Hello everyone,

I need some ideas, and I honestly don't know what to do. My FIP kitten needs her tummy to be drained from the fluid.

When we went in for initial diagnosis because I didn't know why her tummy looked kind of full and was hoping it wasn't fip the vet had shut down the whole clinic after seeing the fluid, he got rid of all his clients and cancelled all the appointments later in the day to bleach down the whole place.

At first he had an emerg. just as we got in the examination room so I was waiting there 45 mins, then after he made the "diagnosis" (there aren't really any real tests for it) I was waiting another hour or so, and on top of that the electricity cut due to a fire in the electrical something in the area. He sent me off with some dewormer (incase it was worms causing fluid) and more antibioitic which I stopped using and have put her on a homeopathic treatment.

I feel like an outcast, I needed advice on where to find a pet vitamin supplement so I called the vets in my area (that vet I spoke about was close to 45 min drive away) all of them of course only sell to their "clients"..etc but didn't have the items I needed anyway.

I need to find a vet who will drain the fluids, and somewhere where they will simply do that and not try to offer advice or put the girl on steroids because it will interfere with the homeopathic regimen and does not do anything anyway except kill the immune system.

I'm afraid to walk into a clinic with the cat and FIP, a lot of people say it's not really contagious and air born but there are two opinions and I can see how the vets need to be cautious due to other patience and stuff.

Just need a qualified person to do the draining, I would do it myself but it's too risky I think as the organs are in there and the liquid is floating in between.

This is very hopeless and I feel helpless as she's getting a bit bigger and it's uncomfortable and stretches the skin, not sure how much bigger it can get, but it needs draining and I need to always be one step ahead and so trying to find a vet for tomorrow if absolutely necessary.

What would you do in this situation, should I put an add on craigslist looking for a qualified vet tech or something who would do it for me, I would pay them... I really just need her drained properly.
I am desperate.

P.S I don't know if my initial vet wants to deal with us anymore, I got bit (one little teeny dot) when holding her for him to extract fluid, and it's not a big deal since it happens all the time and I got tons of scratches from both but because the vet says she may have had to be put down or would pass away soon from the illness he said I had to report my wound to public health and insisted, even the next day he called me up to insist I do that and not even ask about the girls or check up and I was very tired and put it on hold.
They ended up calling me since he reported it to Toronto and they called Durham area, then the inspector came over and had to look at her and is coming back in 10 days again if the animal is still alive, I had to sign a paper but the issue came up that if she passed away before the 10th day that I had to let them know and they may ORDER her body to be examined thus I can not bury her as I planed to. I am so frustrated right now!!!!! She's got to make it to the 19th so I can finally feel peaceful and not worry about her being taken away from me. This is all due to a stupid rabies scare because the girls have not been vaccinated by vets orders TWICE because I took them in and they refused to vaccinate because they had colds and we were treating that before she came down with FIP.

They are not even outdoor cats.

This sounds like a very serious situation and one that is way over my head to suggest anything to you. I know you don't want to hear this but I really think that it would be kindest to have your kittens euthanised to spare their suffering. I really hate suggesting this to you but your kitten is going to suffer an awful death with her organs failing as a result of fluid accumulation and even if you are able to get someone to drain the fluid, this problem is just going to get worse. This is a terrible dilemma for you and I really do feel your anguish about the whole situation. I really wish I could offer you more positive advice but I just personally feel that as hard as it is to have them pts, I know I could not watch them suffer this way till the end. I really know nothing about this viral disease but if there is absolutely no hope of them surviving this I just feel in my heart that it is best to let them go peacefully before things get even worse.

The previous post says it all and you should give the advice some serious, very serious consideration. I could not have said it better.

I have to say that I also agree with Lindi!

I'm so sorry about your kitten, TTT, but I think it's best to put her situation first, as difficult as that will be.

Sending comforting and healing thoughts at this very sad time...

Love and Hugs

Shi

One of them (white one) is Teething, which may explain the strange behaviour and lack of drinking, I noticed this just now.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventuressheart/sets/72157624335155594/

Dear TTT, I've done some reading on this terrible cat disease according to which there is nothing but suffering ahead for your kitten. You have the rebellion of your age and sensitivity before the inevitable, which is a natural reaction.And you have become very attached to your little patient and I know how painful it would be for you to dccide to put an end to her life but you must think that you would also be putting an end to her misery and yours. I hug you very tenderly and wish I could be of more practical help.
Gladys

Hi Bella,

I don't quite get the connection between the teething issue and the picture you posted and in regards to the FIP situation. She doesn't look sick though in that pic and I went through your album and they both look very healthy.

