FIP is a relatively rare but often fatal viral disease which is common in young cats (less than 2 years old) and kittens and is caused by an infection with the virus named feline coronavirus. It’s important to note that this is different from the coronavirus that infects people and leads to COVID-19. This is a feline coronavirus that is very common and only causes mild symptoms, but in a few cases, it mutates into the feline infectious peritonitis virus, triggering FIP, a serious disease that is deadly for most cats.
A mutated feline coronavirus can trigger feline infectious peritonitis, so before we get to the specifics of the FIP disease in cats, let’s look at what the feline coronavirus is and how your pet might get it.
The feline coronavirus affects cats and is not contagious to humans. However, it can easily transmit from feline to feline and it’s usually passed in cat faeces. This is why it’s more common in cats that are in close proximity with or share a household with other cats and are in contact with their litter trays.
The good news is that, despite being a very transmittable virus encountered by nearly every cat throughout their lives, feline coronavirus doesn’t typically make your cat visibly ill. The infection is normally limited to the intestinal tract, so if symptoms do manifest, they’re mild and you will usually notice your kitten suffering from diarrhoea for a few days and nothing more.
So how does a seemingly harmless virus turn into a more dangerous strain, capable of activating a disease that is fatal for most cats? As the feline coronavirus starts to replicate inside your cat’s body, mutations might occur. Scientists don’t know yet what is causing these mutations, but a weak immune system, stress and even age (with younger cats being more susceptible to FIP virus) have been proposed as possible explanations.
One of these mutations can turn the feline coronavirus into the feline infectious peritonitis virus which, instead of remaining confined to the intestinal tract, infects blood cells that then travel throughout the entire body. The immune system should be able to intervene at this point and fight off the infection, but if this does not happen, the cat will develop feline infectious peritonitis.
So, even if the cat becomes infected with the FIP virus, it does not necessarily follow that they will suffer from the FIP disease. A strong immune system will be able to stop the illness from being triggered. However, this means that young and old kittens with weaker immune responses are less likely to stop the virus and FIP will be triggered as a consequence. Despite this, the disease luckily remains quite rare in cats.
Unfortunately, FIP in cats can’t be easily recognised through symptoms alone. The first signs are vague and common to so many other conditions. Early symptoms of FIP include fever, weight loss, decreased appetite and lethargy.
But after a few days, other signs start to appear which are more worrying and give the disease the two forms it’s known for: ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ FIP.
In this form of the disease fluid builds up in the abdomen making a swollen tummy one of the most obvious signs. This might also happen in the chest cavity causing breathing problems. But other diseases can cause this fluid accumulation as well, so it’s important to wait for more clear diagnostics from your vet in order to make a presumptive diagnosis.
In this case of FIP in cats there will be minimal fluid accumulation and the symptoms will be vague and not specific to only one illness: weight loss, vomiting or lethargy. Inflammation might also develop and affect various organs such as eyes, kidneys, lungs or skin.
In both cases, once the symptoms appear they will progress rapidly in a matter of days or weeks.
With no disease-specific symptoms and no blood tests currently available to confirm FIP, there is no simple way for vets to come to a diagnosis. This is why a series of tests will be used including blood work to identify any abnormalities or x-rays to look for fluid build-up in the body. A biopsy of inflamed tissues has the best chances of revealing FIP in cats, but this requires surgery which is not recommended if a cat is too ill. And even if the biopsy is performed this does not always result in a definite diagnosis.
Unfortunately, FIP is a fatal disease in many cases, but there are treatment options that will alleviate some of the symptoms to help make your cat more comfortable. However, research for FIP treatment options continues and there are early signs that medication or even a vaccine that prevents this disease might be possible one day.
At the moment, the best thing pet owners can do is discuss all the available options (which can include supportive treatments where appropriate) with their vet and be emotionally prepared for the situation in which euthanasia is the most humane step to take.
Without a vaccine, currently there is no known way to prevent the feline coronavirus from triggering the FIP disease. But owners can help minimise the risk of this virus getting into their cat’s systems in the first place and reduce the likelihood that once in there it will mutate.
Keeping the litter box far away from the cat’s food bowl and cleaning it more often can help reduce the transmission of the feline coronavirus. And while many stressful situations for our pets can’t be avoided, there are ways to reduce their frequency, such as spacing out events that can be frightening for the pet. So, for example, if you’re moving house, make sure you don’t acquire another cat at the same time.
Crowded or poorly-maintained catteries can also contribute to the spread of the feline coronavirus. So, it’s always a good idea to visit or research any boarding facilities before bringing your cat in. The cattery should be well-managed, cleaned at least twice a day and there should be no bad odours.
And don’t forget to always keep an eye on unusual symptoms in your cat and contact the vet if they persist as soon as possible. Even a cough that won’t go away can be a revealing sign of something else going on in your cat’s body. If you notice this symptom in your pet, here is our handy article explaining the top reasons why your cat might be coughing.
