Feline Infective Peritonitis advice needed

[tudorgirl]

A little while ago my one year old ragdoll died of probable FIP. We have another older cat who so far has not shown any symptoms. Both cats were/are house cats. However, the older cat was rescued after being abandoned at approx 8 weeks- so spent the first weeks of life on the streets.
I understand that FIP is a mutation of the corona virus, and my older cat may have this, but looking online there is no definitive test to prove this.
What want to know is can we get another cat or is it unsafe whilst the older cat is still around. She seems very lonely since her friend died and we would love another cat, but I could not live with myself if another cat died of FIP.
Is there a specialist vet place that I could contact for advice?
Any help gratefully received.

Many cats carry corona virus. And in most cases this causes no problems at all and the cats live a happy, healthy and normal life. In a few cases (about 5-10 per cent I think), they go on to develop FIP. I've had corona virus positive cats for the past eight years or more. I've had probably 50 cats living with me until they died. Not one has developed FIP.

That said, it's best not to expose a cat not already carrying it to the virus. The chances are that your cat does carry it. But you can get her tested to be sure.

If she is a carrier, or indeed if you decide not to get her tested, you can apply to rescues to adopt another corona virus-positive cat. It's always difficult to find homes for these cats and all rescues will have them. (Some test routinely, some don't, but regardless if cats need other investigations it will probably form part of those investigations).

Sadly the Cornavirus test can not differentiate between ordinary Corona (cause and bit of vomiting and diarrhoea) and FIP causing corona. The only definitive diagnosis is at post mortem.
Standard advice in your situation would be to not introduce another cat into the household until you are cat free.
The vast majority of cats suffering FIP are young cats and we think develop the condition very quickly.
If you would like a specialist appointment with your cat to discuss it I would suggest Martha Canon at the Oxford Cat Clinic she is and RCVS and European specialist in feline medicine. If you are in the North Daniella Gunn-Moore at University of Edinburgh is also RCVS specialist in Feline Medicine and would also be a great option.

How very strange Lonecat. At CHAT we have a special section for corona cats with full on infection control measures. All the cats I take come from there.

The assumption is that these cats have the FIP related corona virus. I'll ask about this when I'm next there.

My understanding of FIP is that .......it's not completely understood, including some of the disease vectors. It seems to behave differently in some ways to other human and animal viruses.

In the circumstances, I'd advocate caution, tudorgirl. Added to the potential for another case (which may be very small indeed but FIP is such a horrible condition) is the issue of whether your current cat would actually fit well with a new cat coming into the household - which could be problematic in its own right.

Could you take other measures to ameliorate her loneliness eg by more environmental enrichment ? How is it showing?

Thecatneuterer in your situation as a rescue I would consider them all to be potential FIP cats, however, for pet owners I would suggest repeat testing to look for rising titres to suggest active infection.
This is the advice that Martha has given me for FIP cats and I worship at the altar of the Oxford Cat Clinic IMO there are no greater cat vets in the UK.

Thank you very much for your replies. The cat we have at the moment is quiet and reserved, she seemed much more playful and interactive when we had the second cat. She is not left alone for long periods, but rarely wants to play with us humans, and prefers her own company.
She is only 3, which was why I was considering a playmate for her. Maybe it is best to keep her an only cat.

This is from Feline Advisory Bureau, some of the expert vets mentioned are contributors to the fact sheets www.icatcare.org/advice-centre/cat-health/feline-infectious-peritonitis-fip

Thanks for the link springersmum. Will have a read now.