I am really sorry you are going through this with the cats, I'm sure we all feel for you in this difficult situation. Since there are no tests available for FIP that are conclusive, do you really feel that this is what they have? You are the person who sees them and their symptoms so you would know better than us if FIP is what they most likely have. You've also probably done a lot of reading about it compared to the rest of us. From what I've read about it since you posted, it seems extremely bad with virtually no hope of recovery, especially with young cats.

I don't have any advice for you either because I didn't even know what it was until I looked it up. Considering how much of a deadly virus this is I think euthanasia might be the kindest as the others have said. We can't make any decisions for you, but if they do indeed have FIP and are gradually getting worse, then I think it would be the kindest thing you could do for them, rather than suffering till the end.

Here's a link I found that mentions vitamin C and B vitamins to help boost the immune system: http://hubpages.com/hub/FIP-in-cats-is-one-of-the-most-mysterious-diseases

I want to deal with one thing at a time, so what I meant was the white one, as you can see from the photo album posted is teething. She has been acting strange but some cats do when they teeth anyway.

She's shown a little tenderness in her back paw since her sister was at the vet, and after hearing about the other two that passed away it was highly likely that she has the genetic susceptibility to FIP too, and it may come out now, in 4 months of age, 8 months, 1 year or whatever, even 12 years.

I was worried that maybe she had the dry fip because she sleeps a LOT, which is slow developing and that could still be possible but until there are more symptoms I will have to just watch her progress and behaviour. She shows no fluid so we don't know.

The last couple of pictures in the album show the fluid in the marble dark kitten's abdomen, also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5eUqysyPzg

The homeopathic group of Dr. Irene have had some serious success with alleviating the symptoms and helping cats through it, there are some survivors too through the treatment. They say there is 0 succcess with any cat who has taken steroid meds and none every survived as they're immune system was killed off. There is less chance in cats who've been vaccinated (due to thymus gland being destroyed from vaccines) but mine haven't and I've taken then off any harmful foods or ingredients that may make FIP worse.

http://hpathy.com/veterinary-homeopathy/cases/feline-infectious-peritonitis-fip/

Right now my wet FIP kitten plays, eats, loves to be petted and "tries" to do all the things she normally does, I think it's fair to give her a chance at least, it may work, it may not but I would not put her through any suffering. Her being sick now is not pleasant and I agree with you, I don't think any patient with a major illness is having a great time, we've dealt with PMV pigeons before and many of them actually recover through gentle feedings and care, it is not pleasant but they can be given a chance.

If her organs begin failing or I feel she is suffering too much I would not hesitate to put her to sleep, I just want you to know that, I'm not unreasonable.
Right now the fluid is my main concern, it is what a "wet FIP" cat is diagnosed by mostly, I don't think I should have put her down right there at the vet though he brought it up and I had the option to. Whether a cat is on steroids or doing a homeopathic regimen it is usually drained, and that's just why I posted the thread to get an idea on how to go about this.

Thank you.

I admire your determination and thorough study of the kitten's case, TTT, and hope with all my heart that the diagnosis is incorrect and she has a chance to recover. I know you won't let her suffer if it comes to that. Best of luck.
Gladys

Hi Bella,

I don't think any of us are qualified to advise you on your situation and especially with this disease. I think your best option would be to find a specific cat forum or support group and those people would probably have a lot more pertinent information to give you. OUR group is more generalized (in the other pet department) and even though many of the members have cats, I don't think they can supply you with the help you need. This disease seems to be quite complicated and misunderstood, so only those familiar with it might have some good advice to offer you.

I wish you the best of luck with your kitties and I know you will do the right thing for them regardless of the outcome....we all know you're a good, caring person. Unfortunately, this topic is out of our league I think.

Hi TTT,

I agree with Brad about this. I have been thinking of you and your situation with the kittens a lot this past week and I only said what I said because I had misunderstood the severity of their symptoms from your initial post. They looked a lot healthier in your photos than I had imagined and I can see now why you are so desperate to help them live as long as they can before you have to make the final decision. I know too that you would never let them suffer. Wishing you all the best and I hope that you get all the support you need at this time.

