Support Mochi's Fight Against FIP Disease

Please help save our kitty, Mochi.

Here’s our story:

On December 10th, 2024, my boyfriend (Joe) lost his childhood cat, Lacy (slide 1), due to lung cancer. They grew up together and had a connection like no other. One morning, I woke up and started getting ready. Walking into the bathroom, I saw a black figure lying on the bathroom carpet. Walking closer, I realized this figure was Lacy. After running to get Joe, when we approached her, we realized she was unable to move her back legs. The lung cancer had caused a blood clot in her legs, therefore they were paralyzed. In order to end her suffering, the hard choice was made to finally say goodbye to our sweet girl.

After a couple of months of grieving, there was still that feeling of emptiness. Then, on January 17th, Joe asked if I wanted to go see the cats at PetSmart — and so we went. We walked in expecting just to view them, but in the left, top corner of the showcase, was this tiny, fluffy, black kitten with big green eyes and white mittens. When she was taken out of the display, she sprung up onto our laps and started purring. Seeing the look on Joe's face while holding her, I could see a sense of comfort in his eyes. Tears streaming down his face, a smile grew as he looked down at the kitten in his arms. We decided to adopt her together and brought her home that day — later giving her the name of Mochi.

Bringing her home, we grew to know and love her spunky, sweet, and silly personality — but it was somewhat familiar already. What were once Lacy’s unique places to lay, we find Mochi in; laying by pictures of Lacy.

Similar to Lacy, Mochi loved to eat; especially random foods like butter, broccoli, wheat thins, etc. Friday, February 22nd, we noticed her stomach looking very round; however, we thought this was due to how much she typically would eat. Her stomach began to swell and she hadn’t had any BMs within a few days. An appointment was made this day to get Mochi checked out, for Monday (the soonest she could get in for emergency care). Over the weekend, she no longer was eating her food.

Before school (2/24), Joe and I dropped Mochi off at the vet. Just getting home from school, we received news that she is much worse than we had thought. She has developed a fatal disease called FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), caused by the mutation of the feline coronavirus. This causes fluid buildup in the abdomen/chest, leading to difficulty breathing and a swollen belly. We were told that our options were to either say goodbye, or to try a newer treatment. Mochi’s doctor stated that this would be the first time she’d use the medication needed (GS-441524) in order to treat it. **Before beginning treatment, she is in need of a blood transfusion due to dangerously low red blood cell levels. If Mochi does NOT receive treatment within the next couple of days, her lungs with fill with fluid resulting in suffocation.

Bringing Mochi into our lives has brought us immense hope and helped guide Joe and me during these hard times. We are relieved to know our baby has gotten the opportunity to be loved; but we pray this isn’t the end.

Anything helps. Thank you.

We are fundraising to cover Mochi's medical expenses and ensure she gets the treatment she needs.