Coping With Feline Infectious Peritonitis

A beautiful, gray, fluff ball, our baby, we graciously accepted for free as the rest of the litter, so we were told, were sold for $200 each as they were russian blue and persian. Sadly, we come to find out, this wasnt the case. All but two kittens died at the OSPCA when the owner dropped them off in a box one spring day in 1993. This we came to find out, 6 yrs later.

When Russell was 6 1/2, the first week of oct./98 he started with the typical symtoms of what we soon discovered was FIP. After all the tests, were inconclusive, the vet offered to run one more test. He said, i think it might be FIP Sure enough, 10pm , “im very sorry, but heres what he has, bring him in, we’ll put him down” I couldnt. I told him “bussy”, hang in there little buddy, one more opinion. there has to be something. The very next day we went right away to another vet. Judy looked over the records. She said “if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, its a duck” referring to the symptoms of FIP I said, he’s only 6, FIP kills young cats. The thing with FIP is it doesnt play by anyones rules.

Learning more about FIP, i felt it was my duty to track down the owners of the litter and let them know my findings. I found one adopted-owner, who told me the fate of the other kittens. I dont know which was worse, the diagnois or knowing the truth. This other adopted owner was dealing with symptoms as well. The people who gave these kittens away and dropped the remainer at the OSPCA wont look me in the eye when they said “i have no idea what you are talking about” and make a quick exit.

For weeks on end, i nursed him. Running home on lunch hours to force feed an anorexic diet for the extra calories, water for kidneys, and his SuperCat drugs. aka steroids as well as antibiotics. One halloween nite, true to his boss-cat attitude, up he popped and pranced around, bossing everyone around that he could. I said to him then, you are only 6 yrs old mr. You must double your cat life!

We treated symptoms as they came. My vet knew when i called, it was an emergency. His liver would flip, we would treat the symptoms. His lungs always appeared to have cobwebs in them on the xrays. I would bring my own bandaids as he always had fight in him. 4am, on the phone with the vet, she’d help me through the rough nights ahead.

he turned 12 on january 18, 2005. April 10, 2005 we heard a horrible thump. he was paralized, from what we thought, was a fall from a table. Again, 9pm, on the phone with My Judy.. knowing his history, she sent us straight to alta visa in ottawa. They were waiting for us at the door. Unfortunately, he had a large blood clot, lodged between his tail and two back legs. My line of credit with 10k available couldnt save him. He fufilled his end of the bargin, he doubled his life.

My suggestion to anyone dealing with FIP. Take each day at a time. Deal with the symptoms as they present. Find a vet who is willing to help you. This does come with a cost. I always cringe when i hear “well i got him for free!” Pets are NEVER free. Russy-buss was born with this, survived 12 yrs, 6 of which cost me approx. 5k. I dont begrudge a dime!

I lasted 2 months without a cat in the house. After careful cleaning and discarding, we found a Ragdoll breeder and adopted Lilah. I did my homework, made sure the breeder was reputable and made sure his kittens were disease free, visited the cattery several times.

I know its tough to keep your cat indoors, but knowing what i know now about this disease, a simple dig in a flower bed can kill just like a truck or a car or a fight with another animal can. Russell was always an indoor cat (other than his couple of his successful escape attempts)but rather was born with this terrible disease.

Had he been wandering the neighbourhoods, pooping in gardens, he would have passed this terrible disease onto other cats.

Spay/neuter right away, a sparkley clean little box, good quality food and fresh water, a yarn ball to hunt and lots of big hugs and kisses and flicks to a velvety ear is all they need.

please, keep your beloved fur-children indoors, for the sake of all our fur-children. No matter how much they tell you they wont survive indoors, they will. Trust me.