Recovery from FIP is now the norm. An 84-day standardized protocol with data review and clinical support brings every cat home.
HOW IT WORKS
Understanding the cause helps you see why early diagnosis matters
and why 84 days.
Many cats carry feline coronavirus (FCoV). It is highly transmissible but low in virulence — in most cases it causes only mild enteritis (diarrhea, vomiting) or no symptoms at all.
The trouble starts with a mutation. In roughly 10% of FCoV infections the virus undergoes a critical mutation and begins infecting the immune system's core cells — macrophages. At that point it becomes the FIP virus (FIPV), the agent behind feline infectious peritonitis.
FIP is an immune-mediated, lethal viral disease. Once symptomatic, the historical median survival was about 9 days. For decades there was no effective therapy, so FIP was treated as a death sentence.
In multi-cat households, breeding catteries, and shelters, FIP incidence is markedly higher than in single-cat homes — the virus spreads more easily, kittens have weaker immune systems, and stress is greater.
Spend 3 minutes entering symptoms, age, weight, and recent bloodwork to start the case file.
FIP has no single "specific" symptom — its early signs overlap with many common feline conditions.
But when several of the patterns below appear together, take it seriously.
Both wet and dry formsThe most common change parents notice — the spine, hips, and shoulder blades become prominent; the coat looks coarse and dull; activity drops, the cat hides and sleeps more. Kittens fall off the growth curve. A weight drop of more than 10% in a month deserves attention.
HyperbilirubinemiaLiver involvement or hemolysis raises bilirubin in the blood. The first visible sites are the inner ear skin, nose bridge, and upper gums, which take on a warm yellow cast. It is easier to spot in natural daylight by comparing with a healthy cat. Urine may shift from pale gold to deep yellow.
Behavioural signalLow energy, sustained sadness, lack of engagement with the family, indifference to toys and play, actively seeking corners to hide — these withdrawals often appear earlier than jaundice but are easily dismissed as "just a bad mood." Reduced appetite (anorexia) is also typical at this stage: from picky eating to refusing food entirely; kittens may stop growing. Two days of refusing favourite foods is worth taking seriously.
Antibiotic-resistantA cat's normal temperature is 38.0–39.2°C. FIP fever is persistent (4+ days), fluctuating (rising and falling), and fully unresponsive to standard antibiotics. Take a rectal temperature at the same time each day and chart the trend — it tells you more than any single reading.
Classic dry formDry FIP often shows up first in the eyes: iris colour change (patches turning brown), anterior chamber bleeding or white deposits, asymmetric pupils, retinal lesions. If your cat's eyes look "cloudy" or you spot abnormal colour patches, photograph and upload them right away.
Classic wet formThe hallmark sign of wet FIP. After vascular damage, fluid leaks from vessels into the abdomen or chest — the abdomen enlarges quickly, feels soft, and sloshes when gently pressed (ascites). Pleural effusion compresses the lungs, producing rapid shallow breathing and, in severe cases, abdominal breathing.<br/>Abdominal breathing means go to the clinic immediately.
Cardiac involvementPericardial effusion: abnormal fluid in the pericardial sac, which can produce tachycardia and arrhythmia — an important signal of cardiac FIP involvement.<br/><br/>Anaemia-driven heart murmur: in anaemic states heart rate and flow rise, producing an abnormal sound between beats. If your vet mentions a murmur on auscultation, read it together with the CBC HCT value.
Late-stage · poor prognosisAbout 12% of dry FIP cases develop neurological signs: ataxia (unsteady gait, falls), head tremors, muscle twitching, rapid horizontal eye movement (nystagmus), and in severe cases seizures. This is a strong late-stage signal — therapy becomes harder and dosing must increase. As soon as neurological signs appear, contact us immediately.
Book a clinic appointment, register your cat with us, and reach out to the team.
