My cat has FIP. Is frequent fluid removal painful or safe for her?

I am so sorry Shada is so sick! Because she had the fluid drained from her belly, she will be feeling better having that pressure off, and that's why she is eating, drinking, and using the litter box normally. Unfortunately, FIP is fatal, and the fluid will build up again eventually leading to the same problems. Due to the fact that FIP is fatal, letting her go with humane euthanasia is the best option, especially if she is experiencing fluid accumulation. You can, if you'd like, put off the appointment for a few days to enjoy some last quality time with her before the fluid builds up again, but it's certainly ok to say goodbye to her tomorrow. Again, I'm so sorry she is so sick!

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for FIP and if your cat is suffering then euthanasia is the best option. I'm so sorry you're having to go through this and make this decision. I wish there was more we could recommend for you but I think you're a vet has your cats best interest at heart.

I'm not sure what fluid you are draining but I recommend just putting the needle under the skin into the pocket and gently pulling back to remove the discharge. It won't cause much discomfort. You should have someone hold him steady when you do this. Personally I recommend you take your cat back to the veterinary office to see if one of the technicians can watch you and help you do this so you can become confident. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your cat.

In situations like this you can take it a day at a time - as long as Watson seems to be doing well (enjoying his normal routine, interacting with you and other family members or pets, eating and urinating/defecating normally) you can continue with supportive care. If the bad days outnumber the good it may be time to consider euthanasia. Polyprenyl immunostimulant has shown some promise when used for the dry form of FIP - I believe it is more readily available than it was a few years ago but most veterinarians have not used it. There is also a newer experimental drug that seems to show promise being developed at the University of California Davis. The specialist at Blue Pearl might be able to look into each therapy further for you. Either way you would probably want a definitive diagnosis first since these would not help cancer, and that might involve exploratory surgery to obtain biopsies.

Hi and thanks for posting. Oh dear I am so sorry to hear this. FIP sadly has no cure and the fluid that builds up in the abdomen is uncomfortable and painful. Cats that are diagnosed with the wet form of FIP usually do not have long. Steroids can be prescribed to help control symptoms temporarily. If Luje is not eating or drinking and is becoming lethargic or weak, it may be time for him. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! FIP is hard to diagnose. It is usually a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning all other diseases have been ruled out. The most accurate test is PCR of belly or chest fluid when the cat has the wet or effusive form of FIP. There is also the Dry or granulomatous form which likes the brain and eye. A simple blood test is riddled with false negatives and positives. Simple put a cat positive for coronavirus doesn't mean it has the mutated viral form that causes FIP. Unfortunately Mia's eye problem could be from FIP, but also many other things and sadly there is no 100% way to tell you that. FIP is not curable, it is a terrible disease. If Mia is doing well then I'd take that. And see if anything happens in the future. I hope this helps and I wish Mia the best!

I understand you are concerned about FIP. The reality is, if you don't have money for a veterinary visit (and in many cases even if you did), FIP is typically fatal and untreatable. The best thing you can do is separate your sick cat from your healthy one and see how things transpire over the course of the next few days. Typically, cats with FIP, regardless of the form, will be inappetant and not wanting to eat anything at all. The worst form of it will cause massive fluid buiid up in the chest / abdomen and result in difficulty breathing. The other form typically produce clinical signs that are both ophthalmic and/or neurologic, plus several other non specific clinical signs (a couple of which include what you are descrbing). Overall, FIP would not be near the top of my list. I would definitely make sure all three cats have been tested for leukemia and AIDS however in order to rule both of these life-threatening conditions. While not as rapidly fatal as FIP, both conditions can carry poor long term prognosis. It sounds like the one cat with a fever and swollen belly might benefit from pain management and a recheck for the presence of worms. While dietary indiscretion could be an issue, it is not likely to cause a fever unless an infectious organism was present in the food. Hope this is more helpful than my previous response.