how to clean after a cat with fip

Hearing that your cat has Feline Corrupting Peritonitis (FIP) is one of the worst bits of news you can get from your vet. The disease is just about forever fatal, although treatments crapper make believe your cat's remaining time Sir Thomas More comfortable. If you have more than one cat in your home, taking sensible precautions and following your vet's advice buttocks help to reduce the hazard that your other cats will be affected.

What is FIP?

The disease is caused away a computer virus which is often institute in healthy cats and usually causes no star health problems. However, in some cats it causes unplayful disease.

The disease has two different forms. The Thomas More common form is known as 'tiddly FIP' because the blood line vessels outflow, disposable oozes out of the blood and the cat's belly swells. This may as wel occur in the chest stopping the cat from external respiration by rights. The less common form of the disease is 'dry FIP' in which in that respect is no build up of fluid merely broad scar tissue develops on the cat's internal organs. Except in uncommon cases, smashed FIP is fatal within about five weeks of diagnosis. The dry grade is evenly deadly but affected cats may survive for a few months. The concomitant picture shows a cat with wet FIP.

Leave my cat catch FIP?

The near vulnerable cats are those with fallible defences against infectious diseases – kittens, elderly cats and those already miserable from other condition. Some pedigree breeds such as Asian country appear to be taken more oft than ordinary domestic 'moggies'. Only around one in a hundred cats is likely to go down with the disease but the take a chanc is much high where several cats live together such as in a breeding cattery OR rescue midpoint. Overcrowding and other stressful factors can increase the risk of disease nonindustrial.

How does my vet know my cat has FIP?

In its early stages, FIP causes a variety of symptoms which can easily be mistaken for other diseases:

weight loss
languor
a dull coat
diarrhoea
poor appetence
pyrexia.

Afterwards your guy's eyes or unquiet system may be damaged causation blindness and paralysis. In the so called 'wet form' of the disease fluid may build up in your cat's tummy (causation swelling of the abdomen) or chest (causation difficulty in breathing).

There is no altogether time-tested blood try to evidenc that your disgorge has FIP. Blood tests will just differentiate your vet that your qat has been contaminated with a virus which could beryllium FIP. Other samples can embody taken from fluid in the chest or abdomen. The only sure method of diagnosis is to take a tissue sampling from one of the internal organs. This is ofttimes done after the cat has died to affirm that the cause of death really was FIP.

Can I catch FIP?

There is no evidence that the FIP virus can cause whatsoever disease in humans Beaver State other animals much as dogs.

What can be done to goody my cat?

Medicines such as steroids, vitamins and minerals are often given to make your sick feel better, but they coiffure not tackle the disease itself. With careful treatment you may be able to keep your barf healthier for a bit longer. Interferon (a almighty dose that suppresses immune reactions) may be helpful in some cats but is very expensive and broadly does not provide some increase in life beyond the utilize of steroids).

In the time to come information technology may atomic number 4 possible to handle FIP with indefinite of the opposing-viral drugs that are being developed for use against human diseases just this is likely to be many years away.

How can I stopover my other cats catching the disease?

The virus is bedcover in the cat's spit, phlegm and in its faeces (muck). Some cats contract the virus but ae capable to fight back unsatisfactory the disease. These cats Crataegus laevigata extend to express the virus and infect other cats. A cat with suspected FIP should be kept indoors in a disjunct room so as to avoid direct contact with all other cats. It should have its own feeding sports stadium and litter tray and these must be cleaned every few years.

The virus does not survive long after-school the animal and it can be killed exploitation a dilute solution of menag bleach (about five tablespoons of bleach in a congius of water). Use this to clean the feeding bowls, etc. and to wipe down room surfaces.

Can my cat be immunised against FIP?

An FIP vaccine has been improved in the US simply vets take issue connected how effective it is in preventing symptoms of FIP and it is non yet available in the UK. Inoculating healthy cats against other important virus diseases, such as Feline Leukaemia, keep their defences unassailable and may trim back the risk of them getting FIP.