EDUCATION
Breeders – FIP 101
Please note: This section is intended for ethical, caring cat breeders and rescue organizations and information purposes ONLY. If you have a sick cat, please consult a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. The authors exclude all liability whatsoever for any loss or damage arising out of the use of this website or reliance upon its content and STRONGLY advises anybody with veterinary related questions to consult a qualified veterinarian.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a complex and devastating viral disease of cats that occurs worldwide and can affect many systems of the body. It arises as a consequence (abnormal immune response) to infection with Feline Coronavirus (FCoV). Few diseases are as perplexing and heartbreaking as FIP which is one of the most common infectious cause of death in younger cats. While FCoV is endemic in most multiple cat environments, it is estimated that about 5-10% of cats infected with FCoV actually develop FIP.
We call on cat breeders to lead the way in eradicating FCoV and FIP.
There are few experiences more devastating for a cat breeder than to hear that a kitten who was sold, or a kitten or cat who was placed in a home, has died of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and we hope that you have not had this experience and that with the aid of this website, you never will.
EndFIP® aims to bring a permanent end to FIP by educating, informing and inspiring people to create lasting solutions to prevent feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection in multi-cat environments, such as breeding catteries and we look forward to the day when most purebreds cats will be FCoV-free, just as of now most pedigree cats are free of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). We need caring breeders to join us in the fight against FIP by becoming an FCoV free cattery, making sure your kittens are FCoV free and by talking openly about FCoV and FIP with other breeders.
A breeder’s nightmare: you have sold a kitten who developed FIP and died.
One of the most difficult things to hear for a breeder is that a client has lost a cat to FIP. Aside from the misery caused by the loss of the young cat, many questions – and consequences – arise. Will the litter mates of the affected kitten also die of FIP ? Are all my cats infected? Will I have to stop breeding?
It is easy in the moment to give in to panic, and some breeders and rescuers have had all their perfectly healthy cats euthanized in a moment of misguided panic. So, the first thing to do is to stay calm, gather information, and to find out what comes next:

Everything you need to know if you have sold a kitten who developed FIP.
Find the answers to the most commonly asked questions to help shelters and breeders deal with the loss of a kitten to FIP, and prevent future outbreaks.
DISCLAIMER: The use of this website is at your own risk. This website is for information purposes ONLY, and it is NOT meant to replace a consultation with a fully qualified veterinary surgeon (veterinarian). It is NOT intended to be used to diagnose or treat any cat. The creators share their personal experiences, recommendations of treatments, foods, medications, supplements, and products for informative and educational purposes exclusively. The information in this site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Creators and contributors exclude all liability whatsoever for any loss or damage arising out of use of this site or reliance upon its contents. Furthermore, creators and contributors strongly advise all users to always seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian and to obtain professional advice on the correct regimen for your cat and his or her particular situation. NO responsibility can be accepted.