Siberian Kitten Kiwi Dies of FIP, Raising Awareness for Cat Owners

A Siberian kitten named Kiwi died recently from feline infectious peritonitis just days after her owner shared viral videos of the cat kneading the belly of a Samoyed dog named Haka. The kitten’s death has renewed attention on a disease that remains one of the most difficult to diagnose in domestic cats.

Kiwi was brought into her home by her owner, Alice, at a few months old. Separated from her biological mother and littermates, the kitten formed an immediate attachment to Haka, the household’s Samoyed. Videos circulating online showed Kiwi repeatedly performing the kneading behavior commonly known as “making biscuits” on the dog’s thick double coat. The cross-species bond drew widespread attention before Alice announced the kitten had succumbed to FIP within days of the footage gaining traction.

Feline infectious peritonitis originates from feline enteric coronavirus, a pathogen so common that most cats encounter it during their lifetimes. In the vast majority of cases, the virus causes mild intestinal symptoms or none at all. FIP develops only when the virus mutates inside an individual cat’s body, triggering a severe, systemic immune response rather than a localized infection. Because the mutation happens internally, the disease is not directly contagious from one cat to another in its fatal form.

The condition disproportionately affects kittens under two years old and cats living in multi-cat environments, rescues, or breeding facilities where feline coronavirus circulates freely. While some pet owners mistakenly associate the illness exclusively with stray or outdoor cats, indoor purebreds like Siberians carry the same risk if exposed to the underlying coronavirus.

Diagnosing FIP remains a persistent challenge for veterinarians. Early symptoms — fever, lethargy, weight loss, and decreased appetite — mimic dozens of other feline illnesses. The disease presents in two primary forms: effusive (wet) FIP, characterized by fluid accumulation in the abdomen or chest, and non-effusive (dry) FIP, which causes granulomatous lesions in organs such as the kidneys, liver, eyes, or brain. Definitive diagnosis often requires specialized testing, including polymerase chain reaction analysis of affected tissue or fluid, meaning many cats do not receive confirmation until the disease has advanced significantly.

For decades, an FIP diagnosis was considered a death sentence. That shifted beginning in 2019 when researchers demonstrated the efficacy of antiviral drugs targeting the virus’s replication mechanism. Compounds such as GS-441524 and remdesivir have transformed survival rates in clinical trials and compassionate-use settings, turning a once-terminal illness into a treatable condition when caught early. However, access to these antivirals varies drastically by country. In the United States, regulatory approval processes through the Food and Drug Administration have historically limited legal veterinary access, forcing many owners to seek unregulated versions of the medication while navigating complex treatment protocols that require weeks of daily injections or oral dosing.

Preventative options remain limited. A vaccine for FIP exists but is generally not recommended by major veterinary organizations, including the American Association of Feline Practitioners, due to questions about its efficacy and the age at which it can be administered relative to when most kittens are already exposed to the base coronavirus.

Alice stated she intends for Kiwi to be remembered for her bond with Haka rather than the circumstances of her death. The Samoyed and the kitten’s owner are mourning the loss, which occurred only days before the public announcement.