Cat Coronavirus & Feline Panleukopenia: Understanding t

What is Feline Panleukopenia?

Feline Panleukopenia, commonly known as FIP, is a condition that often affects cats with weakened immune systems, typically due to malnutrition or stress responses.

Caused by a variant of the feline coronavirus, this virus can leave the intestines and infect other organs, leading to inflammation of the abdominal tissues. Although feline coronaviruses are quite common in cats, they usually reside in the intestines without causing illness. It's only when the virus spreads beyond the intestines that it can lead to FIP. However, the likelihood of a cat developing FIP from the coronavirus is relatively low; some cats can carry the virus for their entire lives without ever becoming ill.

Contrary to the name, FIP is not highly contagious. It does not easily spread to other cats or to humans.

What are the Clinical Symptoms of FIP?

FIP is generally categorized into two types: dry and wet, with wet FIP being more common.

The incubation period for FIP is long, and initial symptoms may be subtle, including decreased appetite, lethargy, weight loss, and fever. As the disease progresses, symptoms can develop into either of the two types:

1. Dry FIP Symptoms:

Cats may experience gradual weight loss, cloudy eyes, vision problems, and neurological symptoms such as paralysis of the hind legs, seizures, and nystagmus. This can lead to lesions in the liver, lungs, kidneys, and lymph nodes, as well as anemia and jaundice.

2. Wet FIP Symptoms:

Wet FIP can cause significant fluid accumulation in the chest or abdomen, resulting in a bloated belly and swollen limbs. Other parts of the body may appear emaciated. Severe fluid buildup can impede normal breathing, and cats often succumb to the disease within two months of onset.

How to Handle a Cat with FIP?

There are now specific medications for treating FIP available on the market, though they can be expensive and the sources may be unreliable. If possible, it's best to take your cat to a veterinary hospital for treatment. If the hospital has a stock of the medication, treatment can be administered quickly. If not, you can ask the vet about reliable sources for obtaining the drug. While receiving conservative care, your cat can wait for the medication to arrive.

However, the cure rate for FIP is only around 35%, so if the disease has reached a severe stage, the vet may recommend euthanasia to alleviate the cat's suffering in the long run.

After successfully overcoming FIP, it's important to ensure your cat receives adequate nutrition and supplements like multivitamin B and antiviral IGY to boost its immune system and fight against viruses. It's also crucial to minimize stress in your cat's life, as stress can trigger the mutation of coronaviruses. Remember, FIP is not a disease that provides lifelong immunity after a single infection.