The form you are dealing with shapes which indicators to track, the dose, and the recheck cadence. Wet form moves fast but responds well; dry form moves slowly but is harder to diagnose. Mixed sits between the two.
After vascular damage, fluid leaks into the abdomen or chest, forming a yellow, viscous, high-protein effusion. This is the acute form of FIP — fast moving, but responsive to early intervention.
No effusion forms; instead, granulomatous inflammation appears across multiple organs. It often involves the eyes and nervous system. The course can run months to years; signs are subtler than wet form and progress more slowly.
The same cat shows both wet-form effusion and dry-form organ, ocular, or neurological lesions. Wet may convert to dry, or dry may develop secondary effusion. The plan must adapt to whichever signs dominate.
The earlier intervention begins, the higher the chance of reversal — and the lighter the overall course.
All stages may show CRP and γ-globulin elevation. The values above are reference ranges; your dose should be set by the clinical companion team based on body weight, symptom combination, and liver/kidney function.
You cannot self-confirm FIP at home — but every parent can do these five things, and every data point you collect is exactly what your vet needs to act on.
Weigh the bowl before and after each meal. A daily intake drop of more than 30% across three days is worth flagging.
Is sleep getting longer? Is your cat hiding, no longer greeting you at the door? Log one line a day.
Normal range is 38.0–39.2°C. Take a rectal reading at the same time each day and chart the trend — it tells you more than any single number.
Same angle, same light, once a week. Focus on inner ears, nose bridge, gums, eye whites, and abdominal girth.
Key values: A/G ratio, globulin, albumin, HCT, ALT, bilirubin. Send the report to us and we will walk through it line by line.
MUTIAN supports the cat by reinforcing the immune system and overall condition during the protocol sequence. <br/>Used under the supervision of a clinical companion team alongside your vet.
Pre-portioned by body weight (≤ 5 kg / 5–8 kg / > 8 kg), with dose set by stage. Each shipment carries 28 days of supply, and we review CBC + chemistry monthly. The companion team adjusts dose based on the indicator trend. If the cat has not cleared by day 84, we extend the protocol free of charge to day 180.
The companion team is with you at every step. You don't need to decode every indicator first — we read each one with you, line by line.
Submit symptoms, photos, and the most recent bloodwork. The companion team replies with whether the picture fits FIP and whether the MUTIAN sequence is appropriate.
The 84-day sequence — pre-portioned by body weight — arrives the next day. The companion team confirms the starting dose with you. Open a daily symptom + temperature log.
Upload a fresh CBC + chemistry once a month. The companion team reads the A/G, CRP, bilirubin, and HCT trend, and decides whether to hold, raise, or lower the dose.
After day 84, an 84-day observation window begins. Stable indicators with no relapse equals recovery. If the cat has not cleared, MUTIAN extends free of charge to day 180.
Once the 84-day sequence is complete, coverage activates automatically on Day 85. If the cat relapses within the next 180 days, we provide up to 180 days of additional supply free of charge — exact length is set by the vet on review. No extra fee. No reactivation cost.
The notes below come out of 42,000+ real cases. We write them onto every order page — because transparency is how we do this work.
MUTIAN is a clinical research unit purpose-built for FIP cats and runs in parallel with your vet's diagnosis and treatment plan. With your authorisation, your vet can review protocol progress directly, and our companion team helps interpret the indicators.
Once coverage activates (Day 85), any relapse within the next 180 days qualifies for free additional supply (up to 180 days, exact length set by the vet on review) — with the same companion care and indicator tracking running throughout.
The data shows that late-stage wet form (multi-organ involvement) carries higher early-phase risk on the protocol. MUTIAN recommends starting the sequence as soon as the diagnosis is in hand — early intervention is the single biggest lever on outcomes.
Spend 3 minutes on symptoms, age, weight, and your most recent bloodwork. The companion team picks it up and tells you the next step.
Once verified, partner pricing scales by tier; orders and case contributions move you up. Full terms and product documentation live on the partner page.
