Raising Awareness About FIP In Cats

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is arguably the worst thing that happens to a cat. That’s because this disease – which is considered fatal – affects mostly babies, little kittens. And they suffer.

Here’s what happens. Many kittens catch a virus that sometimes causes the common cold in people. In fact, the enteric coronavirus is even more benign in most cats. By the time a family member calls the veterinarian, the upset tummy that the virus might have caused is gone. And often times there are no discernible symptoms. Coronaviruses are species-specific (so you can’t give or catch a coronavirus to your cat) and are quite common. If the story ended there – it would be great, albeit boring.

However, in some cats, this benign virus does a “dipsy-doodle” mutation (not a technical term) inside the cat and transforms into an immune-mediated disease that wages war on a cat’s organ systems.

Wet and dry FIP

There are two forms of FIP, wet (effusive) and dry (non-effusive). Kitties with the wet form look like they have a beer belly, as their tummies are filled with a liquid – which can be tested to determine If the cat has FIP. The dry form is more insidious and often difficult to diagnose. These cats just “ain’t doing well.” That’s accurate, although not so scientific description and veterinarians use their best science to put the puzzle pieces together.

Cats with the wet form typically live for around four to six months tops. Cats with the dry form may survive longer, even up to a year.

For years, FIP was called rare. According to legendary researcher Dr. Niels Pedersen, professor emeritus, and former director of the Center for Companion Animal Health at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine-Davis notes that FIP kills an estimated one in 100 to one in 300 of all cats under five years old (though mostly kittens are stricken). And the frequency can be up to 10 times greater among kittens from catteries (breeders) or shelters.

There are two reasons why FIP occurs more often in shelters and catteries. One reason is that while FIP is not contagious, the enteric coronavirus is highly contagious. The more kitties with the coronavirus, the more kittens that will be exposed to the possibility of FIP occurring. Also, stress seems to play a role in lowering the immune system to allow FIP, and sometimes kittens living in crowded environments may be more stressed.

New and promising research

Dogs and people do not get FIP. So dollars devoted to studying this horrible disease have been limited, and even efforts fund studies – that was until Pedersen came along, as he has spent an entire career learning about so many feline infectious diseases, but he only recently began to crack the FIP code.

Pedersen was buoyed with dollars from the non-profit Winn Feline Foundation, for nearly 50 years the world’s preeminent funder of cat health studies.

When Susan Gingrich (that’s right, Newt’s sister) lost her little Birman kitty to the disease in 2005, she launched the Bria Fund with the Winn Feline Foundation – with dollars specifically targeted at FIP research. Due to the infusion of money and simultaneously increased technology to better understand FIP at a cellular level, researchers are today closer than they ever have been to find a solution. With some relationship to human SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) interest in FIP has been spurred. And Gingrich and her international army have led a crusade to enhance awareness.

However, even with all that, still, no one knows for sure why the enteric coronavirus mutates in some cats into FIP, while others (most cats) shake off the virus without any effects, living a long and healthy life.

Spreading awareness

The dream of millions of cat lovers around the globe is to find a treatment for FIP. Many of those cat lovers have contributed to Winn’s Bria Fund, and no doubt many have never heard of Winn – but would help if they knew they could – so it’s all about spreading awareness.

One fundraiser and effort to do just that happens on April 9, called Mr. Swanson’s Day. Chris Cook of Atlanta, GA describes her kitty who succumbed to FIP at the age of 17 months in 2011 as “The sweetest soul I ever met. He was my heart my world.”

Mr. Swanson and his two sisters were little tiny balls of fur who were for the most part, feral. “I didn't even have Mr. Swanson for a year and a half before he began to show signs of illness,” recalls Cook. “After many tests and a second vet opinion, I finally got the diagnosis of FIP on January 9th. It was the day I told Mr. Swanson goodbye and my world shattered. During that time I had a dream that Mr. Swanson was going away but I was to share his awesomeness with the world. It wasn't until after his death, I realized what the dream meant.”

To help, please consider giving to the Winn Feline Foundation Bria Fund.

“The time is now because we’re at a turning point, with an excellent understanding of the disease process,” says Gingrich. “So much has been discovered over the past couple of years. We’re so close. But still so far.”

Please help to spread the word – and If you can, give, or if you know someone whose cat suffered from FIP, please consider giving to the Bria Fund.