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EASEL News: June 2021

Happy Tails:

Overcoming FIP for a Bright Future

called the feline coronavirus
Animals can be more resilient than
we know. That is the case with 2-year-old (not to be confused with
Mickey, an affectionate boy who Danielle COVID-19). Most strains of
Brown-Buzan adopted from EASEL when feline coronavirus are found
he was just 12 weeks old. After a battle in cats’ gastrointestinal tracts
with FIP just a few months after his but do not cause significant
first birthday, Mickey is thriving and is disease.
serving as a prime example of why it is Getting Mickey a diagnosis
so rewarding to see your pet through a proved to be difficult at first.
medical difficulty. Mickey had a routine visit to
Danielle embarked on the journey to the vet and had a vaccination
meeting and adopting Mickey after she shot. The next day, he began
and her husband decided their 3-year- acting weird. He developed
old rescue, Kitty, who was quite shy, a fever and lethargy. The
needed a kitten companion. When EASEL couple returned to the vet
showed her a picture of Mickey (then with Mickey, and a day later,
named Jeeves), she fell in love with him. he was worse and began to
Mickey and his two sisters were available hide. During a third trip, the vet
for adoption after being products of performed a blood test that
EASEL’s TNR program (see page 1 for more showed FIP markers. Mickey
information), and when the couple arrived then had a more thorough lab
at the shelter to meet him, the connection blood test that confirmed it
seemed natural. was most likely FIP.
“Mickey came to the front of the cage, “By the time Mickey
ready to play, while his sisters hung back,” developed FIP, we thought
she said. “My husband inquired about the of him as our baby,” Danielle Mickey is the most affectionate cat Danielle has ever had.
girls, but I just had a feeling that Mickey recalls. “It was devastating. We
was the one. No other kitten would do.” both cried. My husband was dry form. Death comes quickly with the
The couple brought him home, and he was determined to fight this disease. Both wet form, so there is very little time to
very active and playful, and has turned into Georgia (EASEL’s VP, Dr. Georgia Arvanitis) act. One symptom is a swollen stomach
the most affectionate cat Danielle has ever and my vet Carey (Holland Veterinary Care, as it fills up with fluid. Dry FIP is a slower
had. From the very beginning, he adjusted Dr. Carey Guise, VMD) recommended the progression. Mickey had the dry/ocular
to his forever home as if he was meant to FIP Warrior Facebook page.” form. His one eye changed color. However,
be there. EASEL had taught him how to The couple contacted an administrator with both forms, there is fever, lethargy,
head butt to show affection, but he has of FIP Warriors, and she explained what hiding, diminished appetite and an a/g
since developed additional ways to show the treatment for him would look like. ratio below .6.
his affection. This normally included 12 weeks of daily Today, Mickey is cured and is now a
“He is also the most curious cat, a real subcutaneous injections plus 12 weeks of little over two years old. No additional
daredevil, trying to see all the things that observation and blood tests at intervals treatment is necessary other than routine
may be possible to do,” Danielle says. “He and at the end of observation. Danielle’s veterinary care all cats need.
has made Kitty more adventurous and vet’s technician showed her how to do the Danielle says that while having a cat
taught her how to jump on counters, injections. with FIP is a very difficult journey, it is
tables, mantel pieces, and anything else Once treatment began, Danielle did worth it in the end.
he can think of. Kitty, too, is now more the injections. “My husband comforted me “There is a cure, and their lives can be
affectionate and playful than she was and helped in any way he could,” she said. saved,” she says. “If your cat develops FIP, I
before she met Mickey.” “Eventually, we all got used to the routine, recommend treatment without hesitation.
However, the family’s journey hasn’t and things went more smoothly. Mickey FIP Warriors will help people through this,
always been so easy. When Mickey was immediately started to feel better, which and I would help other pet parents as well.
15-16 months old, he developed FIP (Feline encouraged me to keep going. There were If I had a do-over, I would do it again.”
infectious peritonitis). It is a viral disease many tears but it was so worth it.”
of cats caused by certain strains of a virus There are two forms of FIP, a wet and

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