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FIP Warriors® Treatment Guide

Questions Answered

Q. What causes Feline Infectious Peritonitis?

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is caused by a mutated feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV). This coronavirus is very common and typically harmless among kitties, especially those from shelters or catteries, as the virus lives in the digestive tract and is spread through feces. Most of the time this coronavirus is completely harmless, and the cat will eventually resolve the infection, though some will shed the virus intermittently but go on to live otherwise normal, healthy lives. In a small percentage of cats, however, this virus will mutate into FIPV. Unfortunately, there is no good prevention and no widely available cure.

Q: Is Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) contagious?

When people ask whether FIP is contagious, what they are really asking is whether this fatal disease can be transmitted from one kitty to cause fatal disease in another kitty. This is called "horizontal transmission." In that sense of the word "contagious," the answer is probably not. There is a single report of an outbreak of FIP in a Taiwanese shelter that appears to have been the result of horizontal transmission. Apart from that, there is no convincing evidence that horizontal transmission occurs. In short, our best evidence at this point is that FIP is the result of mutations of FeCV, or feline enteric coronavirus, that happens within an individual cat and is not directly transmissible to other cats.

Q: Why are there clusters of FIP cases in one home or shelter?

Typically, homes and shelters that experience multiple cases of FIP are homes and shelters with multiple kitties, including kittens. Kittens shed coronavirus in exponentially higher quantities than adult cats, and they have immature immune systems. When you put these three things together--lots of coronavirus, immature immune systems, and multiple kitties--you are likely to see more cases of FIP.

Q: What can I do to minimize the chances of my cat developing FIP?

Having lots of kitties increases risk by increasing the potential for coronavirus to be present in the environment, so having fewer kitties can minimize risk. This isn't always the case, though. Some kitties are what we call chronic shedders and having a chronic shedder in your home means that coronavirus will always be there even if the chronic shedder is your only kitty.Kittens shed lots of virus and have immature immune systems, so having kittens increases the risk that you will have FIP in your home. Remember the odds are still very small that any particular kitten or cat will develop FIP. There is evidence of a genetic predisposition for developing FIP, meaning that a litter mate of a kitten that dies of FIP is at a higher risk for developing FIP than an unrelated kitten in the same home. You could avoid this risk by adopting cats or kittens who are not littermates. Fewer cats means less coronavirus. Households with fewer than five cats often eventually clear of coronavirus. Unfortunately, the only way you can be sure you will never have a kitty with FIP is to never have a kitty, and that's not a good solution, so do what you can to minimize risk but know that it's always possible to lose a kitty to FIP. We hope that someday soon no more kitties will be lost to FIP.

Q: What are the symptoms of wet FIP? Dry FIP? Neurological/ocular FIP?

Symptoms of FIP vary depending upon the strain of virus involved, the status of the cat's immune system, and the organs affected. There are two forms reported, including wet (effusive form), which targets the body cavities, and dry (non-effusive form), which targets the various organs. The wet form tends to progress more rapidly than the dry form, In either case, the cat’s general condition suffers, with the coat becoming rough and dull, and the cat becoming increasingly lethargic and depressed. In neurological/ocular FIP, the virus targets the nervous system (brain/spinal cord) as well as the eyes. Symptoms can include uveitis, ataxia, decreased mobility and cognition, and seizures.
‍Wet/Effusive
‍Persistent and unresponsive fever, lack of appetite, weight loss (gradual), poor appetite, diarrhea, gradual swelling of abdomen (potbellied appearance), accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity, difficulty breathing, sneezing, runny nose, lethargy.
‍Dry/Non-effusive
‍Poor growth in kittens, anemia, jaundice, diarrhea, fever, depression, inflammation of various parts of eye (uveitis), ataxia, decreased mobility, and other neurological symptoms (e.g., loss of ability to coordinate movements, loss of vision, seizures)

Q: Does spaying/neutering kittens cause FIP?

No, spaying and neutering does not cause FIP. There is some evidence that stressful events such as surgery, overcrowding, early-weaning, or re-homing can increase the chances of coronavirus mutation. However, spay/neuter surgery does not cause FIP, and veterinarians agree that the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Q: How is FIP diagnosed?

There is no simple test that can definitively diagnose FIP. Diagnosis is generally made on a combination of clinical signs, blood work, titer results, the presence of effusion (fluid in the chest or abdomen), and other specific tests.

Q: What treatments are currently available for FIP?

Currently, there is no effective treatment that is legally available for cats with confirmed FIP. There is no evidence that homeopathic treatments, non-specific anti-viral drugs, or non-specific immunostimulants have any curative effects on FIP. The current hope for curing FIP rests with specific, targeted anti-viral drugs (GC-376 and GS-441524), similar to the drugs that have been used to treat HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C in humans.

Q: What is ZenByCat’s stance on unregulated drugs (specifically GC-376 and GS-441524)?

Due to their widespread availability and apparent effectiveness, ZenByCat no longer disapproves of the use of these drugs, though we do want to make individuals aware of the potential risks involved. ZenByCat previously released an official statement on the use of unregulated Chinese drugs, which you can read in full here.

Q: How can I help in the fight against FIP?

Here is a link to ZenByCat’s website blog that discusses the many ways people can help in the fight to end FIP. The most effective way you can help is to sign up for a $10 ongoing monthly donation. As an official 501c3 non-profit organization, ZenByCat guarantees that 90% of all donations raised will go directly to SOCK FIP and the Bria Fund. The additional 10% we raise is used to sponsor important FIP outreach and fundraising activities.

Q: Why should I donate to ZenByCat instead of directly to SOCKFIP or the Bria Fund?

ZenByCat is unique in that our organization is able to leverage 10% of all donations raised in order to fund various FIP outreach programs. These programs help to raise awareness about FIP as well as support the ongoing research needed in the fight to end this disease. Thus, when you donate $10 a month through ZenByCat, $9 goes directly to fund ongoing FIP research, and that extra $1 is turned into $4 or $5—ultimately allowing ZenByCat to raise even more money for the two charities we support.

About ZenByCat

ZenByCat is a 501(3)c nonprofit whose mission is to show how living with cats improves both human and feline lives and raising both awareness and money to find a cure for Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).

We wish to reach all the cat lovers of the world and inspire each to give to FIP Research, even if the amount is a single dollar. All funds raised go to The Bria Fund associated with the Every Cat Health Foundation. They are working hard to cure Feline Infectious Peritonitis.. No donated money is used for our cats, no one in our non-profit is paid, and all costs for building and expanding our website are donated by me. If you would like to know more about our organization and how we administer our funds, please contact me at peter [at] zenbycat [dot] org. Join us in the fight against this deadly disease! If you have found this site to give you joy or support, please GIVE TO FIP RESEARCH now.

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