Help Four Fight FIP: Support His Treatment

Four is now an indoor barn cat. He was born and has been living in the barn for the past four years, keeping the hay free from mice and doing a great job! A few weeks ago, he rapidly appeared to put on weight just in his belly, which was also making it harder for him to breathe. We went to the vet and gave him dewormer, but that did not help the bloating... a few more expensive vet visits later (x-rays, blood tests, abdomen fluid removal, etc.) and it was determined that he has WET FIP.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats is a viral infection. There are many forms and all of the forms are fatal (with horrible decline) within a few months if left untreated. And there have been no treatments available in the USA for this horrible ailment until June 2024! The new medication has been used successfully in other countries and is just now available in the USA, but is still not legally allowed to be used by veterinarian clinics. It is available for private purchase at a very high cost.

Four's treatment plan (a typical plan) requires 36 vials of medicine (daily injections for 84 days) which on average costs $1500-$2500 total. In addition to the medication, he will need 3+ cases of Hill's Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care Canned Cat Food which runs about $85 per case (to keep up his weight and most kitties will need to be force fed). He will also need routine blood tests every couple of weeks which run about $150 each (to monitor his progress). Plus the price of gas to get him to and from the vet, etc. etc.! This new medicine is called GS-441524 and it has a 95+% success rate! Four started this new medicine on 8/15/24.

About a week ago, Four became an indoor cat and no longer a barn cat. Four is NOT thrilled about being an indoor cat! I am doing everything I can to make this sudden transition easier for him which is including monitored alfresco dining (oh la la) and daily walks on a leash and a pen set up in the shade for monitored lounging, bird watching and grasshopper inspection. Bedtime includes 528 Hz frequency music for cats to help healing and reduce stress. Sounds lovely? Convince Four that it is! He is a barn cat and wants to be outside!! But he needs his daily medication at the same time each day. He needs to be monitored. He needs to be and is now an indoor cat.

Please help with Four's FIP treatment. This is coming to us after the heat wave and increased electric bills this summer, after stocking up and buying sheep hay for the winter, while working with another kitty who is having infection complications (and several vet visits and medications) from a recent dental procedure... Please help Four : )