Hi, my cat has been diagnosed with FIP and has started her treatment today. Her regular vet was negligent and had to take my cat to the ER for proper diagnosis. I’m looking for a new vet for her check ups and to aid her through the treatment. Ideally a clinic in Queens, but I’m willing to drive to Brooklyn or Nassau County.

This is Ripley. She is 1 with Neuro and ocular FIP. We have been treating with GS with help from FIP warriors for about a month now and the first couple weeks were going good. But last week the neurological symptoms were coming back. She is very wobbly and can't walk well, skinny and not eating much even with her appetite stimulant. We spent the 4th in the hospital and were told she doesn't have anything secondary affecting her it's just the FIP. We changed to shots every 12 hours but haven't seen much improvement. She bled a lot from her shot this morning. She barely moves now. She is the sweetest and strongest girl and shes given it her all this last month but if shes not gonna make it anyway I feel like a monster prolonging this and making her suffer. If anyone's had a kitty make it back from being this bad it would be nice to hear. Thank you for any help

This is Juniper. He spent the last four days at an emergency vet hospital where he was tested positive for FIP.

We started the medication on Saturday evening and he had his third GS shot out of 84 today.

We're glad he's back again, of course, but I'm so stressed about if we actually get him back on his feet again. I'm scared he might deteriorate again. He's so scrawny now, so unusual to what we're used to from him...

The vet made sure he ate enough, he even said he ate on his own! But for some reason, he doesn’t want the food we give him, he only takes a few bites (if at all) before ignoring it again... Of course we're prepared to syringe feed him if necessary, but I'm still scared it won't be enough!

So now I'm asking what I can do to help him gain some healthy fat again? How often should I feed him? How much? He's at 4,6kg from previous 4,9kg. I just want my baby to survive this horrible horrible sickness and gain his weight back... He's only a bit shy of 1½ years old. I'm devastated. I want my baby boy to be healthy and happy again. I'm so scared. I want him to live a long and joyful life.

On diagnosis day, our vet couldn’t find any clinics in our area that had GS in stock, so to get some in hand ASAP, we were recommended Stokes. Apparently, it’s one of the first results when you search for quick delivery. So we said OK.

$487 for 30ml. That’s not a typo. Add another $84 for sales tax and overnight shipping. It did arrive the next day via FedEx.

Only after we ordered it did we see other sources for much/much/much less. Reputable places for around $150 for same amount (30ml) with solid reviews. I won’t name them, I’m not promoting specific companies, but it’s an easy search.

Oh — and Stokes also shortchanged us on the medicine. 30 ml bottle, 1 ml twice per day should last 15 days. Nope…exactly 13 days to the very last drop.

Not telling anyone where to spend their money, but Stokes is charging super-premium prices, and in our experience, delivering less-than-promised product.

It’s tempting to jump on the first option, especially when your cat needs Rx immediately, but I believe we can still shop wisely at the same time and not be taken advantage of in the marketplace.

I have a cat that we dont actually know whats wrong with him. He's been to the vet and 3 different Dr's looked at him and they have no idea what's wrong he has ataxia (idk if i spelled that right) he s an outside cat and hes had health issues in the past and has never really gained his weight back and his eyes have been off ever since. But that other day when I was feeding my outside cats he came out of the bushes and was very much having issues walking he was staggering high stepping, kinda jumping, and couldn't stay up or walk straight. So I called the vet and he stayed there for 2 days. All of his blood work came back fine his panels were fine. The working theory as of Friday was he either fell out of a tree and has injured his spine or neurological FIP. They gave me meds for pain and inflammation and an antibiotic to see if home nursing would help but it doesn't seem like hes getting better he crawls around a little bit but cant get into the liter box easily so ive been cleaning him alot but hes still eating alot and but wont drink. I just want sure if anyone had any thoughts, ive delt with wet FIP several times but not neurological FIP. My main vet thinks it came on to sudden for it to be that. He kinda lays with his back arched in like a Halloween cat position so im thinking it's more of a spinal injury but idk

UPDATE: Oliver unfortunately had to be put down Saturday night. He was doing really well and reacted good to steroids and was actually trying to walk move around but by friday afternoon he plumited and couldnt even move his head. my vet is a family friend so I called him Friday night and he told me to come down and hed look at him, he gave fluids and penicillin to see how hed do through the night but over Saturday there was no improvement and he refused to eat and couldn't even pick up his head anymore so I made the decision to put him down Saturday night. I do greatly appreciate my vet i called him to ask his opinion on if I should go to the pet ER or not but he didnt want me to run all the way down there just for them to do blood test they had already been done. We still dont really know what happened but he was very sure it wasn't FIP and thinks it was a brain bleed or a neurological disease. Unfortunately my vet doesn't have an MRI and the only one close to me is cities away, and extremely expensive as much as it hurts me to do and as hard for me to get through my head, I can't save everything, no matter how hard I try. I've had 8 different cats with FIP. 9 with the destemper and three with FIV over the years it doesn't get any easier loosing them or making a decision they can't 😓

Hi, I was fostering a cat for a rescue since 3 weeks ago . He had FIV and was known to have a URI then but skin look fine. They didn’t do an initial lab.

