Help Murphy Fight Feline Infectious Peritonitis

This is our 11 month old rescue kitty, Murphy. He was found almost a year ago inside my best friend's car engine compartment. Until recently, he was a spunky, funny, energetic, crazy furball causing constant enjoyable chaos around our home. He is loved by our dog, Cannoli and tolerated by his two feline sisters, Kiwi and Clementine.

Murphy loves to go outside, pounce on bugs (he has been stung by bees/wasps twice in the nose), chatter at birds and squirrels, and lay in the sunshine. He also really enjoys playing in water, splashing in the sink, drowning his toy mice in the pet water fountain and playing with his fake swimming fish in the bathtub.

Two weeks ago, we went on a trip and when I returned a few days after my husband and daughters, I realized something was definitely wrong with Murphy. He had lost quite a bit of weight, he was lethargic, morose and his third eyelids were staying up. I took him to the vet and he had lost 1.5 lbs in two weeks, had visible blood in the bottom of his left eye in his pupil and was running a pretty high fever. The vet sent us home with subQ fluids, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory. His fever didn't get any better, so after three days we went to the Emergency Vet a few nights ago. Diagnosis: Ocular Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). https://www.sockfip.org/2021-dr-pedersen-new-years-update-neurological-ocular-fip/

Left photo -- July 5th - normal pupils

Right photo -- July 11th - cloudiness & tinge of blood in left eye

From Dr. Pedersen's SOCK FIP website, "Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a disease that kills 1 in 100 to 1 in 300 of all cats under ages 3-5. The incidence can be 5-10 times greater among young cats coming from catteries and shelters. FIP is virtually 100% fatal, and there is no treatment or cure that is FDA approved. However, treatment options now do exist. FIP can manifest suddenly — weeks, months or even years after initial infection. Therefore, cat lovers usually experience the heartbreak of this disease long after they have developed strong emotional bonds with their pets." www.sockfip.org

Bottom Left -- July 15th - blood visible on top & bottom of both pupils

We have started him on prednisolone (steroid) to increase his energy hopefully and Mirtazapine (appetite stimulant) to get him to eat. He is eating very little and even though I'm giving him daily fluids, he hasn't wanted to drink any water. I have joined the FIP Warriors 5.0 Facebook group and have decided to begin the injectable 84 day treatment cycle immediately. The medication is $40-$80 per vial and depending on weight and the type of FIP you are treating you have to give a certain number of mLs daily. A vial lasts approx. 2-3 days, but we could need to buy around 30 bottles, as well as needles, syringes, fluids, additional meds, etc. Murphy will also require bloodwork monthly throughout treatment to check his blood serum chemistry and fingers crossed we don't have any other side effects that send us back to the Emergency Vet!

Please help if you are able and thank you for any prayers and support!! Our poor baby boy is wasting away before our eyes and we want to give him the best shot at a long and healthy life!

We love you Smurfy Lynn!!!