[Becca D]

Hi there, my little Monty (domestic short haired tabby 6 months old) is unwell and we can't seem to work out what is wrong with him.
The symptoms to begin with were diarrhoea (quite light brown), gingavitis, vommiting on occasions (maybe once a week) and grunting noises whenever he jumped or landed or was picked up. Then one night we noticed that one of his pupils were not dialating, so we took him straight to the vet. The vet tested him for FIV and FCV and both were negative. He checked Monty's eye and couldn't see scratches so suspected that the eye was a result of pain. He performed a very thorough examination of Monty and decided to do a general blood test. The vet rang the following day to tell us that Monty's liver enzymes were elevated and he thought that he had some weird hepatitis in his liver that can be treated, so we were given some tablets and told that he was to eat nothing but boiled chicken and fish and a Royal Canin sensitivity dry food for a week. A week went by and we took him back to the vet to run another blood test to check that the liver enzymes had returned to normal, but they had in fact got worse. The vet asked for a stool sample to eliminate the possibility of parasites and I've just found out today that there was nothing to report from the stool sample.
We now have to take Monty back to the vet tomorrow for more testing - he has begun sneezing and coughing a bit too and we are starting to notice a deterioration in his energy levels and interest in food. His stool has now also gone from diarrhoea to very dark (nearly black) droppings (similar to a kangaroo - but slightly larger).
Has anyone experienced anything similar to this? We lost our gorgeous Ragdoll 2 months ago to FIP and I'm so frightened that we're going to lose this little guy too!

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[Pixiekatz]

I think I would be asking the vet to run some bloods focussing on trying to rule out FIP. Did you own Monty when your Raggy was still with you?

[CatsRU]

I cannot advise but just want to send all the CW magic and positive thoughts I can muster up for your dear Monty.

[Becca D]

Thanks Catsru =)

We didn't have Monty when we had our FIP cat - Monty was rescued 2 weeks later - to try to fill the void =)
Between losing Oscar and gaining Monty, we thoroughly disinfected EVERYTHING beds, toys, bowls and the entire house, so the chance of Monty having FIP is pretty slim - I did say to the vet is it possibly FIP or even just the corona virus and he seemed pretty adament that it wasn't (thank god!)

[Heather Sharada]

I am sorry that you lost your Raggie and that the new little one is sick....what a worry for you.

I am not as confident as your vet that 2 weeks is long enough to erradicate the corona virus that causes FIP - my own vet is a Cat Only vet and he advises a full month and actually replacing the furniture and bedding etc plus dousing everything liberally in bleach - hospital grade.....and I do hope it is not FIP but some of the things you mention sound like it to me. It is a very insidious condition but keep in mind I am not a vet and other conditions can mimic it.

BTW if it were to be FIP it could well have come with the kitten not have been caught at your place....in fact given your thorough disinfecting and the fact that Corona Virus does not generally live long outside the host it may well be FIP is unlikely.

I can't really offer you any help except to wish you good luck with the vet tomorrow.

[vengeancethecat]

Sorry to hear about your poor puss - sending you lots of CW magick and wishing you the best of luck at the vet tomorrow.

[Catspjamas]

I think I would be talking with the vet about a referral to a specialty hospital or to the University Hospital. An ultrasound of the liver may be in order.

[Roland Deschain]

Best of luck with the Vet. Keep us posted!