Feline Infectious Peritionitis - info for Pet Owners

The Diagnosis - Isolate - Supportive Care -
Adding cats - Saying Goodbye

1) Are you confident with the diagnosis? Palliative therapy for FIP may be contraindicated if the cat is suffering from something else. Dr. Susan Little calls FIP the “Great Imitator and the Great Imposter.” This is not always an easy disease to diagnose especially in the dry form. A set of symptoms tested not attributable to other causes, together with CBC and Chemistry Panel findings consistent with FIP diagnosis, and a positive Corona titer when the condition is unresponsive to treatment, strongly argues for FIP as the conclusion.

2) Isolate the sick. Do not assume “everyone has already been exposed so there is no use in isolating.” Viral shedding patterns vary from cat to cat and degrees of pathogenity of the virus are very strain dependent. Individual cat immunity is also highly variable. Therefore the ‘infectious challenge dose’ should be kept down. Keeping FIP suspect cats and kittens with housemates may endanger the other cats. Yes, most of the time FIP claims only one cat in a household, but we have ample examples on our list of FIP spreading through a cattery or a multiple cat household, even among outdoor cats!

3) Provide supportive care. Remissions of FIP and additional quality of life are the goal here. Do not be fooled by a remission. Cats with FIP can get better and then decline again. Where appropriate, control fever and maintain hydration - your veterinarian can help you achieve these and show you how to check for them. Try to feed quality supportive care diets such as Hills A/D, and IVD Development for cats, or prescription kidney or hepatic diets appropriate to the development of the disease in your cat. For kitties not wanting to eat remember you may need to manage nausea - most inappetence is caused by this. Some injectable drugs or over the counter products like Tagamet HB and Pepcid AC can help. Vitamin and anti-oxidant supplementation and alpha-interferon therapy coupled with antibiotics and prednisone are currently the accepted treatment.

Provide a safe, stress-free environment and lots of attention.

Finally, remember, steroids can greatly reduce suffering in cats with FIP, with a terminal disease, do not be concerned with the long term effects of such therapy.

4) Manage your cats. Do not add cats or kittens to your household at this time. Consider assessing Corona status of remaining cats (three sets of titers six weeks apart) before replacing a cat or kitten lost in a multi-cat household. After the loss of an FIP kitten in a single cat household, wait at least six weeks before bringing another into your home. Consider vaccinating (Primucell) Corona virus negative cats/kittens coming into a Corona positive household.

5) When to give up. While FIP is called the “purring disease”, it is important to remember that cats may purr under severe stress and to help them manage pain…FIP is an uncomfortable disease at best and in many of its iterations, an intolerable one for the animal. It is also an incurable disease. Be sensitive to the quality of life your cat has. Consult with your veterinarian regarding pain and discomfort levels. But remember, you are the best judge of when it is time to say goodbye. For now, supportive care and easing our cats out of their suffering is the best we can do.