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FIP

FIP remains a serious disease, but modern antiviral treatments have dramatically changed the prognosis. Prompt veterinary assessment is essential.

Illustration of a Sacred Birman being examined at the vet
Illustration for the topic – not a photograph or a historical source.

FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) develops in a small proportion of cats infected with feline coronavirus (FCoV). The disease can present in many different ways and often requires several findings to be assessed together.

Illustration of a Sacred Birman being examined at the vet
FIP is not the same story it once wasModern antiviral treatments have changed the prognosis, but prompt veterinary assessment remains essential.
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FCoV is not the same as FIP

Illustration of a Sacred Birman being examined at the vet
AI-illustration

Feline coronavirus is common in cat populations, especially where many cats live together. Most FCoV-infected cats never develop FIP. FIP arises in connection with changes in the virus and the cat’s immune response.

Possible signs

AI illustration of Sacred Birman at food bowl and water bowl
AI-illustration

Persistent fever, reduced appetite, weight loss, fluid in the abdomen or chest, eye changes and neurological signs may all be part of the disease picture. None of these signs alone is enough to make the diagnosis.

Diagnosis is based on the whole picture

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AI-illustration

Blood tests, diagnostic imaging and samples from fluid or affected tissue may be needed. Modern diagnosis combines clinical findings with targeted laboratory tests rather than relying on a single “FIP test”.

The most important change: FIP is no longer considered a disease without treatment. International 2025 guidelines describe antiviral treatments, particularly GS-441524, as highly effective in many cases. Treatment must be planned and monitored by a veterinarian, and legal access to preparations varies between countries.

Prompt help matters

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AI-illustration

If FIP is genuinely suspected, diagnostic work-up and treatment planning should not be delayed unnecessarily. Cats can be very ill, while the response to effective antiviral therapy is often rapid.

Source: European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), updated FIP guidelines 2025/2026. Older Birmakredsen material has been updated because treatment options have changed significantly.