Help Maeby and George Michael Fight FIP

DEC 5 MAJOR UPDATE: In a fluke turn of events, George Michael has also deveoped FIP. This disease is not contagious between cats so it is an extremely rare scenario. Maeby completed her final meds on Sunday 12/1, and on Tuesday 12/3 George Michael was at the vet being diagnosed. He is hanging in there better than I am to be honest!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1) Amplify the cause to your social networks and animal loving friends. You can use this image or anything from my Insta @burtola

2) Send any supportive messages, it is extremely helpful for me as I am trying to stay positive and gear up for another three months.

3) Donate if you are able or wish to!

Thank you all and I will post more details here about George Michael's case as I'm able <3

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On August 23, 2024, two new feline roommates came home with me.

I adopted these two approximately six-month old kitten cousins from a home in Las Vegas that couldn't care for them anymore, as they were born to unfixed outdoor cats and there were already too many other cats in the home. They were both unvaccinated and unfixed and needed (and still need!) lots of socialization.

I named them Maeby and George Michael after the cousins in one of my favorite shows, Arrested Development. Like in the show, Maeby is outgoing, gregarious and feisty. George Michael is shy and sweet.

Less than two weeks after they came home with me, Maeby's energy level plummeted and she started showing labored breathing. With the help of Hearts Alive Village Animal Clinic, they were able to quickly observe potential symptoms of FIP, or Feline Infections Peritonitis, and run appropriate diagnostics.

Within just a few days of first showing her symptoms, she was barely able to eat, walk, or open her eyes. The vet also removed fluid from her chest cavity.

The vet pointed me in two directions for treatment courses - the FIP Warriors on Facebook and Stokes Pharmacy in New Jersey.

Unfortunately with FIP, it is rare and up until a few years ago was a death sentence. It affects about 0.5% of cats, often in kittenhood and when they are in homes with multiple cats. However, new treatments are recently available and very costly.

Thanks to the speedy help of the FIP warriors, Maeby started her 84-day treatment course on Monday, September 9th. By the end of that week, she was showing positive signs of responding to treatment, and was eating again on her own. Prior to that she had to be fed via syringe.

FIP, although now treatable, is a costly disease to fight. The full course of mediation treatments, supplies, and veterinary exams and tests is about $3,000.

As the vet at Hearts Alive told me, the treatments have a 90% success rate and is well worth fighting for. I absolutely think Maeby is worth fighting for and because of that decided to pursue treatment.

Cost breakdowns for her FIP are:

Vet visits: ~ $1200

Medications: ~ $1500

At-home medical supplies: ~ $300

The road to saving her life has been emotionally grueling and exhausting. Any support is greatly appreciated even if it kind words.

If you would like to financially support Maeby on her long road to recovery back to her full self, please consider donating to our sweet girl!