CURE FOR DEADLY CAT COVID FINALLY DISCOVERED

A cure has been found for an often fatal virus that affects cats all across the world, according to an Australian not-for-profit group.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease, and according to Sandy Baraiolo, the public liaisons officer for FIP Cats Australia, now curable.

“It was so exciting because they’ve actually found that there’s a cure now of FIP,” she said.

“So it’s no longer a death sentence, it can be cured.

“So what we’re trying to do is get the information out there, so that people can be aware, and other vets can be aware, it’s no longer a death sentence, there is a treatment available.”

The illness, according to Ms Baraiolo, is an often deadly virus.

“So basically it’s a virus that cats get, and it comes from the coronavirus, and it mutates, so the cat gets stressed out, or it’s been under a lot of pressure, or anything like that, it mutates.

“But there’s different forms of FIP. You can get…neuro which is the head, ocular [which is the] eyes, and then you can get wet FIP and you can also get dry FIP.”

Ms Baraiolo first experienced the pain that FIP can cause around a decade ago, when as a breeder she imported a cat from the USA.

“Back then they had to do thirty days quarantine. Unfortunately, she developed FIP whilst in quarantine and back then they didn’t know what it was, they just had a bloated tummy.

“So unfortunately, three days after she came out of quarantine, she got really unwell, [I] took her to the vet, and subsequently she died two days later.

“So that was a lot of money that I’d actually spent importing the cat from America.”

However, there is good news for cat-lovers that are afraid of losing their feline friends to FIP.

“There’s actually a cure, back then there wasn’t, it was a death sentence. But now it’s not,” said Ms Baraiolo.

“And it’s so exciting, because we can give information so that you can actually treat your cat.

“It’s only applicable to cats, and doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a pedigree cat or even if you’ve got a rescue cat, it doesn’t discriminate.”

For those looking for more information about FIP and the supports available, Ms Baraiolo said that in addition to a website and social media, FIP Cats Australia have mentors and representatives in every state.

“We’ve got someone who you can go to and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got this problem or we think it’s this, what can you assist us with?’,” she said.

“And then we’ve got lots of handouts, lots of information on our website and on our Facebook page, and the information is there for everybody.”

Ultimately, Ms Baraiolo urged breeders not to fear FIP.

“FIP’s now curable, don’t be scared of it. And breeders, if you’ve got it, don’t be scared about it,” she said.

“There is a treatment option out there, the more people can get the information, and some people aren’t going to be prepared to treat.

“It’s not a cheap option to treat your cat, but at the end of the day it is covered by pet insurance.

“So if you do have pet insurance, which most breeders sell their cats with pet insurance, it is covered.”

Ms Baraiolo emphasised that it is always important to get a vet’s instructions first.