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FIP is a known killer... until now...

  • Well The Worst Happened...

      8 October 2022
    Posted by: The Catopia Cat Sanctuary

    Unfortunately 2 weeks ago Donna relapsed.

    Poor wee Donna began having seizures and was feeling unwell again. To say I am devastated is an understatement. This poor wee girl has been though it all. Her eyesight has also been affected this time around.

    We have been fortunate enough to be in contact with a wonderful researcher in Australia who has dedicated his life to helping kitties with FIP. He has found a new drug that we are luckily enough to be able to get here. The cost is $20 per pill and it lasts 5 days (about), given in 0.25mg amounts twice a day. I have had to buy some very small scales and do a measure every morning and night and mix with dine treats.

    Since being on the new treatment, her seizures have stopped and shes gaining weight really well.

    Still a big setback as now it won't be until after the New Year until we know for sure if she has kicked this nasty ailment in the ass...

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  • Finished our last Pill

      8 September 2022
    Posted by: The Catopia Cat Sanctuary

    So Donna had her vet visit last Friday afternoon, it was her last pill day Thursday so we just wanted to see how she was doing. Her weight was up, unfortunately she has a constant sniffle and eye problems, one eye was very red, not sure if that is from the REM or just a different infection. So more eye cream and antibiotics. Today is nearly a week of Observation and I have noticed her weight coming down again. So will be adding some more treats and tasty kitten food back into her diet. She is having supplements, and a teaspoon of recovery food twice a day to help get into her what she needs. She is still incredibly playful but does sleep a lot too. I hope she wont relapse as I just cannot afford to redo this treatment as it's so expensive.

    Come on baby you can do this...

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  • Donna is home...

      1 August 2022
    Posted by: The Catopia Cat Sanctuary
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    So my wee girl (all 1.5kg of her) is home. Even though she's not well, she's slowly starting to play. We get a hrs play then sleep time... vets have said at her last check up they don't expect her to grow much more, she has all her adult teeth, now it's about filling out.

    She's still getting her REM pull every morning... nearly halfway, it's been now 40 days of treatment only another 44 to go...

    She is the sweetest little girl, demands attention, playtime, and food when she wants it. We get lots of lap time. I have recently gone back to work and when on my night shifts the next day she does not leave my side, think she misses me at night.

    The vets are happy with her progress for now. Another check up in 2 weeks.

    Thank you all who have donated towards her care. It's certainly been hard financially but totally worth it...

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  • Donna's First week...

      18 July 2022
    Posted by: The Catopia Cat Sanctuary
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    When we finally confirmed Donna's FIP diagnosis I was devastated. Donna has already had a hard life, this was just so unfair.

    Donna's condition was dire, she was very ill and mostly paralyzed and struggled to move.

    We decided since there was another cat already being treated to try the medication for 1 week. If we seen any improvements we would continue treatment. The first day I visited her in ED at the vets she looked awful. But still she rubbed her face into my hand... I was frustrated thinking is what we are doing right? I rang the vets in tears and was reassured yes she's ill, but she's not in pain, she's not suffering so let's try.

    I said look if she gets any worse we will make a call, they told me of she was to get any worse she wouldn't be here.

    So we gave her a week. In 1 week Donna's improvement was amazing, she was trying to stand up, she was bright eyed and cheeky...

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  • What is FIP?

      18 July 2022
    Posted by: The Catopia Cat Sanctuary

    Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats caused by certain strains of a virus called the feline coronavirus.

    Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal without therapy that has recently become available, but is still very expensive.

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