It is not recommended to euthanize a cat, even with FIP, as long as it looks and acts fairly normal. Miracles do happen, but they can't happen unless they are provided time to happen. However, some owners choose to end suffering at an earlier stage, given the grave prognosis.
All cats with FIP either die or have to be euthanized without availability of effective treatment. The median survival time of untreated cats is only eight to nine days [9,20].
In the final stages of FIP, cats struggle to breathe and eat, often resulting in euthanasia. Other symptoms of FIP in cats include: Abdominal swelling, often described as a pot belly. Breathing difficulties (open-mouth panting, harsh breathing, extra effort needed to breathe, fast breathing)
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a painful, incurable disease that's nearly always fatal.
FIP prognosis is grave: over 90 percent of cats with FIP will die from the disease. Affected cats usually do not live more than a few weeks after diagnosis, so there is little possibility for long-term care.
Treatment appears to be rapid, with most cats showing significant improvement within only a few days. Anecdotal evidence appears to result in 80-95% of cats being successfully treated. One of the most comprehensive studies involve 31 cats on long term treatment for FIP.
One of the most difficult decisions is to determine when to stop treatment. Although some cats, often younger ones with wet FIP, can be cured in as little as 8 weeks and possibly sooner, the usual treatment time is 12 weeks. Some cats may even require dosage adjustments and even longer treatment periods.
Offer FIP-positive cats their favorite food or treats to encourage them to eat. Try to minimize stressful situations, keep them indoors, warm and comfortable, with their litter box, fresh water, and food nearby. Veterinarians may prescribe medications but understand that these medications often only help temporarily.
This infection can affect the brain, liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin. This form often causes the cat to have seizures and move in an abnormal or uncoordinated way. In some cases, cats will also have excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, weight loss, and jaundice.
Many FIP cats will have bouts of diarrhea. Some home remedies include pumpkin puree and/or a probiotic, either of which are excellent for the cat and can be given regularly and in the absence of diarrhea too.
Supportive care will prolong life, and some cats with FIP can live in a state of chronic disease for weeks, months, or, rarely, a year or more.
Unfortunately, once symptoms of FIP have developed, it is considered to be incurable, rapidly progressive ( with an average life expectancy of 2 months or less from time of diagnosis ) and ultimately fatal disease.
In cats that develop FIP, the first signs of illness may be very vague. Listlessness, lethargy, decreased or absent appetite, weight loss, and a fluctuating fever are commonly reported clinical signs.
There is no doubt that some cats are not cured even over 12 weeks and some evidence that some can be cured sooner (i.e, 8- 10 weeks). However, early cessation of treatment will always lead to a decrease in the proportion of cats that are cured, and the sooner you stop a treatment, the higher the relapse rate.
FIP can affect the liver, kidneys, pancreas, or other organ systems. Most cats will start showing symptoms of simply not feeling well—eating poorly, running a fever, or acting lethargic. Some animals will develop other diseases, depending on the type of the disease present.
Clinical signs of FIP include: Decreased appetite to complete loss of appetite. Chronic weight loss or weight gain (seen more with dry FIP)
Eye problems caused by feline FIP can include: Anterior uveitis – inflammation of the iris and ciliary body in the eye. Glaucoma – a condition in which fluid buildup puts pressure on the optic nerve.
If you have lost a cat to FIP, remove any cat related items that you cannot wash or disinfect, such as a scratching post or soft toys. Clean and disinfect everything else in the environment that you can. Time will take care of the rest, because viruses of this type are not long-lived in the environment.
As FIP is an immune-mediated disease, treatment is mainly aimed at controlling the immune response triggered by the infection with the feline coronavirus (FCoV). Immune suppressive drugs such as prednisone or cyclophosphamide may slow disease progression but do not produce a cure.
It can take time for cats to show signs of FIP, from a few weeks to months. The first signs of FIP can range from depression to changes in appetite to fever. There are two forms of FIP: wet and dry.
The treatment is also hard on both owners and cats, as injections can be painful. There is also a problem in some cats, especially those with neurological involvement, with development of partial drug resistance, which requires an increasing dosage.
Ham and Gravy is the stinkiest and therefore the most enticing to cats, but Chicken & Gravy or Turkey & Gravy are also fine to give provided they have NO seasonings (onions and garlic are toxic to cats). Many FIP cats prefer to lick food from their human's finger rather than eat out of their usual bowl.
(FIP vaccine)
For vaccination of healthy cats 16 weeks of age or older against feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIP).
A 100% morbidity and a 90% mortality was observed. The first signs were observed after 14 and 27 days respectively. The clinical pattern of the disease was similar in all kittens and showed a pattern of recurrent periods of conjunctivitis, upper respiratory and gastrointestinal signs.
FIP is a disease that most frequently appears in young cats less than 2 years old but can occur in cats of any age.