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Kerry B · Jan 7, 2009, 06:02 PM

Hi

History;

5 months ago I had 3 healthy beautiful cats. My beautiful baby burmese who was 7, my ginger tom of 8 and an elderly persian of 10. Unfortunately my burmese stopped eating and after taking him to the vets and all the tests coming back negative they sent me to a specialist. Within 4 days I had to have him put to sleep as his tummy filled with fluid and he would not eat despite having a feeding tube fitted. I know he was a cat but he was my absolute baby and life has not been the same without him. The specialist vets tell me he had FIP and assured me that my present cats would have no higher chance of getting it than any other cats who have come across the corona virus.

A friend of mine is a breeder and has helped me through this and knowing how lost I am without my burmese has put me in touch with a lady who's cat has had kittens. I have been looking forward for some time to getting my 2 new burmese kittens, I checked with the specialist vet who said it would be fine and I am suppose to be picking them up on Saturday.

However, 2 days ago my persian cat stopped eating, as suddenly as my last. She hasn't eaten since Monday night. I took her to the local vets today and they said her gums were very red, which could have stopped her eating and that she had a temperature. They gave her an antibiotic injection and sent me home. They said it should be fine to pick up my new kittens on sat. However, tonight my persian is trying to be sick and just bringing up small amounts of clear fluid - she is still not eating at all. I don't want to be pessimistic but this scenario seems so familiar and I am worried it could be FIP - although there are no quick tests to show this.

My question is two fold, how soon should I take her back to the vets if she does not start eating? The vet did not advice on this, I feel maybe I should be going strait back in with her. And secondly, should I still pick up my kittens on Sat or delay them until I know what is going on?

Thanks in advance for any help or guidance you can give..

Kerry

twinkiedooter · Jan 7, 2009, 06:31 PM

Whatever the first cat had your second obviously has it and will soon die with or without a visit to the vets. I would not advise getting any new animals right now even if you feel you want them as whatever virus is still in your home it could very well live long enough to infect your new kitties. I am sorry to hear about your loss, but the transmission of viruses is quite serious among cats and should be taken very seriously. It might not be what your vet thinks it is either.

Kerry B · Jan 7, 2009, 07:01 PM

Hi there

Thanks for your comments, although you do not know anything about FIP so really shouldn't be advising on it. If it is FIP then a trip to the vets will not save the cat as it is a terminal illness. I am not stating that I am an expert on this - far from it but from spending £3000 pounds in trying to save my last cat I did learn something along the way.

One of the top vets in the UK treated my burmese and has explained how FIP is contracted. It is basically from cats coming into contact with the Corona virus. There are varying reports but in multi cat households up to approx 40 to 60% of cats have come into contact with it. However, the corona virus itself does not kill and most cats that are exposed to it will be fine. In a small minority though, it mutates into FIP, which is a killer and currently there is no cure or vaccine.

Whilst I appreciate your comments, you should maybe stick to answering the question I asked or keep to a subject you know something about. My cat has been to the vets today and will be going back tomorrow, so there is no lack of vetenery care, which the 1st part of your statement suggests.

butterfly08_24 · Jan 7, 2009, 10:18 PM

I am not a vet and this might sound crazy but I've seen it happen before. Was your cat close to the cat(s) who died? If so he/she may be so sad he has stopped eating and is getting sick because he misses his friend so much. It sounds like he may be depressed. The mind is a powerful thing and animals have feelings to. Make sure he gets lots of love that may help. But yhis is just my opinion. To rule out any sever medical concerns or determine if he caught what your other one had, see a vet. If what you hear doesn't sound right, get a second opinion!

butterfly08_24 · Jan 7, 2009, 10:23 PM

And about the kittens I would say get them but don't expose them to the sick cat until u know for sure what is going on. Keep them in a separate room and don't let them eat out of the other cats bowl.

Kerry B · Jan 8, 2009, 06:26 AM

Thanks for your comment, and the answer is yes my persian was very close to my burmese who died 4 months ago. They used to cuddle up together all the time. Whilst I think she definitely misses him, she has been eating very healthily since then up until 3 days ago so I think it is a physical illness.

I also appreciate your comments in relation to the kittens - I took my persian Lu Lu back to the vets today and they have kept her in this time. They have run bloodwork and are sending a test off to see if she has had exposure to the corona virus. This will not tell us if she has FIP but will tell us if she has been in contact, which I am 100% sure she has as she was so close to my last one. If the antibody level is high they are going to suggest I delay picking the kittens up for a week and if it is low that I pick them up and keep them isolated for a while.

The good news is that after 3 and half days Lu Lu is eating, they gave her a valium at the vets and she is starting to eat. They have also put her on an IV so she gets fluids.

Thanks for your advice, helpful and thanks for your support, I just hope she gets better.

Kerry

twinkiedooter · Jan 8, 2009, 10:30 AM

Glad to hear she is eating again. Hopefully she will be okay! Give her a big hug for me and I'll keep her in my thoughts sending her good thoughts for her health to improve.

Kerry B · Jan 8, 2009, 01:33 PM

Thanks for that, I have been worried sick and they have kept her in the night. I am sorry if I was short the other night, just FIP is such a complex issue and I am at my wits end. I feel like I am losing my babies and it is very hard because there is nothing you can so. Also statistically, it is unlikely to strike the same household twice. Hopefully she will get better, Il let you know how she gets on.

deeboots · Aug 14, 2011, 06:33 PM

My 7 moyh old kitten has been sick since Thursday at 3pm it is now Monday at 11pm, his been vomitting and not eating, he sleeps all day and stays on one spot all day, he will only get up to vomit. On Friday I took him to the vet and the vet said he has a infection so he gave my cat 2 injection metomide and benacillin, it help a liitle bit with the vomitting it makes him not vomit as much, but he still not eating and he looks like his losing weight, and he looks weak. Does anybody knows what's wrong with him, please I'm worried and scared. I hope someone can give me advice