Mary Allen
The sociable velvet paws often turn the life of the cat owner upside down. They require lots of stroking, quality food, and are anything but easy. And yet, for many people, life without cats is not as worth living as with these crazy furry friends. However, healthy food, a lot of activity, and a cat buddy are not everything, and no guarantee that the cat will remain healthy throughout its life. Of course, cats can get sick. Feline infectious peritonitis, also known by the short name FIP, is a special and particularly serious disease in cats. This is caused by a mutated coronavirus. Unfortunately, once the animal has contracted it, this terrible disease usually ends fatally for the animal. In this article, we report on the disease, its course, diagnosis, and symptoms.
FIP – information at a glance:
- FIP is usually fatal to the animal;
- The exact cause of this disease is still unknown;
- The diagnosis is never easy and 100% sure;
- There is no cure for the animal;
- Transmitted via faeces and saliva as a coronavirus, which can subsequently mutate;
- Mainly occurs in very young and very old cats;
- There are numerous symptoms that can indicate this disease.
What is Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)?
FIP is a disease where infection of the peritoneum is one of the most common symptoms. The peritoneum is a special skin. This lines the abdominal cavity including the internal abdominal organs and envelops them like a kind of foil. This skin is transparent and moistened with a special liquid. At the same time, this means that this ensures that the different organs can be moved. This liquid allows the organs to move past each other without problems, for example after eating or during pregnancy. However, the amount of liquid in healthy cats is rather small. In addition to peritonitis, FIP can also lead to inflammation of the pleura. The pleura is also skin, but it covers the lungs and lines the inside of the chest cavity. However, it has the same functions as the peritoneum. However, there is also the so-called “dry FIP”. This is a course of the disease that occurs without inflammation of the pleura or peritoneum. Combinations also occur.
How does this disease arise?
The feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a virus that often causes mild diarrhea in cats. Vomiting is also not uncommon here. Especially young animals, whose immune system is not so stable, as well as older cats are affected. Unfortunately, the virus occurs all over the world and after all, about half of all cats, i.e. 50%, have come into contact with it in the course of their lives. With the help of a very simple blood test, it is now possible to see whether antibody titers are present. This makes it easy and quick to find out whether the affected cat has ever been confronted with the virus and whether this intestinal infection could be fought without any problems or not.
FIP itself occurs when the coronavirus mutates. At the same time, this also means that the genome of this virus changes again and again. Unfortunately, of all cats that come into contact with the coronavirus, 5-10 percent develop FIP. While the virus mutates in these 5 – 10 percent of cats, the other animals remain healthy and do not have to fear any consequential damage. Around the world, approximately 1-2 percent contract FIP. All cat breeds are affected by the disease. Even the big cats in zoos, such as leopards, lions or cougars. Thus, both the origin and the race play no role. Furthermore, FIP can occur in cats of all ages. However, frequencies can be observed here. Especially cats aged four months and two years and seniors from 13 years are often affected. This is due to the animals’ immune systems, which are not quite as strong as in middle-aged cats.>
Unfortunately, there are many ways in which a cat can become infected with the coronavirus. It is often the case that at least one animal in a larger group of cats has already had contact with the virus. Of course, this mainly affects animal shelters or breeders of different cat breeds and animal boarding houses. The virus affects almost all cats that come into contact with it. Of course, the larger the cat groups, the greater the probability that your own cats will become infected with this virus.
The infection occurs almost exclusively via the faeces of the animals. Then, when several cats use a litter box, the danger is of course always there. The virus itself is ingested by cats through inhalation or ingestion. The virus is infectious for a week in the dried feces alone. However, the strength of the risk of infection decreases very quickly, but remains there. Of course, the faeces of the animals can often not only be found in the toilet itself. Small residues can also be found in the brush or in the animals’ favorite places, which of course can also lead to infection. If the infection phase is short, the virus can even be transmitted via the saliva of a cat, and infection cannot be completely ruled out via urine or tear fluid. Here the opinions of the experts differ widely. However, this virus can be eliminated very easily with common household remedies.
After the cat is infected, the virus lodges in the lungs or intestines, and the immune system begins to fight it. At the time, the cats did not show any symptoms that could indicate the virus. Now, of course, the animals also excrete the virus in their feces, and this continues until the acute infection has been combated by sufficient antibodies. The period of time for how long the whole thing is infectious varies greatly and can last from one to nine months.
However, there are also animals that permanently excrete the coronavirus. In this case, veterinarians speak of an increased risk of infection for all other cats that are also in contact with this cat. For example, when cats live together with several conspecifics. How high the infection pressure is cannot be said exactly. Now, however, cat owners need to think more carefully about what to do. Because the other animals are of course just as endangered. However, a separation would be problematic and also for the animals, because cats also suffer and can miss each other very much. Understandably, however, many owners decide to look for a single place for the animal or to keep the cats separately from each other, which can often be very problematic.
