Other forms of FIPįIP can affect any organ of the body and so other forms of FIP (often termed ‘dry’ FIP) involve the formulation of granulomas (masses of virus and inflammatory cells) and the signs will vary according to the organ affected.

However, other diseases (including some liver diseases and cancers) can also cause a similar fluid accumulation.įIP can present in different ways but affected cats can have an effusion (fluid) in their chest or abdomen. The fluid that forms typically is thick and bright yellow in colour and contains a lot of protein. Cases that develop fluid accumulation in the abdomen are responsible for the original name of this disease, ‘peritonitis’ referring to the inflammation that occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity. The fluid accumulates because infection with FIPV causes damage to and inflammation of blood vessels (called ‘vasculitis’) which results in fluid leaking from the blood into the abdomen or chest. In this form or stage of disease there is accumulation of fluid within the abdominal cavity (resulting in abdominal distension) and/or the chest cavity (resulting in breathing difficulties). One of the challenges of diagnosing FIP is that the clinical signs are often vague and not specific for FIP and can be seen with other diseases. Classically, FIP has been divided into ‘wet (effusive)’ and ‘dry’ forms, but actually cats are likely to have both at different times, or a mixture of both presentations. After a period of several days or weeks (or sometimes even many months) other signs usually develop. Early signs of FIP are usually very vague with a fluctuating fever (high temperature), lethargy and reduced appetite being common. Signs of FIPįIP can cause many different clinical signs, depending on the parts of the body affected and how the immune system reacts. In a cat that develops FIP, the virus spreads throughout the body and can cause a wide range of different signs due to the way it interacts with the cat’s immune system. This is important, as finding coronavirus in a cat does not mean they have FIP, and it is not possible to consistently tell the difference between a coronavirus causing FIP and one causing no signs at all by just finding the virus itself. However, occasionally, the virus mutates (changes) inside a cat, and if their immune system reacts in a certain way, they could develop a disease called FIP. In most cats, infection causes no signs or just mild diarrhoea that resolves without treatment. It is estimated that 25–40% of household pet cats have been infected with FCoV, but the infection rate increases to 80 – 100 per cent for cats kept in multi-cat households or colonies.Ĭoronaviruses are common and found in the faeces of many cats. Coronavirus infection is extremely widespread in cats, especially where large numbers of cats are kept together. COVID-19 is a coronavirus but the coronavirus causing FIP is not the same and only infects cats. Coronaviruses are a common group of viruses that often infect the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat) or gastrointestinal tract (intestines) in different animals.

CausesįIP is caused by infection with a virus known as feline coronavirus. Please click here for more specific information about these drugs and speak to your vet to discuss treatment options if your cat is diagnosed with FIP.

Since 2021 a legal supply of remdesivir and GS-441524 has been available in the UK and Australia, and via export to other countries. This has led to a growth in illegal supplies of these medications, sold to understandably worried caregivers. Studies have shown that antivirals can be effective in curing FIP. However, in the last 3 years, significant developments have occurred in treatment. Novel treatmentsįIP was previously fatal for most cats. Further information on the current FIP outbreak in Cyprus can be found here. Further information for veterinarians can be found here. It is a complex disease to diagnose and in the last few years, significant developments have occurred in the treatment of this previously fatal condition. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats that occurs throughout the world.

Feline hip leg xray normal