What is FIP?

FIP is...

Feline Infectious Peritonitis, a disease that kills 1-in-100 to 1-in-300 young cats. FIP used to be considered 100% fatal, but is now treatable.

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FIP is caused by a common virus in cats, which mutates in about 10% of infected cats to produce FIP. It is thought that mutations occur due to genetic predispositions, thus direct relations of cats infected with FIP are more likely to become sick with FIP than non-related cats.

Wet FIP

FIP is seen in two types: “wet,” and “neuro," or ocular.

Wet FIP is characterized by fluid in the abdomen. Symptoms of wet FIP may include:

• Lethargy

• Loss off appetite

• Fever

• Weight loss

• Fluid in the abdomen (pot belly)

• Difficulty breathing

• Depression

Neuro/Ocular FIP

In addition to the symptoms of wet FIP, symptoms of neuro or ocular FIP may also include:​

• Seizures

• Uncoordinated movements

• Abnormal, cloudy or dilated eyes

FIP is not...

FIP is not contagious to humans or cats. While the common virus associated with FIP is contagious among cats when the infected cat is actively shedding the virus, the genetic mutation which causes the virus to mutate into FIP is not contagious.

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FIP is no longer a death sentence.