Feline infectious peritonitis - update on poorly elderly cat.

[NicoAndTheNiners]

I started a thread yesterday about my 15yo cat and have spoken to the vet again this morning and he's fairly sure this is what it is.

He's offered to take a sample of fluid from her abdomen to confirm, would cost £95. If it is positive then the prognosis is very poor so she would probably need to be put to sleep.

If it's negative she needs more tests and possibly operation/biopsy to see what's wrong. Which I just don't think I can justify the cost of after what I've already spent, not at her age.

So I'm thinking of not having the £90 confirmation test and just accepting that she's elderly, she's quite poorly and having her pts with no further tests. Vet told me to think about it over the weekend and ring back on Tuesday.

I suppose the other option is to wait and see how she goes? She's still eating (a bit) still enjoying the sunshine in the garden. But she seems down and lethargic and I'm not sure if that's a normal elderly/tired lethargy but she still has quality of life or if it's a poorly/feels awful lethargy and she's suffering?

I think I wouldn't do anything and let her enjoy the sunshine until you know the time is right. You will know.

Thankyou, I think that's what I'm leaning towards doing.

@NicoAndTheNiners As far as I know peritonitis is VERY VERY painful after some time. Please check with someone else that it's ok to wait. Maybe have her pts ASAP is something to consider

I waited too long with my cat and I stil regret it.

I'm going to talk to the vet on Tuesday and take it from there. I certainly don't want her to be in pain.

I just hope she doesn't deteriorate over the BH weekend.

Please check her very closely. Peritonitis is a dreadful condition, she may be in a lot of pain. I had a dog with P.

Sorry to see your update. I think I would see how she goes but definitely speak to the vet on Tuesday. If she deteriorates you can always call the out of hours vet.

Poor cat, peritonitis is painful and its poisonous pus in her abdomen,
I can understand how you feel i have had elderly cats, and it is a hard decision to make,just see how she goes over the weekend, you may have to take her back before tuesday,bless her

Sorry i think i am mixing it up with Pyometra , [poisonous pus] but it will still be painful

I did say to the vet today that I was prepared to bring her in today (they were open) to have her pts and he fobbed me off telling me to think about it. She's just been fussing for food and has eaten and then jumped over the stair gate.

She's just been fussing for food and has eaten and then jumped over the stair gate. Sorry for my posts, your cat seems rather fine for the moment.

When my dog had peritonitis he received very strong intravenous antibiotics immediately (vet said not enough time for any tests). I think this saved his life (with my cat it was a different story). Is it an option for yout cat?

The vet hasn't said anything about treatment/antibiotics.

I think the feline thing is different to dog peritonitis. It's a mutation of a corona virus which only cats get?

And everything I've googled basically says there's nothing you can do, 95% of cats die within a few weeks of diagnosis. You can prolong life a bit by some sort of steroids and draining fluid, etc.......but I don't think that's worth the trauma for a 15yo cat.

Aha, sorry for the dog/cat confusion.

How is your cat today?

I would hold off especially as she is still eating and managing to jump over the stair gate...

She seems ok this morning. Was fussing for food again and ate this morning.