Feline coronavirus (FCoV) usually causes no symptoms or only mild digestive upset, but in a small number of cats it can mutate into the far more serious disease FIP, which has very different and more severe signs. Below is a clear breakdown of what to watch for, based on current veterinary sources. thesprucepets.com cats.com
🐱 Common Symptoms of Feline Coronavirus (FCoV)
Most cats infected with FCoV show no illness at all. When symptoms do appear, they are usually mild and related to the digestive system:
- Diarrhea (most common)
- Vomiting
- Mild lethargy
- Reduced appetite
- Occasional bloating
These symptoms often resolve on their own and do not mean the cat has FIP.
⚠️ When FCoV Mutates Into FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis)
Only a small percentage of FCoV infections progress to FIP, but the symptoms are much more serious. There are two forms:
Wet (Effusive) FIP
- Swollen, fluid-filled abdomen
- Difficulty breathing (fluid in chest)
- Weight loss despite a swollen belly
- Lethargy
- Persistent fever
- Yellowing of eyes or skin (jaundice)
Dry (Non-effusive) FIP
- Weight loss
- Chronic fever
- Eye inflammation
- Neurological signs
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
- Weakness in legs
- Anemia
These symptoms indicate a medical emergency.
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