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Hi Ellen,

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is an uncommon viral disease that is most often found in young cats. It is caused by a Coronavirus. The unusual thing about this virus is that it is very common, most cats have probably been infected, but only a small minority will develop the disease of FIP.

The symptoms of FIP can be very variable and it can be challenging to diagnose. It is most often seen in cats between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. There are two main forms of the disease; ´wet´ and ´dry´. Wet FIP is the easier of the two to diagnose because the symptoms are more obvious, it causes fluid to build up in the body cavities, most often the abdomen or the chest. Dry FIP is more difficult, it causes inflammatory leisons to grow in different organs, such as the eyes, liver and kidney and often only very vague clinical signs such as lethargy, a poor appetite and a high temperature. There is no one reliable test to diagnose FIP and your vet will generally base a diagnosis on clinical signs, blood tests and tests on any fluid which might have built up. It is possible to test for the Corona Virus in their system but because so many cats are infected with it but don´t develop FIP, it isn´t always very helpful.

Unfortunately there isn´t any treatment for FIP and it is a fatal condition. However, often the cats remain very well in themselves even when the disease is in it´s final stages. So, it is important to keep them eating, taking on fluids and generally comfortable.

I hope this helps. There is a very good information sheet which is more detailed on the FAB cats website, the link is below.

Cat

http://www.fabcats.org/cat_group/policy_statements/fip.html

ellen cat the vet is currently away so you might have to wait some time untill shes back ....but im sure she would say go back to your vet and he will answer any questions you have and expain it a bit better

hope your cat will be ok xxxx

hopefully someone on here can help you but your vet is the best person to ask xx