Furthermore, experts are very certain that this virus is also transmitted from cat mothers to their babies.
As soon as the coronavirus mutates, it does not mean that the affected cat will also develop FIP and die. The cat’s body has already developed antibodies from the virus and, with a bit of luck, these can now also keep the FIP virus in check. Experts are sure that a healthy cat can live many more great cat years in a small group of cats, despite the FIP virus. In some animals, however, FIP never broke out and the animals typically died of old age. However, this only applies to healthy cats. Unfortunately, the situation is different for particularly young or old animals as well as stressed and sick cats. While the immune system is not fully developed in young cats, it is weaker again in old cats, which also applies to animals that are stressed or already ill. However, the consequences are all the same. In the affected velvet paws, for example, there is a higher production of the FIP virus, which then spreads throughout the body.
The manifestation of this disease
The feline coronavirus (FCoV) can be classified in different forms, which now differ from each other. The extent to which the virus develops depends primarily on the immune system.
The wet FIP with an abdominal cavity effusion
Wet FIP with an abdominal cavity effusion is a classic FIP. This leads to an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which is also known as abdominal dropsy or ascites. These can also increase the cat’s abdominal circumference, so that it can also be visually noticeable. If a puncture takes place in which the liquid is removed with the help of a syringe, a stringy and yellow liquid comes to light. Exactly this course takes place in about 56 percent of all affected cats, making it the most common symptom.
Wet FIP with a chest cavity effusion
This condition leads to a build-up of fluid in the chest cavity of the affected cat, which is also known as pleural effusion. In this variant, too, a yellow and stringy liquid appears when a puncture is made with the help of a syringe. Many cats experience breathing difficulties due to the excessive accumulation of liquid.
The dry FIP
With this form, there is no accumulation of fluid. The symptoms of this form are shown by so-called nodular changes in the tissue of the affected cat. These are mainly found in the abdomen. But the lungs, the eyes, the brain or the skin of the animals can also be affected. This can result in neurological symptoms as well as yellow mucous membranes, anemia and eye diseases.
Mixed manifestations are also possible and can occur with different symptoms that we have just described.
Symptoms of FIP
The symptoms of FIP are very broad and it is always difficult to diagnose the disease with certainty. Several symptoms often appear in combination. Depending on the severity and the speed of the outbreak, there are very different signs that point to FIP. We explain below which symptoms these are:
Loss of appetite:
Many cats no longer have an appetite and even their favorite food is often simply left where it is. Even small treats are no longer taken. Another symptom that is now, of course, inevitable is weight loss in cats.
Vomiting and diarrhea:
As already mentioned, many cats suffer from vomiting and diarrhea. In this case, the diarrhea can always come back. Caution is advised here, because cats also lose a lot of liquid in this way, since they are among the animals that do not drink very much anyway. Cats who are dehydrated can become dehydrated and die.
General malaise:
The cat is uncomfortable. She often doesn’t feel like playing anymore and doesn’t participate in life the way she did before she became ill. These cats also sleep a lot more than usual. Fatigue also belongs to this group of symptoms that are often seen in sick cats.
Fever:
Many cats get a fever, often quite high, so that antipyretics must be given.
Indifference:
In addition to the general malaise and fatigue, affected cats often appear listless. They don’t come to cuddle as much anymore and often just want to be left alone. Even everyday life with any conspecifics that may be present is no longer as important to them as it was before.
Yellow mucous membranes:
Yellow mucous membranes in cats is also a symptom that could indicate this dreadful disease. The eyes also often become yellowish. Furthermore, so-called nictitating skin prolapses occur, which can indicate this disease.
Eye inflammation:
In many cats, the eyes become inflamed, so that they often water or get really pus. In these cases, of course, the eyes must be treated, with many scratches developing into chronic inflammation.
Sniffles:
Colds are also very common, although many cat owners will of course not think of FIP directly. Some cats lick their noses so badly that they can even bleed.
Central nervous system disorders:
Unfortunately, the central nervous system is also attacked in many cats, which can not only lead to coordination problems, but also to changes in character.
Disorders of consciousness:
Disorders of consciousness can also occur in sick animals, but this often only happens in the advanced stages of the disease.
The waist circumference increases:
Especially in cats, where the FIP disease is accompanied by abdominal dropsy, the abdominal circumference increases, which is also visually visible to the owners. Unfortunately, this is also very painful for the animals, so that a visit to the doctor is unavoidable.
Breathing problems:
Cats with FIP associated with chest cavity effusion often experience breathing difficulties due to excessive fluid retention. They find it very difficult to breathe and breathing noises can often be seen.
