Minnie&Moose Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 (edited) Earlier this week one of our kittens seemed a little 'off'. Nothing specific, just not playing much and not quite right. The vet took a good look at him and then dropped a bombshell - he thought Archie might have feline infectious peritonitis. So - now we're waiting for the results of various tests which hopefully will be able to confirm whether he's likely to have this or not. If he does, it's untreatable and fatal (but we won't let him hang on getting more and more sick if that's the case). In the meantime we have a sad and miserable Archie kitten (just wants food and cuddles) and a very confused Molly kitten (his sister) who can't understand why her lovely playmate no longer wants to play or cause mayhem with her Edited November 8, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 So sorry to hear about poor Archie, hope things aren't as bleak as they sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 Oh no! I really hope they find its not that. What a worrying time for you. Best wishes to you & Archie. Hoping for good news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted April 26, 2013 Author Share Posted April 26, 2013 Just had a phone call from the vet - Archie's blood results aren't looking good. But until we get in all the results we won't be any closer to having an answer. And to make matters worse - if it looks like he does have it we will then have to monitor Molly very closely because she could also develop it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 That's really rotten. (((hug))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 I'm so sorry . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 That's awful! Poor poor kitties I hope for good news for Archie and all of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Oh dear Are you able to get more results today or will you have to wait until after the weekend? Hope Molly is still ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted April 27, 2013 Author Share Posted April 27, 2013 Molly's still fine fortunately. We have to wait until early next week for the final results - hard because Archie's condition is deteriorating very rapidly so I may end up having him euthanized before the results are in. He's still eating and still asking for cuddles - but that's all he's doing at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 I'm so sorry to hear that. Poor Archie. How frustrating to have to wait so long. I know how much I love my cats so I can only imagine how you must be feeling. At least if it does get worse you can help him not to suffer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Oh that's awful - I'm so sorry to hear that. Fingers crossed that Molly is ok, but that's so sad after all the excitement of having two new kittens. Poor Archie, and poor you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 How horrible for you, I really hope Archie pulls through and that Molly is okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 Sorry to hear your news. There is comprehensive information on FIP Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted April 29, 2013 Author Share Posted April 29, 2013 Thanks for all your replies. The vet confirmed this afternoon that, now that all the results are in, there's little doubt that poor little Archie has FIPV. So, first thing tomorrow I'm taking Archie in to be put to sleep. A very short little life - but he certainly made a very big impression on his household and we're going to miss him for quite some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 Aw, I really am so, so sorry to hear that. I have been thinking about your sad predicament all weekend & hoping for the best. Sounds like he is well loved though, so a loved boy even if it has been a short life. Is Molly still doing ok? Don't want to ask, but what is the next step? Does she get tested too? Best wishes for the task ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 That is so, so sad and I cannot begin to imagine how you must feel. I am so sorry and and send best wishes to you and yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 I am so sorry to hear that but at least your now and can do what is best for him. Poor little love I do hope things are brighter for Molly xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted April 29, 2013 Author Share Posted April 29, 2013 Thanks Gertie - Molly's still OK. We've decided to delay spaying her by at least a few weeks, just to let her adjust to life without Archie. My understanding is that we could have her tested to see if she currently has antibodies to the corona virus but (i) she may not yet have converted to being seropositive for them so a negative result won't necessarily mean she's clear, and (ii) all we'll know, if she is seropositive, is that she's been in contact with the corona virus - we won't know whether it's mutated into the FIPV form or not. So for now we're going to just watch her carefully (she's staying in until after she's been spayed - last thing she needs is to get pregnant) and minimise the risk of further stresses to try and give her the best chance we can. This will be a new one for me though - I've never had a single kitten - the few kittens I've had have all come as sibling pairs so we're currently figuring out how to make sure she gets enough company from her human playmates during the working day. Fortunately I can work at home for part of most days at the moment so hopefully she won't have to spend the whole day on her own - and I have a couple of student volunteers who will come in and play with her on those days when we're all out for the whole day - it feels like I'm organising child care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 I'm really sorry to hear that the diagnosis for Archie has been confirmed, how sad for you all. Hoping that Mollie will stay well . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottyJ1 Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 I'm so sorry to hear about Archie. I have never heard about this horrible disease. Thinking of you and Molly (hugs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 I'm so sorry about Archie, that's so sad. Sending you (((hugs))). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted April 30, 2013 Author Share Posted April 30, 2013 Thanks everyone. Archie was put to sleep first thing this morning, after an evening of being spoilt rotten. I'm glad it's over for him - he was a lovely lad and had the makings of a wonderful family cat. We're all just sad that we didn't get the opportunity to know him for longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 I'm so sorry. Such sad news xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 How are you and Molly after today's events? I hope that the student playmates keep her so busy she won't have time to miss Archie. It's a shame you can't get any closure on if Molly is resistant. I went to West Hatch Animal sanctuary a while ago & had a long chat with the cat keeper there about FIP. I do hope for a positive outcome for you both. Best wishes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 Thanks Gertie. Molly had a bit of a difficult night - which means we all had a bit of a difficult night! I expect she'll call and look for Archie for a while yet - but we're all playing with her and cuddling her. Students are all lined up for next week (both of them have house/chicken/cat sat for us in the past). We have to decide whether to get Molly's bloods checked for antibodies when she's spayed (vet and I agree we should minimise the number of stressful things we put her through - the test would only really tell us whether she's met the FCoV or not and I'm not sure that will help us right now). We could have her antibody levels checked every 2-3 months to see if they decline (assuming they're there in the first place) but that would require repeated sedation and I'm not sure how valuable that information would be, since we can't delay spaying by too long, and my understanding is that the only possible advantage of monitoring her like that would be as a way of trying to identify when would be the least risky time to put her through a surgical procedure. If we get to a point where we might consider introducing another cat as a playmate for her then we will have her checked (via repeated stool sample analysis) to see if she is a chronic FCoV shedder - because that would have implications for any incoming cat. But until then I think we just keep her as happy and healthy as we can and assume that it's unlikely that she will be affected the same way her brother was. There's nothing we can do about it so best to try not to think about it too much unless we're back in the position of having to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
