Save Otis from Feline Infectious Peritonitis!
Donation protected
We need your help to save Otis from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).
Other ways to give (no fees)
venmo: @mskarlijohnson
paypal: [email redacted]
cash app: $mskarlijohnson
MEET OTIS
Otis is a 2 year-old adopted orange tabby, emotional support cat, therapy cat in-training, and brother to Ollie (4-year-old).
Be sure to follow along as I post updates on his FIP recovery journey!
Meet Karli!
Most of you know me and my story, but for those who are kind and giving strangers…
Hi! I’m Karli Johnson! I’m an international TEDx Speaker, M.S.Ed Educator, and Advocate.
The past few years have hit us all hard. For me, it also included a miscarriage, divorce, tumor removal surgery, moves, new jobs, and the constant struggle of being a disabled, in-debt, single mom of a toddler.
I live with C-PTSD, ADHD, and Depression. As a mental health advocate, I don’t shy away from sharing my experiences and asking for help.
A big part of that is my passion for emotional support and therapy animals. After losing my Emotional Support Dog through my divorce, I fought my landlords to get Otis, the cat of my dreams, as an ESA and have been training him as a therapy cat for others.
BEST FRIENDS
Meet Ollie, my spunky, kind, and incredible 4-year-old! His dad and I split when he was 2-years old. We have a super healthy co-parenting relationship. However, divorce is still hard on any kid, at any age. Otis helped him through that transition.
With the trauma from a really rough pregnancy with Ollie and my miscarriage, I decided I wasn’t going to be pregnant again.
Not only did I get Otis as my Emotional Support Animal he’s also my “rainbow baby.” During the transitions when Ollie is with his dad, Otis has tremendously helped with my Depression and C-PTSD. He’s the cuddliest, sweetest cat you’ll ever meet.
Losing him would be a CATASTROPHE.
SO, HOW DID WE GET HERE?
After Otis had fleas in September I noticed he was losing weight. I took him to the vet for a checkup. Bloodwork levels were high for a number of issues. Multiple visits, bloodwork, X-rays, and $800+ later, he was unfortunately “diagnosed” with FIP.
WHAT IS FIP?
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is associated with a viral infection called feline coronavirus. There are many different strains of feline coronavirus, which differ in their ability to cause disease. It is now recognized that feline enteric coronavirus strains can mutate (change) to the more harmful type of virus and cause FIP. FIP occurs worldwide in cats of all ages, but the disease is most common in young cats two years of age and younger.
Although FIP is not a particularly common disease, it is important because once a cat develops the disease, the outcome is almost invariably fatal.
IS THERE A CURE?
Yes and no. This is a complicated answer. In the US there is no approved treatment for the cure of FIP. However, there is a company overseas that has developed a treatment with an 89% success rate!!!
WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU HAVE?
While my vet can not provide treatment and legal guidance, he has connected me with another patient of his whose cat survived FIP with these injections.
She is the sweetest woman who let me come to her house, provided me with supplies, let me pet her amazing cats, and even donated for his first weeks of treatment to get him started ASAP!
I’ve also heard from other FIP cat owners and have joined a few Facebook groups for support.
WHY SO MUCH?
First off, I am a struggling single mom in student loan debt, living paycheck to paycheck with my own medical bills to pay.
Because Otis is in the late stages of FIP he needs injections, which cost $3k for the full 84 days of shot treatments. That doesn’t include his supplements, needles, and routine vet visits.
On top of the current debt of vet bills, Otis will need blood work and exams every 4 weeks to make sure his injections are working.
This is a for-profit company that knows the value of its drug. However, they have a matching program, which I’m hoping to get accepted for.
BUT IT’S JUST A CAT?!
yeah yeah, I know it's a lot of money but if you said this in your head, you simply don’t get it. But for those of you who do get it (especially those also suffering from mental illness) and understand the importance of the literal lifesaving companionship of pets, thank you for empathizing and supporting us.
So many YOUNG cats around the world have survived FIP to live long wonderful lives! Let's add Otis to that list!
CHILDREN’S BOOK
I am currently in the process of writing and publishing a children’s book about CONSENT, featuring Ollie and Otis. Illustrated by the amazing, andrew_does_arts
Cats are a beautiful and EASY way to help children (AND ADULTS) understand consent!
Everyone who donates will get a thank you sticker, pin, book, and more, depending on the amount of your donation! (More details coming soon!)
Any funds raised leftover from medical bills will be used to go toward this book project!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
We love you all and hope to celebrate Otis’s recovery in April!
Organizer
Karli Johnson
Organizer
Peoria, IL