP in and of itself is not contagious as far as any one can tell. Did you discuss your concerns with your Vet?  If not, you should call them and see what the VET, not a tech, has to say.  

stephanietx said:

Are you talking about FIV or FIP? 

Click to expand...

FIP is what the vet diagnosed her with. I apologize for not getting back to my thread after posting it. Only a day afterwards she lost all mobility to her back legs and I had to have her put to sleep. It was the most horrible disease I've ever seen! She was completely mentally aware but couldn't even get to her water bowl. I've been grieving ever since. I was so upset I couldn't even check my thread. I'm so heartbroken that I'll never find another izzy again.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

mrsgreenjeens said:

I'm so sorry about Izzy's diagnosis

  I'm reading way too many of these threads lately

FIP in and of itself is not contagious as far as any one can tell. Did you discuss your concerns with your Vet?  If not, you should call them and see what the VET, not a tech, has to say.  

Click to expand...

Thank you so much! I too have seen way too many going through this.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

mrsgreenjeens said:

I'm so sorry about Izzy's diagnosis

  I'm reading way too many of these threads lately

FIP in and of itself is not contagious as far as any one can tell. Did you discuss your concerns with your Vet?  If not, you should call them and see what the VET, not a tech, has to say.  

Click to expand...

My vet told me it was highly contagious. They said it was basically a 50/50 chance of my other cats getting it. I still don't know how she contracted it. Her little belly was like a water Ballon full on billyrubin (spelling?) . It was absolutely horrible. I apologize for my lack of the right words. I'm just still so upset.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

KatsPurrrsians said:

My vet told me it was highly contagious. They said it was basically a 50/50 chance of my other cats getting it. I still don't know how she contracted it. Her little belly was like a water Ballon full on billyrubin (spelling?) . It was absolutely horrible. I apologize for my lack of the right words. I'm just still so upset.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

The mechanics of FIP are very poorly understood.  The underlying virus, the coronovirus, is very contagious.  It is so common that a test for the antibodies can rule out FIP but by no means can the presence of antibodies be used as a diagnostic for FIP.  FIP is caused by an interaction with the immune system which then causes a mutation of the virus.  There is some evidence that there is a genetic component.  Multi cat households seem to be at a greater risk.  Whether or not your other kitties get this is really unknown, I really hope they don't.

I am so sorry this happened.  Yes it is a horrible disease.  The thing that makes it so devastating is that there is absolutely nothing that can be done to stop it.  It had nothing to do with anything that you did or did not do.  FIP is impossible to definitively diagnose.  There are lab results along with symptoms which strongly point to it but the only way to be absolutely sure is with necropsy.   

What Denice says is true, the Coronavirus is contagious, and it can sometimes mutate into FIP, but not always, so even if your other cats get the Coronavirus, it doesn't mean they will get FIP.  And they might have had the Coronavirus all along , it's hard to know.

Did you adopt them from shelters?  That's where it is most prevalent. 

And I'm so sorry that Izzy is gone already   My sympathies.  I lost one this year too, not to FIP, but still, it never gets any easier

Run free at the bridge, little Izzy

mrsgreenjeens said:

What Denice says is true, the Coronavirus is contagious, and it can sometimes mutate into FIP, but not always, so even if your other cats get the Coronavirus, it doesn't mean they will get FIP.  And they might have had the Coronavirus all along

, it's hard to know.



Did you adopt them from shelters?  That's where it is most prevalent. 



And I'm so sorry that Izzy is gone already

  My sympathies.  I lost one this year too, not to FIP, but still, it never gets any easier



Run free at the bridge,

little Izzy

Click to expand...

Yes, it was definitely the most painful pet loss I've ever witnessed. The way she was suffering at the end, and even before I ever knew she was in pain or sick. I noticed some personality chsnges in her and appetite changed a little, but nothing that could have prepared me for that fatal diagnosis! I took her to vet just thinking perhaps she'd hurt her back leg or maybe had a uti. I was in utter shock when my vet not only came back saying it wasn't a uti, but fip (I was unfamiliar with the specifics of the disease or the fatality of it) but then she recommended euthanasia right then and there. I was so in shock I had to go home and let it all digest, not to mention do my own research. The vet techs told me not to lose hope. The receptionist had one with FIP or exposed to it, that lived 19 years so it gave me hope. I took her home, gave her as much love as I could over the next few days, loaded her up with supplements and recovery food. But it wasn't near enough. I know that my chances of saving her were slim to none. I'm just glad her suffering is over now and she's free.

Sweet baby izzy may you rest in peace!



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

mrsgreenjeens said:

What Denice says is true, the Coronavirus is contagious, and it can sometimes mutate into FIP, but not always, so even if your other cats get the Coronavirus, it doesn't mean they will get FIP.  And they might have had the Coronavirus all along

, it's hard to know.



Did you adopt them from shelters?  That's where it is most prevalent. 



And I'm so sorry that Izzy is gone already

  My sympathies.  I lost one this year too, not to FIP, but still, it never gets any easier



Run free at the bridge,

little Izzy

Click to expand...

I got her from a breeder. My initial thoughts were "did she get this there?" I was angry with the breeder but after making him aware he just as shocked & upset as I was. None of her litter mates fell ill.

And now I can't help but to think about possibly getting another kitten from him in the future. She had the most unique and human like personality and she was just very unique all around. She even won over my mom's heart who hates cats. Everone who ever met her, cat person or not, fell in love with her immediately! She never cried, she would sit with a stranger and just adore being loved on. She loved car rides. I used to take her with me to pick up to go food at my local Mexican restaurant and hang at the bar with her. She was just so special! I know we all think our cats are special and unique though, which they are. It's just so hard.
I'm afraid I'll never find another kitty that I don't compare to her, but if he breeds the same parents again I might get her twin. I know most of you will probably advise me aginst this. I'm just so heartbroken and want to fill that void. But it's much too soon to even think about getting another. The risk of FIP or Coronavirus lurking in my home is horrifying so I wouldn't even consider getting another cat for at least 6 months. By the way, what are the views on getting a new cat after the death of another from fip?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

So sorry for your loss. Please consider getting a shelter kitty. You may not know this, but 4,000,000 cats & dogs are euthanized annually in America.

So so so sorry for your loss. Both of my kittens were diagnosed about a month ago. One wet and one dry. Izzy is beautiful, may she Rest In Peace.