FIP in cats

FIP in Cats: Symptoms and Treatment

FIP in cats is an abbreviation for “Feline Infectious Peritonitis.” This is a disease caused by mutation of a virus called the feline coronavirus, commonly abbreviated in literature as FCoV. FIP in cats is fairly uncommon, affecting less than 1% of cats. However, once the virus mutates, it is generally a progressive and ultimately fatal disease.

FIP in cats is most common in cats 6 months to 2 years of age with a slightly higher distribution in male cats. Certain purebred cats also have a higher incidence, including Asian breeds such as Himalayan and Birman cats.

Below, we will discuss FIP symptoms, if FIP is contagious, and give you information on the FIP vaccine.

What Is FIP?

FIP in cats is a disease caused by a mutated coronavirus. Feline coronavirus is commonly present in the intestines of cats. In fact, it is estimated that approximately half of the cats in single cat households have the virus. It is even more common in multi-cat environments (e.g. catteries), where it is estimated that up to 90% of cats may have coronavirus.

Most cats that have coronavirus live a normal life. However, it is estimated that 5% of cats with coronavirus will go on to develop FIP. In this small percentage of cats, the virus mutates into a pathogenic and harmful virus that causes a variety of problems that we will discuss below under “Signs of FIP in Cats”. This only happens in some cats and the cause is uncertain but is most likely related to the cat’s immune system.

It is important to understand that FIP in cats is NOT transmitted from one cat to another. This can be confusing to some pet owners. The coronavirus CAN be transmitted from cat to cat, but FIP CANNOT be transmitted from one cat to another.

Once a cat has been exposed to coronavirus, 95% will have a normal life. When the coronavirus mutates in the other 5%, this is what causes FIP.

Signs of FIP in Cats

There are two forms of FIP in cats. The first form is called effusive (also known as wet or feline coronavirual polyserositis) FIP and second is called non-effusive (also known as dry or granulomatous) FIP. It is possible for cats to get both forms of the disease. Signs of FIP in cats generally develop over weeks to months.

The signs of FIP in cats will depend on which form of FIP they acquire. When the virus mutates, generally one of two things happen. Sometimes, the virus affects the blood vessels, which is what happens with the “wet” form, or the cat develops granulomatous lesions, which is what occurs in the “dry” form of FIP.

With the wet form of FIP, cats develop vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), which causes abnormal fluid accumulations. If the fluid accumulation occurs in the chest (also known as a pleural effusion), common signs are trouble breathing. If the fluid accumulation occurs in the abdomen (commonly referred to as ascites), the abdomen can become distended.

Excessive abdominal fluid is uncomfortable and causes signs such as nausea, decreased appetite, lethargy, weight loss, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Most pet owners don’t notice the distended abdomen but will take their cats to the vet for trouble breathing or the signs that result from abdominal distension.

The dry form of FIP in cats causes granulomatous lesions to various organs, including the eyes, skin, and/or nervous system. A granuloma is a collection of immune cells that form in response to the virus and can be found with many different diseases.

The granuloma creates lesions on the skin, in the eye, or nervous system that cause associated signs of FIP. For example, if granuloma forms in the brain, a cat may have trouble walking, be off balance, develop head tremors, and/or seizure just to name a few possibilities.

Many cats with FIP will also have a fever and eventually become anemic.

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Symptoms of FIP in Cats

FIP symptoms in cats may include any or all of the following:

FIP Symptoms in Kittens

FIP symptoms in kittens can be the same as those in adult cats. Some kittens with FIP will appear lethargic and fail to thrive relative to their littermates. They tend to sleep more, play less, appear lethargic, sometimes vomit or not eat, and overall fail to grow like a normal kitten. When the wet form is present, it can be more common to see a profoundly distended abdomen.

Is FIP Contagious?

The question “Is FIP contagious?” is a common and important one. As mentioned above, the cause of FIP is an abnormal mutation of the coronavirus. Coronavirus is contagious cat to cat, but FIP is NOT contagious cat to cat.

The coronavirus is a common virus that can be present in normal healthy cats and appears to be more common in situations where there are multiple cats, such as in catteries and shelters.

Coronavirus can be spread from cat to cat by fecal-oral contact or inhalation of the virus. It can also be spread through the placenta from the mother cat. This means that an uninfected cat can acquire coronavirus from ingesting the feces, inhaling the virus, or from transmission from their infected mom. Ingestion of coronavirus can occur through contact with feces, such as after a cat leaves a dirty litter box and grooms itself, or from exposure to virus-contaminated objects.

Since feline coronavirus is eliminated in feces, control measures in high-risk environments include frequent litter box cleaning and care. These measures are highly recommended in catteries and shelters. It is also recommended to ensure feeding and water stations are not near litter boxes.

To recap, FIP in cats is NOT considered “contagious.” This is important because previously it was suggested that FIP in cats could be transmitted from cat to cat through contact with saliva, feces, and urine. This caused panic and some cats with coronavirus were euthanized.

FIP in cats occurs when the coronavirus mutates in that particular cat, creating a pathogenic version of the virus. This is very important to understand because, in the past, it was thought that FIP could be transmitted from cat to cat. You will still find this in some out-of-date literature in print and on the internet.

Risk factors for FIP in cats include situations where there are multiple cats and stress. This includes multi-cat homes, catteries, shelters, elective surgery, and vaccinations.

FIP in cats is not contagious to humans.

FIP Vaccine

There is a FIP vaccine (Primucell© FIP, Pfizer Animal Health) available, which has met with some controversy. It is an intranasal vaccine (liquid drops that go in the nose). The virus in the vaccine replicates in the nose and does not cause a generalized infection.

The vaccine is not recommended for kittens under the age of 16 weeks. When used, it is given once with recommended annual re-vaccinations. The vaccine is not effective if a cat has already been exposed to coronavirus. Therefore, antibody testing is recommended prior to vaccination. The vaccine creates positive antibody titers.

Vaccination in high-risk environments has not been especially effective to date. For this reason, the vaccine is not commonly used or recommended by most veterinarians.

Resources & References for FIP in Cats: