Thanks, lailamara! You're probably right, and besides, since there is no FIP treatment, it wouldn't have changed much if I'd known earlier about her condition, only that I would have been more worried which would have probably stressed her.

Moosmommy, no, I didn't have a necropsy done, the vet told me from her symptoms it's been FIP (loss of weight, but that big balloon-like belly, jaundice, change in personality), it's been the terminal stage of her disease when the vet has realized what's been wrong with her.

I think back in 86, when my Aysche died, FIP was still pretty unknown in Germany, my vet said Aysche has only been her second case of FIP at that time.

Meanwhile I know FIP is caused by the corona virus, and that they are in many cats and usually only cause diarhhea in kittens, but that they sometimes mutate and cause FIP. Needless to say, I hate that disease from the bottom if my heart and fear it as well. Too bad that there's still no reliable vaccination. The one there is might even do damage to a cat that is already infected with the "harmless" corona virus.

And yes, I got Aysche from a breeder, but not a professional one. You're right, I should have called her, but I did not think about that at that time. Like I said before, Aysche was my first cat and I was only 20, and I didn't have much experience with cats.
Today, I would handle things differently, and with hopefully more responsibility!

Oh, and do you think that eye condition you've mentioned could have been a side effect of FIP?

Kirsten