by Finn Frode
(Copenhagen, Denmark)
Ivanhoe before he got ill
Last year I lost my Ivanhoe, who succumbed to FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) just 11 months old. He was a purebred Somali that I had high expectations for - both show-wise and as an affectionate companion.
This wonderful cat deserves his own page, so at a later date I'll tell you about the happier moments over in the Somali section.
When Ivanhoe had just passed 10 months he started losing weight. He also got more weary and less playful. I took him to the vet and a blood test showed anemia.
A number of possible diseases were discussed - ranging from simple infections to more grim options like FIP. We decided to start treating with antibiotics, but at the same time send a blood sample to an expert lab for a more thorough check.
When the results came back, the blood values ruled out most of the other possible diseases. They did not rule out FIP, but there is no conclusive test for diagnosing FIP at the moment and blood tests will only indicate the possibility of the disease.
I have a good vet, whom I trust and I sensed she was worried about the situation too, but we decided to carry on with the antibiotics as Ivanhoe seemed to get slightly better from it.
Sadly this improvement lasted only a short while and a couple of weeks later it was obvious that something was very seriously wrong, as Ivanhoe kept losing weight and also seemed short of breath. Forgive me for not describing his condition in more detail, but even more than a year later it's too heart-rending.
Since about everything else had been ruled out by now, I had to accept the fact that most likely Ivanhoe suffered from deadly FIP. On the suggestion of the breeder, with whom I had been talking things over all the way, I decided to get a second opinion from the breeders vet. Not that I distrusted my own vet, but I could not have this loving cat euthanized unless I was absolutely certain.
We took him there and they too studied the test results without arriving at a final diagnose. He was then X-rayed - and then there was no doubt about it anymore. Most of his chest cavity was filled with liquid typical of wet FIP in a progressed state. No wonder he was short of breath, but cats have this way of hiding their weaknesses, so he never revealed how bad his physical state had become.
I was of course there at the clinic all the way calming and caressing him until he was finally put to sleep. It was all very peaceful and when it was all over, I sat there for a while remembering what a good cat he had been. He looked just as if asleep.
You can read more about this horrible disease in Michaels article "Feline FIP" at the blog. I have just a few additional comments:
Not so many years ago entire catteries were extinguished if one of the cats carried the Coronavirus, because back then many believed that Coronavirus meant FIP. It's not so, although there is a clear connection.
For most cats the virus is harmless and they'll never get the disease, but in a few cases it will mutate into FIP. A Danish study suggests that less than 1% of the infected cats develop the disease, but the remaining more than 99% don't, so there's no need to panic about it.
Whether my Ivanhove brought the Coronavirus with him from the small cattery where he was born or whether he contracted it in his new home from our old cat, we'll never know. It doesn't really matter either, because the risk of the virus mutating into FIP is so minimal.
For now we'll all have to live with that risk until the kittens reach 1½ years, but hopefully some day there will be a vaccine and maybe even a cure.
Finn
See:
Feline Infectious Peritonitis in specific cat breeds
Feline Viruses
From a Victim of FIP to Cat Health Problems
I live alone with my cats. My youngest Siamese boy, Illy suffered a traumatic attack by neighbour’s dog in March 2015. Got him to the vet who saved him but 6wks later he was unwell, off his food. Was due his booster so vet gave meds for infection and delayed booster for a week, as he had always reacted badly to boosters previously. A week later he was fine so had his booster, no problems.Everything seemed fine and he was getting stronger after his attack. Then early July noticed his tummy was bloated but put it down to weight gain due to decreased activity since March. July 22 he went off his food and seemed to have problem with his mouth. Vet visit July 25. He had an ulcer on side of tongue which was treated. I asked about bloated tummy which was getting bigger. Made appointment to see my usual vet July 29. Was concerned as no improvement so took him back to vet July 27. He took bloods for CITE test, took fluid from abdomen and mentioned FIV/FeLV. I did some research and was concerned but not too worried. JULY 29 chased up results. Vet still didn’t have them but mentioned FIP at that point. I had never even heard of it. Googled it and was shocked. Illy was so symptomatic. July 31 vet said he was 99% certain of FIP. Prescribed prednidale and Tylan, also water tablets. Illy picked up for a day or so but then worsened. Back to the vets, another steroid injection, some response but he just would not take the Tylan. Returned to vet July 31. He tripled the Prednidale but by Saturday he refused to take those and no appetite. I cooked chicken, minced beef, gave him prawns, yoghurt, cheese, anything, he was wasting away. He stopped “talking” and just sat on the sofa for the last 2 days. I knew then that he wasn’t enjoying life. He took some comfort from cuddles but he couldn’t even make it upstairs for cuddles in bed. I wanted to keep going but having already lost a cat to kidney disease after taking a selfish decision to prolong her life I couldn’t let Illy suffer for my benefit. Sunday August 9 I rang my vet and told him it was time. He came out straight away. At 15:44 Illy went to sleep. I kept him overnight because I didn’t want him to be alone and to give my other Siamese the chance to understand what had happened. Monday August 11 Illy had a private cremation. He had just turned 5 in April. He was a small cat with the biggest, loudest
Thanks Joanne for taking the time to share your sad story. My condolences. So sorry to read of his death. Could there be a connection of some sort between the dog attack and the FIP?
This is in memory of my little Princess Mia today she lost her fight with this horrible virus. Princess Mia was only 6 month old she was rescued from a parking lot in Merced Califorina with her sister Princess Bella. She came to live with me and Faith on June 10th of 2012 she was the most sweetest kitty you would ever want. It has only been hours since she passed away and I feel that I will never get over it. I hope a cure will be found because the humans and other innocent kittens and cats should never have to go through this kind of heart felt pain. Saint Frances please protect and watch over all our fury companions.
So sorry to hear of this. Good luck for the future. It is an awful disease and it is far too common as well.