HELP! My kitten may have FIP

[MoshiMom]

We just got our beloved Mr. Moshiyoto from a cattery in NM and we have had him since March 16...We have one other cat in the house who is 8 years old and healthy...She has not come in contact with the kitten because she is an antisocial calico...She only likes me! Anywho...Our little kitten has lost 1lb in 5 days---he was 3 lbs last Wed and now this past Monday was 2.1 lbs...He has not eating in over a week, swollen abdomen, fever and lethargic for 2 weeks...We have given him Subcutaneous fluids, he had his blood drawn and I guess the liver enzyme you don't want to see elevated was and something else about his White Blood Count was up and down...He is a Siamese (beautiful!) and has anyone had a kitten with these symptoms that has not had FIP but something that was curable????? Last night I gave him some beef baby food with karo syrup and some water...He took 5 cc and this morning he took 4cc....(it's baby food without onion or garlic)....
Please someone give me some hope???

[latergatorj]

I am sorry to hear of this. :-( From what I've experienced with FIP in the past with my Burmese kitties, it sounds like your little kitten has it.

When I asked my Veterinarian about FIP, this is what he told me.
"The FIP test will only show if there was exposure to corona virus. Corona virus is a virus oin cats that causes mild bouts of GI problems in cats but is rarely fatal. FIP, however, is a mutated version of corona virus, creating cross reactivity on serological testing. And, it is estimated that greater than 75% of cats have been exposed to corona virus.

However, the FIP test is not useless. If negative, then it is conclusive evidence that there is no FIP. If positive, then other evidence in the routine bloodwork (elevated immunglobulins, elevated total protein), as well a clinical signs of FIP (straw colored free fluid in the abdomen, small lesions called granulomas forming on the liver, kidneys, and retinas, and lungs and severely high fever), can ofetn offer us resaonably certain diagnosis of FIP.

Now, is it contagious to other cats? THere is alot of controversy about this. Some believe that the corona mutation occurs outside tha feline host, which would make the virus contagious. However, a greater majority (myself included) believe that the mutation occurs within the feline host. And the factor that leads to the mutation is chronic repeated exposure to corona virus from an unclean environment. This theory postulates that hyperexposure to corona virus leads to an eventual hyper-immune response that causes mutation into FIP, a virulent, imminently fatal disease. This theory, backed up by strong scientific evidence, explains why there is higher rate of FIP among pure breed catteries, than well maintained shelters."

I am sorry I wasn't able to help you further, but I hope this information helps with the questions you must have, at least a little.