Coping With Feline Infectious Peritonitis

We lost our 14- year old due to hyperthyroidism. 3 weeks later we lost our 5 year old to a pack of coyotes. A week later, my ex-husband brought my children their very own kittens from his two cats (inbred, brother/ sister). I knew that Snickers, my daughter’s cat had something wrong. My son’s cat Julio was just a little slower and his hind legs seemed very uncoordinated. But Snickers, was listless from the time we got him. The litter began with 4 kittens that he had to bottle feed, as the mother completely rejected them all. Two died after only a few days. The other were Snickers and Julio. Snickers, was completely uncoordinated, didn’t meow, purr or even move fast. His body didn’t track a normal line when walking. I knew something was wrong right off the back. Kittens are relenteless - they love to play, bite your toes, and run around like monkeys. Snickers was always cold, almost distant, but beautiful. About 3 days ago, July 13th, his belly began to distend. I figured it was because my little girl often, often fed them whatever she was eating: pickles, lettuce, steak. I thought he was extremely constipated. I had no idea that he had a fever or was getting worse by the hour. By Tuesday, I knew that I was taking him to the hospital. I’m a single mom, so this was a daunting thing. We have just lost two precious pets, and I know how much the emergency room costs. The doctor told us that we could take him home, and she could remove the fluid from his abdomen but it would just come back. We tried to be there, like we did with our 14- year old, but my little girl and I just couldn’t do it. We had them bring him out to us so we could bury him next to our 14 year old and the 5 year old.

Now I’m left with Julio who I think has the dry version of the FIP and my kitten (a gift from another breeder) who has been exposed as well.

I can’t imagine bringing another cat/kitten into our household just due to the massive pain that we’ve undergone this summer.

I only recommend that anyone who is considering getting another pet, make sure how healthy they are. My heart breaks for the unadopted cats out there - but it doesn’t compare to the pain felt loosing 3 in a row. There are great websites like this one giving information on different issues. Also, there are annual plans at Petsmart and Petco and some Vets. for managed care. One other thing - my cat that was killed by a coyote was another rescue cat - he was an escape artist. NONE of our other cats will ever be allowed outside ever again!!!! They’re not safe out there. He was a 20 pound tuxedo - fast and afraid of everything. But he had to have been cornered by more than one in order for anyone to have caught him. RIP Snickers, O’malley and Melvin.