FIP - Recoveries?

AndreaGS · May 25, 2007

My savannah, Amazu, was diagnosed with FIP a couple months ago. Most sources say it is 100% fatal, but some say that with antibiotics, prednisone (or prednisolone), and interferon, cats have recovered.

Right now he is doing quite well, and is on all the above medications. The disease has affected one of his eyes, and he's lost the sight in it, but you'd hardly know it once you start playing with him.

Just wondering if anyone here has had experience with this disease. Amazu has the dry form, and was definitively diagnosed through biopsy. I'm still holding out hope for recovery, but I haven't been able to find anyone whose cat recovered after definitive diagnosis. I've only been able to find a couple of studies (and I wonder how long they followed the cats after these studies, and whether or not they were just in a long-term remission).

Thanks!

MidnightMuse · May 25, 2007

Oh sweetie, I am SO sorry ! Unfortunately, Feline Infectious Peritonitis is 99.999% fatal. I lost my Muse to the fluid form just two years ago. The dry form, which is much less common, is slower - so there's hope for some time with Amazu on medication.

In all honesty, there is no surviving it. There's "remission" which is basically a cat who can hold on for months, sometimes a year or more with medication and draining of the lungs (fluid-type).

The main thing to do is love him (her?) and watch Amazu for signs of distress. Quality of life trumps longevity. You may still have many months of love and comfort to look forward to, and as much as it pains me not to tell you there's reason to expect a recovery, at least know that it's not going to take kitty tomorrow. Tell yourself that every day - it won't be tomorrow.

:Hug2:

I'm gonna go cry for a bit now

AndreaGS · May 25, 2007

I'm so sorry to hear about Muse

It makes me so angry sometimes that a disease like this even exists. It strikes me as so utterly unfair, since there's so little that can be done about it except to treat the symptoms.

I guess I'm grateful that he's doing so well right now. He gets loads of hugs and kisses (which he LOVES), and is still running around and getting into my garbage can and my socks.

:Hug2:

I'm remaining optimistic, and hoping he at least stays in remission for six months or more. He's the sweetest, happiest cat I've ever known, and he really doesn't deserve this.

MidnightMuse · May 25, 2007

AndreaGS said:
I'm remaining optimistic, and hoping he at least stays in remission for six months or more. He's the sweetest, happiest cat I've ever known, and he really doesn't deserve this.

That's the spirit !!

Miracles happen, especially to cats.

Unique · May 27, 2007

Wow. I'm so sorry. I've never heard of that and it sounds awful. (wiki)

((hugs)) to you & your furbaby.

moonslice · Jun 23, 2007

Andrea, my sister adopted a kitten with FIP, though she did not know it at the time. She only had it a few weeks when it broke its back. She paid $4000 for a back surgery and then was told the cat would have to be put down because it had FIP. The FIP kept it from healing. This was the first I had heard of FIP. I think the vaccines for it don't work though because usually a cat has it before they are old enough to get the shot.

Little Red Barn · Jun 23, 2007

Tis fatal sorry to say--Teen lost her first pet sitting for a cat due to this and I believe you can carry it on your clothes to other cats...so very sorry!

FIP - Recoveries?

AndreaGS

MidnightMuse

Midnight Reading

AndreaGS

MidnightMuse

Midnight Reading

Unique

Agent of Doom

moonslice

Little Red Barn

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