Download Feline Infectious Pertonitis (FIP)

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a progressive and ultimately fatal disease of cats caused by a mutated
coronavirus.
Many cats are infected with a relatively benign form of the coronavirus but only in certain cats will the virus
mutate to become pathologic (FIP). So this means that the corona virus in each individual cat can mutate (or
not) into the FIP virus. Therefore, FIP is not horizontally transmitted (cat to cat).
Previously, it was suggested that cats could transmit the disease to other cats by saliva, urine, and feces. It was
also suggested that multi-cat households may increase the risk of disease. Recently, research has suggested that
risk of virus transmission from an infected cat to other cats in the household very unlikely. Cats living with an
FIP cat will be no more likely to have this mutation in the future than they otherwise would have been not being
exposed to the FIP cat.
Contact with feces is a possible route of infection. However, once the virus is mutated, pathogenic coronavirus
invades and is no longer shed from the gut.
Factors that increase the risk of infection include young age and concurrent infection with feline leukemia virus
(FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
The two forms of lethal FIP are effusive (wet) FIP, non-effusive (dry) FIP and combinations of both.
Effusive FIP. The most characteristic sign is the accumulation of fluid within the abdomen or chest. Excessive
accumulation may cause difficulty in breathing.
Non-effusive FIP. The onset is usually slower. Fluid accumulation is minimal, although weight loss, depression,
anemia and fever are almost always present. You might also see signs of kidney failure, liver failure, pancreatic
disease and other diseases. It is often a difficult disease to diagnose because signs are similar to other diseases.
Although the virus can survive for a number of weeks in the environment, it is inactivated by most household
detergents and disinfectants.
What to Watch For
Symptoms of FIP are non-specific but may include any of the following:
Fever
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Jaundice (yellow color of the skin, eyes, ears, nose or gums)
Pale gums
Distended abdomen (in effusive FIP)
Difficulty breathing (from fluid accumulation in the chest)
Seizures or paralysis with nervous system involvement
Eye abnormalities