Baby Stapler- FIP Warrior

A month ago, we tragically lost our beloved foster kitten, Bodhi, to a suspected case of Dry FIP. Despite his recent adoption, Bodhi's health deteriorated rapidly, and after two weeks of heartbreaking decline, his loving family made the difficult decision to let him go. Bodhi touched our lives deeply, and his loss reminds us of the urgent need to support organizations fighting feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

During those weeks of decline, we did a deep dive into the world of FIP so we could pass it on to Bodhi’s owners and learn more for ourselves. FIP is caused by a mutation of the coronavirus and attacks various parts of the body and is always fatal. Within the last few years the antiviral drug GS-441524 was proven to be effective in treating FIP. While this drug has been used for years in other parts of the world, it only became legal in Canada in Feb 2024.

The treatment for Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is new, expensive, and not widely adopted by veterinarians. Although some vets are willing to take on FIP cases, it is still uncommon. While life-saving medications are now legal in Canada, delays in filling prescriptions—often taking weeks—can tragically mean it's too late to save the animal. For now, the burden of advocating and fighting for these cats rests primarily on their owners.

Enter Stapler, a tiny kitten that came into Happy Cat’s care showing all the devastating signs of FIP. While euthanasia was initially recommended, we decided to fight for his life because we believe he has a chance to recover. Michele spent hours researching and, with help from “FIP Warriors”—a network of volunteers who connect pet owners to treatment—we were able to obtain emergency medication for him. We’re also incredibly grateful to have the support of one of our trusted veterinarians. Together with Happy Cat, we’ll provide Stapler with the supplements and additional medications he needs for the best possible chance at recovery.

Stapler is showing unbelievable improvement and is even playing! We know that the drugs are working but we need to secure up to 90 days of treatment for him. His treatment will cost approx. $2000, so we are asking for a buffer, so we can create a FIP emergency fund to help cover the cost of future cases and save more lives. Happy Cat typically gets 4 cases a year.

Stapler’s journey is about more than survival. It’s about proving that FIP can be beaten and honoring Bodhi’s memory by giving other kittens a fighting chance.

Thank you for helping us save Stapler.

— The Audets, Purassic Park