FIP in cats is also known as peritonitis. FIP stands for Feline Infectious Peritonitis. This is a disease caused by corona virus in cats with unknown manifestations in the early stages. In the content of the following article, Cat Cuc Pet Shop will provide more information about this disease to you.
What causes FIP in cats?
FIP in cats has the scientific name Feline Infectious Peritonitis, which in Vietnamese means peritonitis in cats. Feline infectious peritonitis is a disease in pet cats caused by a virus of the Coronavirus strain. Pet cats carrying Coronavirus are at high risk for FIP.
However, according to research, pet cats with weak immune systems and bodies are more likely to develop the disease. Any pet cat is at risk for FIP, including cats that have been infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or kittens. The main causes of the disease usually include:
- Cats in a state of stress (newly neutered, adopted, moved to a new place)
- Cats living or being kept in captivity in cramped conditions, with a large number of cats (cat farms, slaughterhouses)
- Cats under the age of two, as well as pet cats of any age, can still get the disease.
The main source of infection for FIP is feces. Normally, after 1 week of illness, cats will excrete the virus into the environment through feces. The cat will then continue to shed the virus outside for a few weeks, months, or for a lifetime.
Symptoms of FIP in Cats
Cats in wet form:
- The cat’s abdomen is distended due to fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity.
- The cat lost weight and showed symptoms of anorexia.
- Mild fever (about 39.5 degrees Celsius)
- The cat is breathing fast, has difficulty breathing, the skin becomes pale or yellow.
Cats in the dry state:
- Mild fever, picky appetite and weight loss
- Cats can get jaundice
- Part or all of the iris appears brown, uveitis
- Palpation of the cat’s abdomen reveals swollen mesenteric lymph nodes.
- About 25-35% of cats have neurological symptoms: loss of muscle control, ataxia, eyeball twitching, and finally, cat seizures.
- Chronic diarrhea
- Granulomatous inflammation in many organs
- Uveitis
- Keratinization of the uvea
- Hematoma in the vitreous
- Vasculitis and purulent granulomatous inflammation in the kidneys of cats with FIP
- Some other illnesses
Above are the causes and symptoms of FIP in pet cats . Currently, FIP is considered an incurable disease, there is no treatment plan as well as a preventive vaccine in pet cats. Treatment options are often only to reduce pain and prolong the life of the pet cat.
