Let me say, right off the bat, YES.
FIP is now curable, thanks to a medication called GS-441524 or Remdesivir. Because the drug does not yet have FDA approval, veterinarians in the United States cannot prescribe it, and many will not even mention it as an option for fear of having their license taken away. UC Davis is now conducting the first ever studies on the treatment, with hopes of it getting approved for use by veterinarians. The results so far are extremely promising.
Instead, cat parents need to seek out the group FIP Warriors on Facebook. The group is made up of FIP experts, including veterinarians, who will review your cat's medical records and determine a course of action. If the kitty appears to have FIP, they can get you access to medication that same day. Because FIP has a 100% death rate if left untreated, as soon as you so much as suspect FIP, join the group to find out your options.
Let's take a step back, though.
What is FIP?
FIP, which stands for Feline infectious peritonitis, is a deadly virus that mostly affects cats aged 2 and under or senior cats with severely compromised immune systems. It is caused by another virus, called coronavirus (nope, not that one!), which then mutates in some cats into FIP. The vast majority of cats who have come into contact with coronavirus will not develop FIP, but genetics and high stress situations can cause it to mutate in the unlucky minority. (This is sometimes why you see it develop in littermates, even though it is NOT contagious.) It causes severe inflammation in the body and can affect any organ, which then presents as any number of symptoms.
Meet Snuffy
In early February 2023, Snuffy started losing weight. He increasingly became more picky about what he ate and less interested in food. He'd seen his vet multiple times over the course of about 3 weeks, getting bloodwork, an xray to check for dental/jaw issues, and an ultrasound, but continued to get worse as different ailments were ruled out. By this time, he would only eat Churus and had started hiding under the bed, which was very unlike him. The next option was to do an invasive procedure to get a biopsy of his intestines, but instead, we decided to get a second opinion.
During this vet appointment, Snuffy also presented with a pretty high fever, so it was clear he had some sort of infection or illness. More bloodwork was done, and luckily this vet had experience with FIP and it's blood markers and confirmed our fears right away. Though FIP was already on our radar as a possibility, now we had a clear answer. Suffy's cat dad joined the FIP Warrior group on Facebook immediately and was able to start medication that same evening. Snuffy completed his 84 days of medication and on August 8, 2023 after an 84 day observation period, he was declared cured of FIP. He's feeling and looking better than ever!
How is FIP diagnosed?
Because Snuffy had dry FIP, his illness was tougher to diagnose than wet FIP, which comes with a tell tale bloated belly that's filled with fluid. The symptoms of dry FIP can often be confused with the symptoms of many other illnesses. FIP is also progressive, so the cat will start healthy and get progressively more sick, showing more symptoms over the course of weeks or months. They will not suddenly get sick overnight.
Although a combination of many markers in the bloodwork (in combination with symptoms) can point to FIP, FIP can be diagnosed with certainty using the albumin: globulin (A:G) ratio. If this number is under .8, FIP is likely. If it is under .4, FIP is very likely. For more info on specifics in the bloodwork with FIP, check out this article. Your best bet though is to make sure you're working with a vet who has experience diagnosing FIP AND share the results with FIP warriors group.
Should I treat my cat?
The treatment has roughly a 90% cure rate, and without treatment, your cat will die. There is no question about that.
BUT, there are things to consider:
a 90% cure rate means 10% of cats who get treatment don't respond to it. These tend to be cats whose disease has progressed to the point of neurological symptoms or cats with other illnesses, like cancer. The FIP Warriors group can advise on your particular cat's situation, so you can make the most informed decision.
the treatment is long. All cats must get the medication 84 days in a row, followed by an 84 day observation period. Shorter medication periods have shown to be ineffective.
the medication is a sub-q injection that most cat parents must be willing to give themselves. In some cases, an oral pill is available, but doses usually require multiple pills per day. The FIP Warriors group can advise on your particular cat's situation, so you can make the most informed decision. (The good news is the UC Davis study is testing an oral version that requires only ONE pill per day and has shown promising results.)
the injection is painful, and some cats will not cooperate getting it daily. In Snuffy's case, after 2 weeks of doing the injections at home, we were able to find 2 vets who were willing to help with his injections, including one open on weekends. Many vets will not. Look for holistic vets or those that work with rescues, as they're often more willing to perform "outside the box" treatments. There are also hacks, like slings, purritos, and distracting with churus, that can help make the daily injection smoother. You may also be able to find help from friends, significant others, or even others in the FIP Warriors group.
the treatment is expensive. The medication is not yet covered by insurance and will likely cost around $2000. The cat must also get blood work every 30 days during the treatment and observation periods, which may be covered by your pet insurance. If you take the cat to a vet for injections, you'll likely pay a tech fee per visit. These might also be covered by your insurance. Consider setting up a GoFundMe if costs are prohibitive for you.
Whether you decide to treat your cat or not, it's important to know that there are options. Many vets still believe FIP is incurable, leading to euthanasia that a pet parent may not have chosen had they only been aware. Luckily, the news around FIP treatment is becoming more known, and my hope is very soon, the treatment will be readily available at vet offices.
My biggest advice to everyone, regardless of the symptoms/illness, if your gut is telling you something is off or you're not getting clear answers, is to get a second opinion. Vets are human too, and just like human doctors, their experience plays a huge role in diagnosis and recommendations.
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