Last night Pippi spent the majority of time wrapped around my hand sleeping. My hand kept going asleep and waking me up, yet should I dare move it, she would emit several of her squeaky meows in protest. Several times while trying to remove my hand, she would reach out and scratch me.

I have been researching Dry FIP and this is what I am finding out: Dry FIP shares the same symptoms or signs as Wet FIP with the exception of the large sac of fluid that develops in the wet version. FIP is a relatively new disease, first being discovered in the 1960’s. Some experts believe that this disease mutated from a strain of gastroenteritis that hit pigs in the 1950’s as the symptoms mimic each other- but no one really knows where it came from.

It is no longer just found in North America, FIP is now a worldwide concern. FIP is a coronavirus and cats come across it on an almost daily basis. Most cats have adequate protection against it,those that don’t catch the virus and it mutates inside of them. Some strains are highly infectious during certain incubation periods, some sleep inside the system and wake up when stress becomes a factor.

The symptoms of FIP are: fevers that are sporadic in nature, meaning that the cat can go in and out of a feverish state instead of being feverish for days- they can maintain a fever for a few hours then it will dissapate. There is a decline in the level of activity and the appetite goes away, they develop eyes issues just as Pippi has and masses start to appear on the kidneys and on the lymph nodes.

As the disease progresses, the cat will lose motor functions of their limbs, become neurologically disconnected and even show periods of rage or aggression. Small lesions are found on the tongue and inside the nose and throat. The kittens are susceptible to pneumonia and hepatitis.

Right now, Pippi only shows the symptoms of the discolored eye and she has been in fever twice.

As Pippi sits here next to me in the quiet of the morning, I hear her purring. I look into her eye and I see the smudge has expanded. It now sits on the bottom of the eye and forms a pyramid of discoloration that is now starting to cover part of her pupil. There is no active discharge and I wonder if the eye was the pathway for the infection? She has no signs of fever, her temperature is normal. She submits to this invasive check of her body temperature now as a matter of course if I follow up the intrusion with a special treat; a cream cheese ball rolled in organic catnip.

She is quieter regarding activity then yesterday, but she is hungry and eats all of her kitty crack I dish out for her.

I am recording The Pippi Chronicles as one reader has tagged this section of my blog- so I have a chart of her day as we both journey into this unknown territory for both of us- this Dry FIP. A way to measure her progress (or lack thereof) and leave behind a record of what was tried, what failed, what worked and how long a kitten can live with dry FIP without truly suffering. If I thought for one minute her quality of life was fading, I would find the funds necessary to do what needs to be done- but for now, she is in the day and ready to meet it on her terms.

Should someone in the future find themselves unlucky enough to face this disease, my hope is they will stumble on this blog and find comfort, coping and help through my meanderings. I do know that as Charles R. Swindoll once said: “It helps me if I remember that God is in charge of my day- not I.”

It is fitting that she has a pyramid in her eye now- after all, the Egyptians of ancient times worshipped and adored their cats, just as I adore Ms. Pippi.

If you look you will see her right eye which is normal catches the flash of the camera- her other eye, that is smudged just lies dormant- as if there is no life within except for alien life-