Got the calll

The vet called yesterday about Cooper, enquiring after his health and then giving us the news. The test came back showing a high antibody count which means we can assume he's positive for PIF/FIP.
According to my readings the only way to truly diagnose this is post mortem. Blood tests can measure the antibody count associated with the virus and then the vet takes that information, along with the cats symptoms and health and makes an educated assumption/guess. Her guess is that he's got it but there are treatments to alleviate his discomfort and maybe prolong his life. Daily meds mainly.

I emailed the breeder to voice my displeasure at the situation and her replies are apologetic and somewhat disbelieving the diagnosis. She swears he can't have FIP and that he's still suffering from heat stress from the last two weeks of heat and humidity, and the rhinovirus he had (maybe it wasn't), and the move to a new home. She has offered to take him back and apologised for the expenses we've incurred and that she would never knowingly hand off an animal with an incurable disease. Her actions do speak for themselves in that her house cats are all disabled Ragdolls:blind, semi paralysed...she would rather see a cat rehabilitated than put down so her offer to take Cooper back is genuine but I wonder if he'd be better off with us with no dogs and fewer cats than the breeder's place. Compared to her home and the cattery our mad house is down right tranquil. Also, for all his hair sucking weirdo-ness, I like the little bugger.

Some cats DO recover after having been diagnosed but this is mainly because of misdiagnosis which is very possible. Some respond well to drug therapy and go into remission for months. Could Cooper recover? His appetite is very good even with how sick he is and he has not been dehydrated. Would a deathly ill cat eat and drink so normally? I have been trying to tempt his appetite as well with canned food but he is unimpresed and sticks to the kibble mostly. Harley and the girls appreciate his disinterest in all the dishes of temptings he rejects however! They will probably all get fat on his rejects. LOL In his favor is his undiminished appetite and the fact that when its cool at night he is much more lively and seems a bit recovered compared to last week. No more green snot, much less congestion, when its cooler he's less lethargic and a bit playful and cuddly....SIGH...So hard to tell...we shall see.

I will know more after I talk to the vet on Monday morning. She is going to re-examine him and we will discuss his options for wellness or at least relief of discomfort. We can re-do the blood test in a few months if he's well enough. It could tell us better news.