Fluid accumulations:
As already mentioned, there are different forms, with most cats having to contend with fluid build-up in the abdomen or chest cavity. This is not only very painful, but also dangerous. From a purely visual point of view, it can also be recognized by its increased circumference.
Kidney infections:
The cat’s kidneys can no longer function properly and become inflamed. Kidney infections are also associated with severe pain. In addition, the urine can change optically and becomes quite dark, among other things.
Urination changes:
The urination of sick cats can now also change. If a cat is now urinating much more than before or less, this can also be a symptom that could indicate feline coronavirus (FCoV).
Abdominal organs become inflamed:
In some cats, the abdominal organs become inflamed. The liver, intestines and the like suffer from the accumulation of fluid and react with painful inflammation.
Important to know:
All of these symptoms can indicate FIP. However, it is not certain that every cat exhibiting any of these symptoms has been directly infected with the FIP virus. There are many other diseases in cats that show these symptoms and can be very harmless or have another disease as the cause. It is therefore important to always take the animal to a veterinarian who can now rule out other diseases. Because FIP is and remains a disease that is very difficult to diagnose.
The FIP diagnosis
The detection of the so-called antibody titers in the blood is very important for both humans and animals in order to be able to detect the respective diseases. In order to be able to carry out a diagnosis, blood is taken from the affected cat. The blood is then diluted so that it can be seen whether antibodies can be found. If this is the case, the blood sample is diluted further and further. The greatest possible dilution in which the antibodies can still be detected is the titer. In plain language, this means that with a titer of 1:200 there are significantly fewer antibodies in the blood than with a titer of 1:10,000. Unfortunately, the value is increased in both a harmless coronavirus disease and an FIP that has already broken out. Unfortunately, this means that this value would not represent a clear diagnosis, but must still be carried out.
With this disease it is important to always rule out other diseases, because all the different methods of diagnosis alone do not necessarily mean that the cat has FIP. Because as soon as this suspicion is raised, it is of course a huge shock for cat owners due to the bitter course. It is now important to carry out all the necessary examinations in order to then get a fairly reliable diagnosis. However, it is important that the stress for the animal is kept as low as possible.
Is the disease contagious?
The question of whether FIP is directly contagious has not yet been answered unequivocally. As already mentioned, the corona virus is transmitted via feces or saliva. Experts who are of the opinion that the FIP virus is not directly contagious justify this on the basis of two different theses. Among other things, dead animals that carried the virtus were autopsied. It turned out that completely identical FIP virus mutations could never be discovered. They always differed from each other in different elements. Furthermore, this virus is probably no longer excreted in the faeces of the affected cats.
And yet experts are sure that it is very important to always clean everything thoroughly and wait at least three weeks before cat owners bring a new velvet paw into the house after the cat has died. In addition, it could be observed that even if the cats were not separated from each other at home, other cats did not become ill. Because many cat owners have decided against separating the animals because that would mean stress for the sick cat again and so a few nice days together with the cat buddies could be made possible. However, this observation has never been medically proven, just an observation by cat owners. Of course, every cat owner must now decide for himself how the coexistence of several cats should continue if one is suffering from FIP.
A vaccination against FIP?
Some veterinarians recommend vaccinating cats against FIP. There is a vaccine with an inactive FIP virus. This is dropped into the cat’s nose. These dormant viruses can only multiply at 31 degrees Celsius and since cats have a normal body temperature of 39 degrees, the virus is not theoretically dangerous to the animal from a medical point of view. This vaccination aims to stimulate the formation of antibodies. Unfortunately, this principle has not worked in practice as one would wish. Because under certain circumstances, this vaccination, which is supposed to prevent the disease, should increase the probability even more.
And it is precisely this reason, which is only one of many, that is why some experts advise against vaccinating cats against this disease. Furthermore, only cats that have never had contact with the coronavirus can be vaccinated. This makes a test, which must be carried out in advance, necessary. A normal test would not be sufficient here, since cats that have had contact with the coronavirus many years ago could also be negative.
What does FIP treatment look like in cats?
As soon as the FIP disease in a cat could be diagnosed with relative certainty, it is of course a huge shock for the owner. This is mainly because there is no cure for the animal. The vet can now only act to alleviate the symptoms and make the rest of the life of the poor velvet paw as pleasant as possible. So there is simply no chance of a cure to this day. Most veterinarians recommend euthanizing the cat as soon as it becomes distressed. Of course, treating their beloved pets is a balancing act for owners. Of course, those affected hope that it is not FIP after all or that one of the remedies might work a miracle. Realistically, however, cat owners have also assumed a great responsibility to their pets, which includes letting the animal go when the time comes and further life would be torturous. Here it is of course very important if you can confide in your veterinarian.