I feel like I woke up from a bad dream. everything is okay now. the world is good!
this is like the end of a House episode.
I’ve been sharing all the info in scraps, but here it is summarized for anyone who wants to know:
- most cats are exposed to feline coronavirus early in their life. in a tiny percentage of them, it mutates into something called FIP (Feline infectious peritonitis).
- Belphie developed FIP, and has been slowly declining in health. because his immune system was busy dealing with the FIP, he became a sponge for other pathogens.
- for a healthy cat, going on leashed walks, or going out on an enclosed catio is a relatively safe way of enjoying the outdoors. for an immunocompromised cat, it becomes dangerous.
- Belphie became a little disease factory spreading his pathogens throughout the house, and Pangur and Grim (being senior cats) eventually got quite sick. keep in mind that he can’t spread FIP, because P & G have already had exposure to feline coronavirus early in life, and now have an immunity.
- Belphie tested positive for calcivirus and mycoplasma, and was put on medication.
- despite the meds, he kept getting worse, which made my vet suspect a third mystery illness.
- on Sep 17th, I woke up to find that Belphie’s abdomen had swollen like a balloon. I took him in for testing, and my vet cautiously suggested FIP. the medication for FIP is still under development, and not easily accessed in Canada yet, so she wasn’t able to give me anything.
- the wet form of FIP (where the cat swells up with straw-coloured fluid) kills the fastest, so that evening I joined a FIP Facebook group, sent some frantic messages, and ended up heading to someone’s house at midnight to receive illicit drugs.
- you can legally order the drugs from China, but you cannot legally administer them. so it’s all wink and nudge.
- the next day (Sept 18th) I took Belphie in again for more testing, and it was determined to be FIP. I learned of a medical study in Ferguson Ontario (two hours from where I live) that was willing to take Belphie as a participant, and could get him the medication that day, so we hopped in the car and drove there.
- the medication has to be given for 84 days, and the injectable drugs from China are unfortunately quite painful. they burn going in, which makes the cat scream. this Ferguson study uses the oral medication, so it’s just a small pill that they swallow daily. OBVIOUSLY me and Belphie would both prefer 84 days of the pill!
- it’s now the 19th, and Belphie is playing for the first time in weeks. his swelling has gone down, and he no longer whimpers in his sleep.
- all three cats are on the mend. everything has been discovered. and everyone will be okay!