For the first time, I have just lost a kitten to FIP. Feronia was no longer in my care, having been adopted out about three weeks ago. She was beautiful, inside and out. A very pale silver tabby with blue eyes and the sweetest face, who managed to be both naughty and nice. The people who adopted her took good care of her, taking her to the vet as soon as she was sick, euthanizing as soon as she was suffering, but it's still a tremendous shock.
Two other kittens from the same adoption center were euthanized for FIP last year, and I'm hearing from many in my group that they have seen a greatly increased number of FIP deaths this year. Is this happening in your area of the country?
Fiorella is Feronia's sister and at home in isolation in my bedroom. I took her from the center when she continued lethargic after a URI (untreated, the shelter's call). She has tested negative to FIP but still sleeps 99% of the time and has little energy or curiosity. A few months ago, she and her eight brothers and sisters were racing around trashing my bedroom and causing all kinds of havoc. Now, one is dead and another lies quietly on my bed. We still don't know what is wrong with her. The shelter vet says it could still be FIP even though her test came back negative.
I know others here have lost kittens and cats to FIP. Did any of yours test negative but were really positive? Did any stay lethargic but eat fairly well and respond to fussing? Fiorella is not suffering, that we can tell. She does eat, though not as much as a 7 month old kitten should eat, and she adores cuddling with me in bed. I keep trying to prepare myself for losing her but it's hard when I don't know what is wrong with her. She isn't anemic, doesn't have any other symptoms of illness.
We are only in the second week of this new year and I have lost two cats already. I'm about to leave work to take Smoky Jones to the shelter vet because he's stopped eating. He's in a separate room but I'm afraid now that if she does have FIP, it has gone to him. He has extreme malabsorption problems and is skeletal; he can't afford to not eat even for part of a day. Fingers crossed and positive thoughts, everyone, for both of these cats.
