08/31/2026
FIP Awareness — Biscotti's Story
Pretty mama cat Birdie came in with her four stunning kittens, and we very much enjoyed having care of them. Fun, friendly little boys, and handsome as heck. Of course they were immediately spoken for by families who fell in love with their sweetness and were waiting to be fixed, vetted, and sent to forever homes.
Shortly after confirming their new family, I noticed that Dove (now Biscotti) was behaving a little off. He didn't seem to eat much. Wasn't gaining well. Seemed withdrawn. Not grooming. So off to the vet we went.
Nothing big showed amiss at first — some fluid, a vet bill, and I changed their dishes to make it easier for the handsome bewhiskered boy to eat. None of the other kittens or mom was sick at all, so that ruled most contagious issues off the list. After a few days he started gaining again and was able to go home.
Shortly after, Biscotti's new mom noticed he was not eating and dropping weight again. Her vet had a heart-wrenching diagnosis — FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).
The tricky thing about FIP is that it's a mutation of feline coronavirus, which most cats are exposed to at some point. In most cats it just causes a mild upset stomach and passes. In about 5-10% of cats, that common virus mutates inside that individual cat into FIP. Once it mutates, it is no longer contagious to other cats — but it becomes life-threatening to that cat.
The FIP form can be very hard to distinguish because symptoms are vague: lethargy, low appetite, poor weight gain, not grooming — symptoms for just about any illness. Standard vet tests only show that a cat has been exposed to coronavirus, not whether it mutated. Fluid in the abdomen, as Biscotti had, can be a clue with wet FIP. Lab results can indicate dry as well.
FIP used to be almost always fatal, but new antiviral medication has now saved a lot of little lives, and prompt, fiercely loving care is saving Biscotti. He's still in treatment right now — he starts his observation period on September 23rd — but he's already a strong, growing little man who gets more handsome every day and is able to play with his brother, now named Geoff, on equal footing again. We are all rooting so hard for him.
I love being part of this rescue not only because we will always, always get care whenever we think something is off, but because we know the families we send these cats and kittens to. We know we are giving them over to people who will love them and care for them. And in Biscotti's case, do everything possible to save him from a rare mutation of a common illness.
