Hello Whiskers

Chaplin has been part of the Hello Whiskers family for over 4 years. He was one of my very first rescues, found near my home in Ferrel, and since then he has become one of the most loved members of our rescue family If you have ever visited Hello Whiskers, you have definitely met Chaplin. He is the sweet black and white boy who never misses the chance to curl up in any lap he can find. He has always been one of the gentlest, most affectionate cats in our care, and everyone who meets him falls in love with him About two months ago, Chaplin suddenly became very ill. At first, the vets in Peniche believed his ongoing dental issues were the cause. Over the years, Chaplin has undergone multiple tooth removal surgeries, though he still had his remaining canine teeth. But then his condition became much worse. Chaplin stopped eating completely and had to be hospitalized with a feeding tube placed to keep him alive. We later discovered he was suffering from calicivirus, a painful virus that causes severe inflammation and ulcers in the mouth and throat. Despite treatment, Chaplin then began showing neurological symptoms, which raised even more concern. The vets believe he may be fighting either FIP (known here in Portugal as PIF), toxoplasmosis, or potentially both. He has now been under 24-hour veterinary care at Cão de lo Veterinary in Caldas for the last several weeks. Chaplin is currently being treated for toxoplasmosis while also undergoing treatment for FIP, in addition to finishing his calicivirus medications. He is fighting with absolutely everything he has The emotional toll has been incredibly heavy, but the financial burden has also become overwhelming. His treatment costs have now exceeded €1,500 (not counting the fip medicine costs) and continue to rise each day as he remains too unstable to leave the hospital. A large portion of these costs has already been covered through my personal finances at Hello Whiskers, along with the incredible support of a wonderful nonprofit animal rescue. Even so, there is still approximately €800 remaining and growing. Chaplin means the world to us. He has survived so much already, and we are not ready to give up on him. If you are able to donate, share, or support Chaplin in any way, it would mean more than words can express. Every euro helps give him a chance to continue fighting and hopefully come home one day. Thank you for loving Chaplin with us

On the night of Saturday, March 14th, a tiny cat (who we have since named named Amelia) was found by Nicole in Ferrel, lying at the roundabout on the corner of the main road in Foz do Arelho. She was in critical condition, barely holding on, on the brink of death. We chose to name her Amelia, after Amelia Earhart, for her bravery and her fight to never give up. We rushed to bring Amelia into our care, intending to keep her safe for just a couple of nights until we could coordinate with the municipal shelter, CROA. But it quickly became clear that Amelia needed far more than temporary care. She needed immediate, life-saving medical intervention. After consulting with our supportive vets via WhatsApp, we were told the devastating truth: Amelia likely would not survive the night without emergency hospitalization. We made the decision to act immediately. Amelia was rushed to the emergency veterinary hospital in Caldas, where she received intensive, around-the-clock care. Her treatment included: * Emergency after-hours admission * Oxygen chamber support * Incubator care to raise her temperature * Continuous monitoring * Critical medications * Overnight hospitalization For three nights, Amelia fought for her life, and thanks to this care, she survived. The total cost of Amelia’s emergency treatment came to €397 As a small rescue, Hello Whiskers is entirely funded by our founder and the generosity of donations. Unexpected emergencies like Amelia’s stretch us beyond our limits, but we could not walk away from her, not when her life depended on us. Today, Amelia is safe and continuing her recovery under the dedicated care of the municipal shelter in Peniche, where she will receive ongoing treatment at no cost to Hello Whiskers. Because of this intervention, Amelia is alive today. We are asking for your support to help cover the costs of her emergency care. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue saying yes to kittens like Amelia when they need us most. Thank you for being part of Amelia’s story and for helping her continue her journey toward a healthy, happy life.

Right now, we are facing one of the toughest challenges in rescue: Deadly FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) or PIF it's called here in Portugal. Currently, four of our kittens have been diagnosed with FIP/PIF, and there’s a possibility that others from the same litter may soon show symptoms. FIP is a heartbreaking disease, but with proper treatment, it is no longer a death sentence. These little ones can fight for their lives, and win, with the right medication and veterinary care. The cost is overwhelming: between €500–€1,000 per kitten, covering medication, blood tests, and medical visits. With multiple kittens in treatment, the expenses are simply too great for us to cover alone. We are asking for your help to raise €3,000 so we can give them a real chance at life. Every euro will go directly toward: Life-saving FIP medication (An injection we have to do every day for 84 days, each kitten). Blood tests and monitoring Veterinary visits and supportive care Your support means that these kittens don’t just have a diagnosis, they have hope. Together, we can turn what once was a certain goodbye into a story of survival. Even the smallest donation makes a difference, and if you can’t give, please consider sharing this fundraiser to help spread the word. Thank you for standing with us, and for giving our kittens the chance to grow up healthy, happy, and loved.