FIP in the cat

What is FIP?

FIP is a mutated (altered) Coronavirus that occurs only in cats and is not contagious to other animals. F.I.P. stands for Feline infectious peritonitis (infectious peritonitis of the cat) and from the name you can therefore already conclude that it occurs only in felines. Feline means cat.

Coronavirus FCoV can turn into FIP.

FIP is a mutated coronavirus that originates from another fairly harmless diarrhoeal virus (coronavirus - FCoV). This coronavirus actually causes no symptoms at all or just some mild diarrhoea. Usually the cat gets rid of it within a few days, but sometimes this virus can thus change (mutate) a little into the altered form called FIP. Fortunately, this only happens in a small proportion even though almost all cats get infected with the diarrhoea virus at least once during their lifetime. The mutation from a harmless diarrhoeal virus to Feline infectious peritonitis is unpredictable and can happen in all cats. It is caused by a dysfunctional immune response and, unfortunately, there is no curative treatment to date.

Is F.IP. a very contagious disease?

No F.I.P. itself is not transmissible from one cat to another. However, the presence of Coronavirus - FCoV (diarrhoeal virus) does affect the occurrence of FIP. And when more cats are present in a room, there is a greater chance of infection with the diarrhoea virus. This is the same principle as with our Covid virus which is why we have now had to introduce the 1.5m society. Therefore, when more cats get the normal Corona virus, there is a greater chance of the virus mutating in one of the cats present. Because of this, we see FIP more often in a Cattery or household with multiple cats (over 5), simply because more cats living here contract the coronavirus. Also, it is especially the younger cats up to a year or so that are most susceptible. Probably because the immune system is still less developed, but we also see FIP more often in cats with reduced resistance. Stress is an important resistance lowering factor, so we sometimes see FIP developing in cats after a period of stress.

There are 2 variants of F.I.P (infectious peritonitis).

There are currently two known forms of FIP, the wet form and the dry form. It is also possible that there is a mixed form. Cats with the wet form, where there is fluid in the abdominal cavity because the peritoneum has become inflamed. With this, it is also possible that the pleura joins in and then fluid is also formed in the chest. Unfortunately, the wet form is more severe for the cat and these more often die within days to weeks. < The second form of Feline infectious peritonitis is called the dry form and here there is no fluid production in the abdominal or thoracic cavity, but the organs are affected. In this form, inflammation then develops in the organs throughout the body. Most often, the liver, intestines, brain and kidneys are affected. These cats have a longer life prognosis depending on how severe the organ damage is, sometimes surviving up to a few months to years.

What can you see in a cat with FIP?

Cats with FIP regardless of the form often have fever and show weight loss. In the wet form, the abdominal girth will increase and you will often notice a fat belly but little padding on the chest (i.e. the cat does not appear fat due to excess weight). When the fluid builds up in the chest cavity, you will notice that the cat becomes stuffy because the fluid makes it harder for the lungs to expand which is necessary when breathing.
The dry form produces more different symptoms because they depend heavily on which organs are affected and to what extent there is damage. For example, the eyes may become cloudy or inflamed, there may be jaundice, kidney failure or anaemia. However, there may also be neurological symptoms due to damage to the brain or elsewhere in the nerves, as a result of which a cat may visibly start to limp or even become unable to walk at all.

The diagnosis of F.I.P. is made at the vet's office.

If you suspect that your cat is ill or you see that the shape of its belly is changing, while it does not seem to be gaining any other weight, it is advisable to make an appointment with your vet. There, based on physical examination, using a blood test but also if fluid is present in the abdomen, a probable diagnosis can often be made. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to always confirm that it is actually FIP, but using various criteria, the diagnosis of FIP is becoming increasingly plausible. Only tissue examination (biopsies or after death by autopsy) can confirm the diagnosis with certainty. When there are several cats in a household, it may be useful to know for sure that there was indeed FIP.

Can you cure FIP?

Unfortunately FIP cannot be cured, but medication can help reduce the symptoms of the disease. This can increase the lifespan, but most importantly improve the quality of life. If the cat is already suffering too much from the fluid that has formed or from the side effects of the affected organs, it may sometimes also be necessary to put the cat to sleep to prevent further suffering.

Can you prevent your cat from becoming infected with FIP?

Unfortunately, you can never completely prevent your cat from being infected with FIP, because all cats come into contact with the corona virus at some point, which can mutate. The corona virus is mainly spread through faeces, so good hygiene at home is very important. However, a well-functioning immune system reduces the chance of FIP developing from the diarrhoea virus. To have good defences, it is important that the cat is fed good food, vaccinated annually, lives in a clean environment, does not experience chronic stress and preferably kept in a group that is not too large.

-This is an automated translation-