How to know if a cat has PIF

Feline infectious peritonitis, also known as FIP, is a fairly common disease in cats that is characterized, among other things, by inflammation of the peritoneum, which is a membrane that lines the organs located in the cat's abdominal cavity. In the following article we review the possible ways of presenting this disease and the ways to know if a cat has PIF .

The risk factors for PIF

Feline infectious peritonitis is more common in stray cats and those that live in a group, since the most common form of infection is through faeces.

Symptoms of PIF

After the infection, cats usually show fever, anorexia and weakness .

Then, the disease can evolve into a wet form, in which an exudate appears in the abdomen and / or chest of the cat causing respiratory or digestive problems, along with a distension of the abdomen. This process is known as wet PIF .

In dry PIF the symptoms are more variable since several organs located in the abdominal cavity can be affected, causing kidney problems, digestive problems and even paralysis of the hind limbs.

Sometimes there are also eye alterations and changes in the behavior of the cat.