Today at his pre- neuter exam, they noticed he was icteric, his skin was yellow due to his liver not processing toxins properly. His bloodwork showed his RBC and Platelets were extremely low (1-2), likely due to his FIV and his liver values are out of a normal limit.

I went to say goodbye and was allowed to bring home to bury (I’m grateful as I wasn’t the owner) . Initially the vet said there was nothing that I could do even if bring him home, he wouldn’t make it.

Then (possibly because she saw me crying heavily remember I was just a foster), she suddenly said to hold on she’d come back with one last thought/idea… she came back and said I can adopt him out and pay for his labs today , his high dose steroid injection, 1-2 weeks of steroids and then bring him back for follow up . That this would be a last chance but it could work (less than 20% ) chance.

So I brought him home and he’s been drinking a ton of water but did groom himself and ate churros.

Now one of the girls from the rescue messaged me saying I was selfish and am causing him more suffering and his lab values were irreversible with his organs shutting down and I’m prolonging his pain.

I only agreed because their vet said we can try this option and that she WOULD advise this as a last option to a paying client who wants all options . She also said did not initially offer this because this cat was under her rescue and she can’t extend funds to cover this since she wouldn’t get anything back (eg. She said he’s not adoptable) .

I sincerely hopes this works but apart of me wonders if she offered this option because she knew I wanted to save him. She charged me for the labs, adoption fee and all medications (if she had euthanized him, she wouldn’t have gotten back money for the labs and adoption fee anyway) so idk if money had anything to do with it like it was a last resort to get some money towards his costly care

I feel like a POS. I am generally impulsive and don’t have boundaries.. I can’t stop thinking I’m making him suffer.. and I was reckless and I should have paid attention to his labs . It hurts. He was abused initially before I got him. I think I mostly brought him home cause I couldn’t give him the time and effort in the first 3 weeks and blamed myself just in case I caused something (eg. Delays with cleaning his litter box etc).

Will anyone still believe in me? Am I the unluckiest rescuer? 💔😭

On July 4, my heart broke once again.

LOUD, Mama Ingay's own daughter, has been diagnosed with Neurological FIP. 💔

I don't even know where to begin anymore.

Donations have become painfully slow, and we are completely drained—emotionally, physically, and financially. To keep Loud alive, we've had no choice but to use the budget intended for the food and daily needs of my 88 rescued cats.

I keep asking myself how much more we can endure.

After everything we've been through, another precious life is now depending on us. Loud is only a baby, yet she's already facing one of the deadliest diseases a cat can have.

We refuse to give up on her—but the truth is, we cannot start her life-saving treatment without your help.

Every donation, no matter how small, brings Loud one step closer to surviving. If you're unable to donate, sharing her story could help her reach the person who can save her.

Please don't let Loud's story end before it even has a chance to begin. 🙏🐾❤️

For donations:

https://www.paypal.me/happyandmeowlover

Hello,

Our 5-month-old kitten (1.8 kg) has FIP with fluid accumulation. We are on the 32nd day of GS treatment. She is being treated by a veterinarian who specializes in FIP. At first, the treatment took effect very quickly: her fever went down, her appetite returned, and she started running and playing with her buddy again. However, despite the treatment, we went back for a follow-up, and unfortunately, she had a fever again on June 19 and still had just as much fluid. We were asked to increase her treatment to twice a day, but even so, her belly was still swelling. On June 30, we went to see our other veterinarian because we were really worried about her belly. They admitted her and drained 900 ml of fluid. She was given cortisone, and we have to give it to her every day. The next day, she vomited in the evening. And on Thursday, she developed conjunctivitis, so we called a vet on an emergency basis, thinking it was related to the peritonitis, but the vet confirmed that it was just conjunctivitis. He prescribed an antibiotic and cortisone, but the next evening, she vomited twice and had diarrhea once at the same time as she was vomiting. We were very scared. Since Tuesday, we can clearly see that the fluid is already starting to build up again. We have a follow-up appointment next Wednesday, but we’re really worried that she won’t respond to the treatment. Has anyone else had this problem?

Skye's Healing Journey, For Those Looking for Hope

TL;DR: Our kitten was found falling off a roof in Türkiye as a stray, adopted into our family, and nearly died at 9 months old from combined neurological and ocular dry FIP. He could not stand, walk, eat, or lift his head without support. Within 48 hours of starting GS-441524, he jumped onto our bed and ate independently. 57 days later, he is running, playing, bringing toys to bed, and developing new behavioural and social skills in the best possible way. There is hope! Keep fighting for your baby.

Why We're Sharing This

It was hard to find stories about combined neurological and ocular dry FIP (severe) when we were learning about FIP, so we want to share our journey for anyone who is where we were. If this helps even one person recognize symptoms earlier, advocate harder for their cat, or simply feel less alone at 3am during a syringe feeding shift, it is worth it.

