There has been a lot of talk lately around FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and FIV, how it is caught, treated and transmitted. A lot of what people are told is not quite true – some organisations try to discredit others by spreading lies. So, we have compliled a few truths to help you:

Testing kittens before the age of 6 months is not 100% accurate because the kittens can carry antibodies from their mothers, which will give them a false positive and it’s not until they reach at least 6 months that these antibodies leave their bodies and can give a more acurate reading.

It is important to also note, that sneezing, sharing bowls, being in carry cages or pens, even using the same litter tray will not cause the disease to transmit. A cat or kitten can lead a normal life – and can even carry the disease without any symptoms all their lives, or, can show symptoms early. Even vets can confuse a gunky eye, sneezing kitten for FIV before testing, which can be very distressing as a new pet owner.

We at the Kitten Inn, never knowlingly will let someone adopt a kitten or cat with FIV without full disclosure of their conditions. Any kitten that may have an abnormality or disability is given the same quality of life as one without and we always make the potential new family aware prior to adoption. We also tend to re-home these cats and kittens by a more stingent process. We need to make sure that they are going to go to a home where they can be cared for and loved in the way they deserve – and also managed.

Being able to work with local vets in our community and the wider Wellington region is important to us – it means that if we need urgent help, we have numerous local vets at our finger tips. It also means that our vets are also our friends, with a wealth of knowledge. Should any issue arise, it is dealt with swiftly and safely.

Technical info (FIP)

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an important but uncommon disease of cats caused by infection with FIP virus (FIPV). Although FIP is not a particularly common disease it is important because once cats develop the disease, it is almost invariably fatal. It is important to remember, however, that not all cats infected with the FIP virus go on to develop the disease – indeed only a small minority do! There are many different strains of FIPV, which differ in their ability to infect cats and to cause disease. In addition to different strains of FIPV, there are some other very closely related viruses known as feline enteric coronaviruses (FECV) which also infect cats, but cause little or no disease. Many vets believe FIP is a virulent, mutant strain of these FECV.

Mechanism of Infection

It is not certain how most cats become infected with FIPV. Direct contact between cats is the most likely route of transmission as the virus is quite fragile and does not survive long in the environment. Many cats that develop FIP have not had contact with other cats showing clinical signs though, and it is therefore thought that carrier cats (healthy cats carrying and excreting the virus) may be an important source of infection. Also, some cats may be infected with FIPV, but the virus may remain dormant (or ‘latent’) in the body for several months or even years in some cases before the cat eventually develops disease.

Clinical Signs

Most cats exposed to FIPV are able to develop an immune response which protects them, thus only a small proportion of infected cats actually develop clinical disease. However, those that do develop disease almost invariably die. In cats which do develop disease, the first signs of illness may be very vague – dullness, lethargy, inappetence and variable pyrexia (raised temperature) are common findings. After a period of several days or a few weeks other signs will develop. Most commonly this involves the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or chest leading to a swollen abdomen or difficulty breathing. In some cats, little or no fluid accumulates but the virus may cause inflammation in the eye, the brain or other organs of the body leading to a variety of clinical signs. Once disease develops, most individuals deteriorate fairly rapidly, although some cats remain quite bright for several weeks. However, eventually the disease will result in death.

Diagnosis

Unfortunately, FIP is sometimes particularly difficult to diagnose definitively prior to post mortem.. X-rays and ultrasound may be helpful to determine the presence, or absence, of fluid in the abdomen or chest, and some changes may be found on routine blood analysis but none of these findings provide conclusive proof of FIP (other disease can also cause the same abnormalities). If fluid is present, it is possible to remove some for analysis in a laboratory, which can be particularly valuable as there are few other disease which cause the same type of fluid as occurs in FIP. Nevertheless, again the fluid analysis does not provide a definitive diagnosis of the disease.

Another blood test that is commonly performed is to look for antibodies against FIP virus in the blood (‘coronavirus serology’). It is important to understand that this test too has limitations, and a positive result only means that a cat has been exposed to either FIPV or one of the other closely related viruses (such as FECV). The test is not able to provide a diagnosis of FIP – many perfectly healthy cats will have positive test results, as most cats exposed to these viruses do not develop disease. Currently the only way to make sure of the diagnosis of FIP is by histological examination of affected tissue (or by post-mortem examination) by a pathologist at a laboratory. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis therefore, a biopsy may be suggested by the veterinary surgeon so that FIP can be distinguished from another, perhaps treatable, disease. In the future more reliable diagnostic tests based on blood samples rather than the need for a biopsy may become available.

Treatment

FIP is a fatal illness, and essentially all cats that develop clinical signs will go on to die of the disease. As antibiotics are not effective against viruses they will not help to overcome FIPV, and there are currently no drugs available to specifically treat this condition. The use of cortisone-like drugs may help to improve the cats well-being and make it more comfortable for a time, but they do not alter the fact that a cat with FIP will not recover. In many cats, once a diagnosis has been made euthanasia is often the most humane and appropriate course of action.

Control

Control of FIP is very difficult. At present there is no FIP vaccine in New Zealand, although one is available in some other countries. If FIP is diagnosed in a multicat household, it is sensible not to introduce any new cats into the house for at least six months. Similarly if the cat came from a single-cat household, although the virus is not likely to survive long in the environment, it is probably sensible not to introduce a new cat into the house for a period of 1-2 months to try and avoid any potential exposure to the virus.

For More Information, call Miramar Veterinary Hospital – 04 380 9820; Petone Veterinary Hospital – 04 380 9827; Khandallah Veterinary Hospital – 04 479 8435