Ocular FIP is relatively rare, occurring in only about 10% of FIP cases. The most common symptom is a sudden onset of unilateral or bilateral uveitis (inflammation of the eye). Other ocular symptoms include increased tearing, squinting, redness, and apparent cloudiness of the eye.
Some cats develop 'dry' or non-effusive FIP where little to no fluid accumulates. The dry form often involves severe inflammation in one or more organs including the eyes, brain, liver, intestine, or other organs of the body, leading to a variety of clinical signs.
This disease, which is most often associated with FIV, FeLV, FIP and other infectious organisms, is usually chronic and is likely to result in gradual blindness. Among its signs are inflammation of the eyeball, squinting, swollen third eyelids and noticeably enlarged eyes.
Uveitis (intraocular inflammation) can affect the eyes, making them look cloudy and changing the color of the iris. Inflammation can enter the brain and spinal chord and cause a spectrum of progressive neurologic abnormalities.
Various forms of ocular inflammation have been described in cats with FIP. Pyogranulomatous or granulomatous inflammation has been found throughout the uvea and in the sclera, conjunctiva, retina, and optic nerve.
A cat may develop mild symptoms shortly after getting the virus. These may include diarrhea, respiratory issues, watery eyes and eye discharge. These symptoms usually clear up quickly. In about one in 10 cats, the virus changes in ways that allow it to infect macrophages, which are specialized immune system cells.
Most illness related to FIV is not from the virus itself, but from these secondary infections or problems with the immune system. Cats may develop chronic or recurrent infections of the skin, eyes, urinary tract, or upper respiratory tract.
Other forms of FIP
Thus, a wide range of signs may be observed including neurological disease (e.g., a wobbly and unsteady gait or fits), bleeding in the eyes and other vague signs of disease that may occur with lesions in the liver, kidneys or other internal organs.
Some say it's because God chose only the sweetest of kittens to go to Heaven early. Those more pragmatic point out kitties sick with FIP don't feel very well, and that is actually what the purring is all about. So much purring, in fact, that FIP was once called “the purring disease.”
Cloudy eyes can be a serious symptom of cat eye disease—particularly when the clouding is on the cornea (the outer surface of the eye). When the cornea gets injured, such as from a scratch or ulcer, swelling occurs, and you will see a cloudy patch in your cat's eye. In some cases, the entire cornea may appear cloudy.
Although the effusive form of FIP is often rapidly fatal, some cats can live longer than one might imagine (weeks or months) with supportive care. Pulmonary fluids need to be drained, but abdominal fluids typically should not be drained. Cats with the dry form may stay alive for months or more.
The less common form of the disease is 'dry FIP' in which there is no build up of fluid but thick scar tissue develops on the cat's internal organs. Except in rare cases, wet FIP is fatal within about five weeks of diagnosis. The dry form is equally deadly but affected cats may survive for a few months.
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.
FIP can suppress your cat's appetite, and many cats will lose a lot of weight during their diagnosis. It's important to encourage your cat to eat as much as possible to increase their energy levels and support their body functions.
What To Feed A Cat With FIP. It is imperative to keep your cat eating, or he/she will be at risk of fatty liver disease. Cats need at least 200 calories per day. Inappetence is often one of the first symptoms to appear with FIP cats.
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.
Although the disease occurs in all breeds, purebred cats are more susceptible including, Abyssinians, Australian mist, Bengals, Birmans, Burmese, British shorthairs, Himalayans, ragdolls, rexes, and Scottish folds.
While the other two viruses mentioned have much happier outcomes, historically FIP is much more deadly. Almost all indoor and outdoor cats already have the coronavirus, which is a harmless but extremely contagious virus in cats.
Cats with FIP treated with remdesivir typically improve clinically over the first 2-3 days. The anecdotal evidence of cats treated with remdesivir and GS-441524 says that around 80-95% of cats are successfully treated. It is still too early to know how many will recur.
Because the FIP coronavirus can invade many different tissues, routine blood testing may indicate evidence of kidney or liver damage. Due to the inflammatory nature seen with FIP, protein levels in the blood are often increased. However, these tests can only provide additional evidence supporting the diagnosis of FIP.
Relapses of disease following cessation of treatment have occurred within days to several weeks after stopping treatment and the relapse rate appears to be much higher than for cats suffering other forms of FIP.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a common disease and a frequent reason for referral; approximately 1 of every 200 new feline cases presented to American veterinary teaching hospitals represents a cat with FIP [1]. It is also a major factor in kitten mortality [2].
A cat can develop an eye infection when she is exposed to bacteria, viruses, fungi, and in some cases, even parasites. If a cat has an eye infection, the most common signs will include swelling, redness, squinting, discharge, and pawing at the infected eye.
Feline Conjunctivitis
The signs of conjunctivitis include eye redness, discharge, and squinting. In cats, conjunctivitis can be caused by bacteria (Chlamydia or Mycoplasma) or a virus (feline herpesvirus). Both adult cats and kittens can develop conjunctivitis.
Feline herpesvirus 1 (feline rhinotracheitis) is a virus that affects the eyes and respiratory tract of cats. It is very common. In fact, in some areas of the world, 97% of cats have been exposed to the virus. After exposure to feline herpesvirus 1, more than 80% of cats become "latently" infected for life.