Sweet little Fiyero was dancing through life, as any growing kitten should be, when suddenly he was struggling just to put one paw in front of the other. He was rushed to the emergency room where his outlook was really quite grim. Upon consultation with another, and very special, vet, it was decided to bring him to her on the chance that she could help save his life.

His foster family rushed him to her care in Sterling, VA, where her incredible team was waiting for him. In no time, he was surrounded by the absolute best of the best in vet care and humanity. After a few additional diagnostics, her suspicions were just about confirmed. Our little prince was suffering from the debilitating symptoms of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).

FIP is caused when the feline enteric coronavirus mutates.

"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 the 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."*

Fiyero has a long road ahead of him, and sadly we are unable to ask the Wizard of Oz for his assistance. This battle can only be fought with the miracles of modern medicine. His first week will include daily injections of a highly specialized medication. If the injections work as they are supposed to, we can hopefully move to an oral version of the medication, which is much more comfortable for our fearless feline. But this course of medication goes for 84 days. And in this 84 days of treatment are regular blood tests to ensure the medication is doing its job. Then there is an additional 84 days of observation to make sure the symptoms don’t return.

Fiyero’s road is more arduously challenging than many other cats who develop FIP. He had more severe complications because he developed FIP at such a young age. As he was such a little guy, Fiyero didn’t have the fat stores that older cats have when they start to develop symptoms. So when he went downhill, he went downhill fast, requiring emergency intervention. Thankfully, FIP treatment is much more attainable and affordable than it used to be. But for him, the costs are adding up quickly and can strain the budget of a small rescue like ours. We need your help to fund this life-saving treatment. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Anything raised beyond the costs associated with Fiyero’s treatment will be passed along to the other cats and kittens in our care who will require help in the future.

*https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-infectious-peritonitis