Help Alyssa with Mooni's FIP treatment

We're Alyssa and Mooni. We need your help raising funds for Mooni's FIP treatment. Mooni is ~5-7 year old Turkish Van and Ragdoll mix. He's a rescue from Long Beach Animal Rescue.

 

Continue reading to learn more about Mooni, his illness, and the treatment needed for his recovery.

(If you're uncomfortable or have issues using this platform for donating, please reach out to Alyssa for alternative options.)

 

 

History:

 

Mooni had a rough history before he found his forever home with Alyssa: a stray who completely shut down when brought into a shelter. He hated being confined and was likely to be euthanized if his behavior did not improve. Anna from Stray Cat Alliance took him in as her foster and watched his little personality blossom, but knew that he needed to find a forever home. (He was called "Boreal" at this time).

 

Mooni entered Alyssa's life in December 2019. It was love at first sight! He finally found his forever home.

 

 

Illness:

 

In late January-early February 2022, Mooni started to act differently. He didn't finish his meals and became uninterested in playtime. Alyssa coaxed him with extra treats, affection, and even switched his food, but it slowly became worse.

 

On February 8, Mooni visited his vet after vomiting saliva and not eating breakfast at all. The vet performed a blood test, took x-rays, gave Mooni fluids, and sent them home with an appetite stimulant and anti-nausea medicine. Mooni improved slightly. A few days later, blood work returned without any huge abnormalities, but x-rays showed inflammation around his kidneys.

 

On February 16, Mooni vomited saliva again and did not eat. Alyssa took him to the vet to obtain a urine sample to confirm if the kidney inflammation was caused by infection. (When the urinalysis results returned a few days later, it showed no signs of infection.)

 

On February 18, Mooni lied down on the couch and completely ignored all food given to him. He seemed uncomfortable and sad. He went to the vet again, where they referred Mooni to an emergency animal hospital in Torrance, CA. Heartbroken and sobbing, Alyssa took him to the hospital where he was admitted for fever (103.9), weight loss, vomiting, and lethargy.  The hospital conducted an abdominal ultrasound to investigate the kidney inflammation and performed a biopsy. Based on his condition and symptoms, the hospital vet concluded Mooni to have either lymphoma or feline infectious peritonitis, FIP, but could not confirm without receiving the biopsy results.

 

The next day, Alyssa brought Mooni back home. If he was fatal, he needed to be home where he could go at peace. Alyssa shared the news with Anna, his foster family, and she immediately jumped to assist. Anna introduced Alyssa to the FIP Warriors, who determined Mooni has dry and neurological FIP, based on their review of his condition, lab tests, and videos of him at home.

 

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP):

 

The below information is provided by Cornell Uni College of Veterinary Medicine. Please visit their website to read more, if you wish.

 

"Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats caused by certain strains of a virus called the feline coronavirus. [...] In approximately 10 percent of cats infected with FeCV, one or more mutations of the virus can alter its biological behavior, resulting in white blood cells becoming infected with virus and spreading it throughout the cat’s body. When this occurs, the virus is referred to as the FIPV. An intense inflammatory reaction to FIPV occurs around vessels in the tissues where these infected cells locate, often in the abdomen, kidney, or brain. It is this interaction between the body’s own immune system and the virus that is responsible for the development of FIP. Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal without therapy that has recently become available, but that has yet to be approved to treat FIP in cats by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)."

 

FIP Treatment:

 

Mooni received his first FIP treatment at home on February 21. The medicine, known as GS, cannot be purchased or administered by a vet due to its status with the FDA. GS treatment lasts 84 days at minimum, with some kitties requiring a longer treatment plan due to their condition. The GS dosage is calculated by Mooni's weight, which is expected to increase as he recovers.

 

All treatment costs and additional supplies must be paid by Alyssa out-of-pocket for the +84 days. Expected costs are broken down below:

 

 

If you're able to spare even a small amount, it will greatly help Alyssa and Mooni.

 

Just 6 years ago, kitties diagnosed with FIP were considered fatal. GS treatment, although expensive and painful, gives Mooni an 80 percent chance at survival.