Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Awareness is a serious disease that every cat owner should be aware of. This condition can be quite painful and may significantly impact your cat’s health and overall well-being. Stick around as a local Galloway, OH vet addresses some important questions about FIP.
What is FIP?
As the name indicates, Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a viral disease that affects cats. It is caused by a mutation of the feline coronavirus and can lead to serious health issues. Understanding this condition is crucial for cat owners, as it can have significant implications for their pets’ well-being.
FIP is caused by the feline coronavirus. Usually, this virus is quite harmless. In fact, it’s almost as common as catching a cold. That said, the mutation can result in some quite serious, and possibly life-threatening, complications.
Is Feline Coronavirus a Cause for Concern?
Feline coronavirus isn’t always something to worry too much about. Most of the time, Fluffy will bounce back quite easily. Lots of cats show just very mild symptoms. In fact, you might not even realize that something’s off. Some of our feline friends, however, can experience complications that may result in FIP. Senior kitties and those with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
What Are Feline Coronaviruses?
Remember, COVID-19 isn’t the only coronavirus out there. The feline coronavirus differs from COVID-19, though. For one thing, it doesn’t have any impact on humans. It’s just one among a collection of coronaviruses. Coronaviruses in animals typically affect either the respiratory or digestive systems.
Interestingly, some research suggests that around 25 to 40 percent of domesticated cats have been infected with FCoV at some point in their lives.
The risk tends to be greater in areas with a lot of kitties around. In environments where cats share space with each other—like colonies, shelters, or homes with multiple felines—the infection rate can reach as high as 100 percent. Most of the time, the symptoms are so mild that they go unnoticed. Sometimes, cats can experience a case of diarrhea.
Who is Bria?
Many animal holidays, causes, and charities feature mascots—often a special pet that helps raise awareness about an issue for certain individuals or groups. In this scenario, the pet in question is an adorable kitten named Bria. She’s a stunning lynx blue point Birman who loves to play fetch and has a particular fondness for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Bria found her forever home with Susan Gingrich and her husband, Jim. As you might have suspected, the sweet kitty passed away due to complications from FIP. Heartbroken, Susan dedicated herself to raising awareness about the disease. She reached out to the EveryCat Health Foundation, previously known as the Winn Feline Foundation. This organization is unique, as its primary focus is on funding research dedicated to feline health issues. The Bria Fund for FIP Research was established shortly thereafter.
How Do Cats Get FIP?
Kitties often contract FIP by sharing litterboxes with another cat that’s already infected.
Do All Kitties with FCoV Get Really Sick?
No, not really. Most cats that contract FCoV tend to show mild symptoms and often recover swiftly. Approximately 12 percent end up developing FIP.
What Are the Risk Factors for FIP?
Any cat that has experienced feline coronavirus faces a risk of developing FIP. That said, some kitties face a higher risk than others.
Age certainly plays a role. FIP typically impacts younger cats. In fact, most of the cases involve kitties that are under 18 months old. Approximately half of them are younger than six months. Older cats face a higher risk as well. And, as it turns out, purebred cats can be especially vulnerable.
Feel free to reach out to your Galloway, OH vet for additional information.
How Does Feline Coronavirus Spread?
The feline coronavirus is a viral illness. There are several ways it can be spread. Nursing mamas might share it with their kittens. Cats can also spread infections to one another through mutual grooming, sharing bowls, toys, or litterboxes, as well as during mating or fights.
Feline coronavirus is an infectious disease, so you’ll typically find it in areas with a high concentration of cats, like animal shelters, catteries, or feral cat colonies.
What’s the Lifespan of a Kitty with FIP?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer to this. The answer really hinges on the kitty’s health and whether they’ve been affected by the effusive form or the non-effusive form.
With that in mind, the outlook isn’t very promising: estimates typically range from days to weeks for the effusive form of the virus, and from weeks to months for the non-effusive type.
Your Galloway, OH veterinarian will be able to provide you with more detailed information once they’ve had a chance to assess your cat.
What Are the Signs of FIP?
FIP symptoms can be quite perplexing since they often resemble those of many other illnesses. This is why we consistently recommend taking Fluffy to the vet as soon as you notice anything unusual.
Here’s what to watch for:
- Abdominal Bloating
- Respiratory Issues
- Persistent Fever
- Reduced Appetite
- Weight Loss
- Depression
- Withdrawal
- Unkempt Fur
If you notice any of these signs, be sure to contact your Galloway, OH vet right away. It’s important to remember that symptoms of FIP can escalate rapidly.
It’s also important to mention that FIP can sometimes take weeks, months, or even years to develop after the initial coronavirus infection.
What Are the Treatment Options for FIP?
Sadly, there isn’t an official cure for FIP. Honestly, prevention is your best bet in this situation. Typically, treatment efforts concentrate on providing supportive care. This could involve ensuring that Fluffy is staying hydrated enough. Your veterinarian might suggest certain medications, like prednisone or cyclophosphamide. These are immune suppressives that could assist in slowing the progression of the disease.
On a positive note, there is some good news here. Recent research conducted over the last three years suggests that antivirals could be effective in treating FIP. Since 2021, Remdesivir and GS-441524 have been legally available in the UK and Australia. Sadly, this has also resulted in an increase in illegal medications, but that’s a different conversation altogether.
If your cat gets a diagnosis, your Galloway, OH vet will discuss the options available, tailored to your specific situation.
How Can You Safeguard Your Feline Friend Against FIP?
Luckily, protecting your cat from FIP doesn’t have to be complicated; just a few simple steps can keep your furry friend happy, healthy, and purring away. First and foremost, make sure to stay on top of Fluffy’s preventative care. That includes her veterinary check-ups, parasite prevention, and vaccinations.
It’s really important to keep the litter box clean. It’s a good idea to scoop the litter daily and change it out roughly once a week. If you have multiple kitties, it’s advisable to have more than one litter box as well. Fluffy’s powder room ought to be located in a peaceful area, away from her food and water bowls. The litter box shouldn’t be placed in a drafty spot or in direct sunlight.
If you have more than one cat, take some extra precautions. Ensure that your furry friends each have their own litter boxes and food bowls to avoid any sharing. We highly suggest keeping your kitty safely indoors at all times.
Contact your vet in Galloway, OH for more details on how to keep your feline friend safe from FIP.
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