This infectious disease caused by the coronavirus affects only cats and occurs worldwide. The disease remains one of the most common causes of death in cats. The name is derived from the most common symptom of this disease, peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining).
FIP is triggered by a highly aggressive coronavirus that mutates from a harmless intestinal virus that is widespread in the cat world. The majority of infected cats therefore only show symptoms of diarrhea and a runny nose. Only about 5 to 10% of cats infected with the coronavirus mutate and develop FIP. Young cats under one year of age, old or sick cats, and stressed cats, for example those living in a large group in a confined space, are particularly at risk.
Permanently infected animals excrete the (non-mutated) virus in their feces. Transmission occurs via the nasopharyngeal cavity and the smallest particles of feces on textiles or objects in the infected cat's environment. Kittens usually become infected in the first weeks of life, more rarely before birth. Once in the body, the virus settles in the intestinal cells and multiplies there. Just two days after infection, it is excreted in the feces.
Why exactly the coronavirus mutates into the aggressive FIP virus in an infected cat has not yet been conclusively researched. However, stress is believed to be the main trigger for the mutation. Depending on the age and immune status of the animal, the amount of pathogen ingested, the aggressiveness of the pathogen, and genetic susceptibility, it may take years for the virus to mutate into the FIP virus. This happens in the animal's intestines. The virus thereby gains the ability to multiply in immune cells. It enters all organs via the bloodstream. Within approximately two weeks, it has spread throughout the entire body. Paradoxically, the antibodies that are actually supposed to defend against the disease lead to a worsening of the disease. They cannot neutralize the virus and at the same time cause more phagocytes (= cells of the immune system) to be formed, in which the FIP virus can multiply.
The first noticeable symptoms of the disease are rather unspecific. They usually subside after a short time. In this initial stage, cats usually show fatigue, loss of appetite, mild breathing difficulties, and recurring fever. After a variable period of time, the second stage of the disease follows. Depending on its appearance, this can be divided into a wet and a dry form. However, it is now known that the transition between the two forms can be fluid.
The main feature of the wet form is characteristic peritonitis (abdominal dropsy). This fluid accumulation is caused by inflammation of the blood vessels in combination with inflammation of the organ membranes. Externally, this abdominal dropsy manifests itself as a thick, fluid-filled abdomen, while the cat continues to lose weight significantly.
The dry form primarily causes inflammation within the organs, which manifests as nodular changes. Recurrent fever spikes that are difficult to treat and breathing difficulties may also occur. However, fluid accumulation is not found in this form, which is why it is sometimes difficult to diagnose.
Your vet can make a tentative diagnosis based on the preliminary report and their clinical examination. There is no specific test to definitively detect the FIP virus. So-called FIP tests only detect the presence of antibodies against the (not yet mutated) coronavirus. However, only about 5 to 10% of cats that test positive with this test actually develop FIP. Even the detection of a coronavirus titer in the blood is not very meaningful in view of the low probability of disease. The titer level only provides information about the amount of virus excreted by the cat.
Your vet can therefore only make a diagnosis based on the overall picture of characteristic clinical symptoms and typical changes in the blood count. For example, a fever that does not respond to treatment in combination with certain blood values is highly indicative of FIP. The nature of the abdominal fluid is of particular diagnostic importance. A definitive diagnosis can only be made by taking a tissue sample from the affected organs or the peritoneum of the living or deceased cat.
There are currently no approved drugs for the effective treatment of FIP in Germany. However, a French pharmacy, Pharmacy Delpech Paris, produces a virus-inhibiting paste that is effective against FIP and can be administered orally. You can order this for your cat with a prescription from your veterinarian. (As of 02/2025)
Other treatments are aimed exclusively at alleviating symptoms and suppressing the immune system. Depending on the clinical presentation, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic preparations are used.
Once the disease has broken out, it leads to death within a few days to weeks if left untreated or only treated symptomatically. However, if you treat your cat with the antiviral paste, the prognosis is good.
A vaccine against FIP is available in Germany, which is administered intranasally. The effectiveness of the vaccine is questioned and debated by many expert committees. The use of the vaccine is particularly questionable in cats that have already had contact with the feline coronavirus. This is the case for many cats at the time of the possible initial vaccination at 16 weeks. As mentioned above, a FIP antibody test also provides only inaccurate results about virus contact, as the test cannot distinguish between antibodies against the harmless coronavirus and those against the dangerous FIP virus. Vaccination against FIP is therefore not recommended.
As an owner, however, you can help prevent the virus from spreading unchecked by taking a few measures. If you already have one or more coronavirus-positive cats in your household, observe strict hygiene, especially with regard to litter boxes. One litter box should be available per cat to keep virus exposure to a minimum.
If only cats that have tested negative for coronavirus live in your household, all new arrivals should be tested before moving in and only accepted if the result is negative. After the death of a cat with FIP, the home environment and all transport baskets must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. It is recommended that you wait at least three months before bringing a new cat into your home.
In general, avoid any stress for your cat(s), ensure they have a species-appropriate, balanced diet, and refrain from giving them any medication that weakens the immune system.
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