Yazar – Aurora Lambrecht

FIP is a vasculitis and there are two main forms of FIP: effusive (wet) and non-effusive (dry). While both types are fatal, the effusive form is more common (60 -70% of all cases are wet) and progresses more rapidly than the non-effusive form.

While FCoV is ubiquitous in cats worldwide, fortunately, the vast majority of cats infected with FCoV do NOT develop FIP, but become infected, shed virus on their feces from 2-3 days post-infection, seroconvert at 18-21 days, stop shedding the virus after 2-3 months to 7 months,

The defining event in FIP developing is viral replication in macrophages, but it is not the virus that causes widespread damage in FIP.

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a single positive-stranded enveloped RNA virus that is infectious to felids (not contagious to other species) commonly found worldwide and is typically shed in feces by healthy cats and transmitted by the fecal-oral route to other cats, via sharing litter trays and cat litter fomites.

Most cats with FIP come from breeding catteries and shelters.
Whenever FCoV is present in a cat, there is the potential for FIP to develop. There is no such thing as a “safe” coronavirus.

FCoV is the root of the FIP problem, which is why the EndFIP® project targets FCoV. So… What is Feline Coronavirus (FCoV)? FIP is an unusual consequence – aberrant immune response – to infection with Feline Coronavirus (FCoV).

Kittens are born FCoV free. Help them have the long and healthy life they deserve.
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) does not cross the placenta to the unborn kitten. Kittens are protected from FCoV infection by antibodies they receive in their mother’s milk, when these antibodies wane at around 5-7 weeks of age, the kittens become susceptible to FCoV infection and the consequent risk of FIP.

In rescue shelters, please train your volunteers to notify the employee in charge of the cat facility if any signs of disease are noted in the cats. Please isolate sick cats to prevent spread of infection (not just FCoV)

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) does not cross the placenta to the unborn kitten. Kittens are born FCoV free and are protected from FCoV infection by antibodies they receive in their mother’s milk, when these maternally derived antibody wanes at between 5 and 7 weeks of age, the kittens become susceptible to FCoV infection and the consequent risk of FIP.

All of us at EndFIP® truly believes: prevention is better than cure and we know education and awareness are the best weapons we have in the battle against Feline Infectious Peritonitis. FCoV is a relatively uncommon virus in pet cats allowed access to the outdoors and kept in households of
one or two cats, but in situations where there are a lot of cats (i.e. breeding catteries, rescue shelters, hoarding
situations, etc.) FCoV is endemic, infecting almost all of the corresponding cat population. Professor Wills’ FIP Awareness Fridays programs.

FIP is NOT contagious. Coronavirus however is. Misinformation causes panic and unnecessary anxiety! Bloodwork is only indicative. It is not a 100% guarantor of FIP.

There is a lot of reading material available but at the end of the day nothing means so much as the human touch. That is what has helped. What has really hit home is that FIP somehow affects the most special cats; those with that special quality. became my FIP family