TeenyTinyTuna: So sorry about the situation that you are in with the kitten and I have looked at your profile and saw at the age of 23 you work with animals and a vet. You know what you are up against with this animal and can image all kinds of bad things that might occur with this sickness. What I would do is take it day by day and do the best you can to make sure the little one is not suffering and as long as it is going in the right direction and improving a bit take happiness in that moment. If it gets to the time when you know its really in bad shape---then decisions will be made naturally. Do nothing but support the little one and this is hard to say--but relax a bit--and just take it day by day...So sorry you have to see this kind of sickness in action but just see what happens and continue to care with the best intentions that you have in your heart. So sorry you are going through this....c.hert

Thanks guys..

My original post was to ask about ideas on getting her to the vet, apparently my experience with the vet cleaning the entire clinic scared me and I thought no one wanted anything to do with them, but when I called the original vet in Durham that she went to the receptionist was happy to give me an appointment to get her fluid drained.

We went in last monday, and since then she was very happy to be able to run around but of course the fluid has come back over the week and she probably needs to go back in this monday. I don't know if the tapping took a toll on her a bit but the day after and another day or so she ended up a little weaker then perked up again. She was AMAZING at the vet, very brave and she's always been a good kitty, good around people and loves car rides..etc. so I'm very proud of her.

She started eating less and less in the past two days, so if it stops all together hand feeding is in order. Her sister seems perfectly fine and maybe even going into early heat at 4 months of age, I think the stress of her sisters' condition is getting to her and I don't have the time to play with her where as normally they'd play together. Of course trying to avoid any major stressers that -could- trigger the virus in her too, so it's just been very stressful overall but I'm just thinking about it as my little girl's life, it may be a short life span but I will make it a life full of happiness because she deserves it.

The vet of course could not tell me if it's FIP, this is all guess work and assumptions but with the fluid in kitties it is usually FIP. There is no real test except going in there and cutting off pieces of the organs to examine the white legions from the immune cells piling up on the organs inside the body which can be done now or after death but that's just not worth it now. They removed about 200 mls of fluid, I was very shocked of this.

He gave me a bit and I did the home test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmOk2veunqA
I saw jellyfish

They called yesterday also saying that out of their own expense the vet tested some of the fluid and said the protein levels were very high which usually means FIP, which is what we already know but what can we do..

Just taking it day by day, thanks for the support though.

I saw the video of the explanation of the sickness and I sure hope everything turns out okay--sorry you are going through this with your kitten...c.hert

Yes, TTT, so sorry that you and the kittens are going through this. I'm sure this has to be very stressful and heartbreaking for you.

Linda

My kitten passed away on the 3rd, she was doing so well up until that morning when her hind legs stopped working and within 2 hours of that it was her front paws, then full body and head with lots of bile coming up from her mouth (which was absorbed and sucked up with teeny syringe so she wouldn't choke) and then seizures got worse and worse to the point where we were at the vet and she was put to rest.

Today she was buried with her sisters who passed away from the same horrific illness.

Right now I have the white girl, and just trying to support her through this, if there is anything anyone wants to add about this through experience or anything it is appreciated because I've never gone through this with cats and just don't want the girl stressed, she's already looking for her sister and things seem "strange" and confusing. I'm also afraid since it's genetic and there is a lot of research suggestion a connection between a major stresser and trigger of FIP so I want her to be as comfortable as possible.

My girl was strong to the very last moment, she was unlike any other FIP cat I've heard of or read about, even the vets were amazed at how well she did and how long she made it especially since the wet form wipes out cats very very quickly. We'll always miss her.

Thank you all for your kind words and support, I appreciate it from all my heart.

Oh TTT I am so very sorry you had to go through this with your little kitten and that things were so bad in the end. I had no idea about FIP until reading this thread and it really is the cruelest of feline diseases, not only for the cats themselves, but for caring owners like yourself to know that time is very limited with your precious pets. She was such a beautiful brave kitten and I'm glad that she was happy and playful during her short life with yourself and her sibling. You did everything you could to ensure her comfort and happiness so take heart that she is now at peace and happy again over rainbow bridge with her other siblings. I feel for your white kitty for having lost her playmate and how this additional stress is making you feel, also knowing that she too is affected.

Huge comforting hugs to you and your white kitty, you are very much in my thoughts at this sad time.

Lindi

I'm so sorry for your loss Bella. What an awful thing and illness. You know that everyone here can empathize with you and it's just awful to lose a beloved pet. I sure hope your other kitten somehow manages to beat this disease. Didn't you say that she wasn't showing any symptoms?

Anyway, I know we are all very saddened to hear about your loss.

Tiny Tina Turner: So sorry about all the sadness that you have experience with this whole affair. Sorry about your kitten--but it is in cat heaven now and out of pain...So sorry...c.hert