About The Dreaded Feline Infectious Peritonitis

What is this dangerous cat illness known as FIP? FIP stands for feline infectious peritonitis, also referred to as feline FIP. It is the most feared disease in catteries, as it is the leading infectious cause of cat death. This is a tricky disease to diagnose, and it has been said that the most reliable confirmation is done during autopsy.

Affected cats may experience symptoms ranging from sneezing, to personality changes, to fever. In addition, there is weight loss, anemia, depression, and eventually fatal body system breakdown.

The cause of FIP is a coronavirus infection (FCoV). Infected cats will shed coronavirus in their saliva and feces, which is why cattery residents are at high risk. Crowded locations allow the virus to spread from cat to cat. The good news is that not all cats exposed to the virus will experience symptoms, nor will all develop feline FIP.

Otherwise healthy cats will typically fight off the virus, but may shed FCoV for a full two months. Of those who do develop the disease, the onset of FIP may occur weeks, months, or years after the initial exposure.

Feline FIP symptoms are common to many other diseases and conditions. In addition, symptoms can be very individualized. There are actually two types of the disease, with differing symptoms. As well, different areas of the body may be affected with each cat. Needless to say, this disease is difficult to diagnose.

Antibody tests for feline FIP are inconclusive. Exposure to the virus can cause a cat's immune system to produce antibodies, whether or not he or she ever actually develops the disease. Since detection is critical in order to prevent the spread of any communicable disease, this makes FIP even more dangerous.

The symptoms are many and varied, with some cats exhibiting signs of a mild respiratory infection. Symptoms may including sneezing, watery eyes, and watery nasal discharge. Other cats may experience a mild intestinal disease. In young cats, the most common symptoms are a recurring fever that is non-responsive to antibiotics, lethargy, and failure to grow.

Additional symptoms will depend on what form of the disease is present, wet or dry. Some cats may have combinations of both forms.

With the effusive, or wet type of FIP there is a yellow fluid build up in the chest cavity or abdomen. This causes difficulty breathing and swelling of the abdomen.

Symptoms with the dry type, or non-effusive, include signs of ocular problems, or neurological issues, such as wobbling. In addition, affected cats may have masses on the lymph nodes, kidneys, in the eyes, and the brain. Visible signs may include a change in color or a cloudy appearance in the iris of the eye.

Considering the seriousness of this disease, and realizing how difficult diagnosis and detection is, it's important that you limit your cat's exposure to cats that may be infected. While exposure to a coronavirus infection (FCoV) does not ensure that your cat will develop FIP, it's best to minimize your risk.

Once a cat has been diagnosed, FIP is generally considered to be fatal. Since this incurable disease can show up many years after exposure to the virus, it has taken a number of cat owners by surprise. On the positive side, this illness affects less than one percent of the general cat population. In catteries, however, the infection rate can be as high as 20 percent.

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Kurt Schmitt keeps cat lovers informed about fip symptoms as well as other cat illnesses.

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