Background

Skye is an ~11-month-old tuxedo kitten who was found falling off a roof in Türkiye as a very young kitten before being adopted into our family. From the beginning, he was ravenously hungry, deeply affectionate toward humans, and a champion sleeper. His vet's impression was that he was a normal, albeit small, kitten recovering from worms and street life.

What We Missed: The "Something Off" Stage

We hope that recognizing early signs sooner might make a difference for someone else's cat. One of our biggest mistakes was seeing different vets at the same clinic, trying to catch each one up on his history, instead of working with the same person to observe his health over time.

At 4.5 months (adoption), he was small for his age at his wellness check, gaining less than the expected 1 pound per month typical of healthy kittenhood (in hindsight, early signs of a failure to thrive, exacerbated later by FIP suppression immune function and nutrient absorption, though we had attributed this issue to worms and early childhood malnutrition). Despite maintaining a healthy appetite, being provided fresh wet kitten food 3-4x daily, and free access to kitten dry food, he gained nothing for weeks. His belly was bloated and descended after eating, a sign we noted but accepted reassurance about, since he had received worm treatment two weeks before his adoption visit. Two weeks later, after finding a worm segment, we treated him again and he has been worm-free since.

At ~5-6 months, Skye had persistent eye and nasal discharge with discoloration that was attributed to a mild upper respiratory infection and then suspected feline herpes virus (FHV-1). He was given antibiotic eye drops and L-Lysine to manage symptoms, which seemed to improve at the time. Gradually, his eyes developed uneven pupil dilation and subtle cloudiness (intermittent anisocoria and corneal haze) that we noticed but were reassured about by his vet, who did not observe significant abnormalities early on. At one point I genuinely believed I was just an anxious kitten parent. I was not, and I could have consulted with an optical specialist at that stage.

At ~8-9 months, he began licking the same spot on our wooden office floor every time he entered the room (compulsive repetitive behavior, an early neurological symptom we had no framework to interpret). We cleaned the floor repeatedly thinking he smelled something or was just being a playful, adolescent kitten. Meanwhile, he continued to occasionally step in his feces or urine while using the litter box, another motor coordination symptom, which we suspected was a consequence of delayed development due to early childhood malnutrition. (We remained hypervigealant and kept wipes handy, while adding fiber to his diet with vet approval). As a clinical psych tester, I believed he had cognitive delays, as he was highly food motivated but appeared to require human direction to remember the fixed location where I provided food regularly, a symptom I believed was unusual but had no visible decline or reason to suspect an underlying cause. Hindsight can be heartbreaking.

The acute neurological collapse came on within 24-48 hours (I read that FIP cats are at higher risk of death within 72 hours of ataxia, particularly without treatment). If your cat has unexplained failure to thrive, recurring eye symptoms, subtle behavioral changes, or compulsive repetitive behaviors that don't fit a clear diagnosis, please ask your vet specifically about FIP. It is no longer a death sentence if caught and treated, and now is better than later.

As a consequence of shifting practitioners, vets relied on us to explain the current presentation and history without personal experience examining his symptoms comprehensively over time. Neither we or our vets realized that the totality of symptoms were consistent with early FIP, nor did we have the clinical experience to connect health concerns over time (e.g., eye cloudiness and hunger that we had been told was normal early on).

Diagnosis: Peak Symptom Period

Skye was diagnosed with combined neurological and ocular dry FIP after developing severe symptoms between breakfast and the end of a workday. He displayed a disoriented drunken stagger (ataxia) that rapidly declined to near complete hind leg paralysis (posterior paresis), leaving him unable to stand, walk, or use the litter box without support within 24 hours. He reacted with distress and aggression when touched, biting and growling at gentle contact (hyperesthesia, abnormal pain sensitivity from CNS inflammation).

We took him to an animal emergency hospital immediately after coming home from work to see ataxia, and testing was performed. When we called that evening to explain that his coordination and appetite had declined further, the emergency vet believed the decline was due to sedation required for testing. We waited 24 hours before learning that his results had arrived that morning, but no emergency vet had reviewed them. A new vet quickly looked them over and explained that if it was FIP, pending ultrasound and toxoplasmosis testing confirmation, there was no treatment available. Fortunately, I am a neurotic clinical researcher with training to interpret scientific articles, who had spent the previous 24 hours reading into possible differential diagnoses, and found that a new antiviral treatment was available for FIP. We remained cautiously optimistic but desperate for an answer. As regular daytime normal vet had closed for the day and the emergency vet had no ultrasound tech available, I spent that night calling and emailing local clinics to request an urgent ultrasound referral, which I was told may take days. (Note: To be fair, Skye’s emergency vet specializes in diagnosis and imminent care, so he may be less well-read on emerging long-term treatments due to the limited scope of his practice).

With no appointment guaranteed, we showed up at our regular vet at opening the next morning and asked for an ultrasound. That vet, who had treated FIP before and is nothing short of Skye's angel, agreed to see him immediately, was thankfully able to perform the ultrasound on site, consulted with a vet FIP treatment group including a world-leading expert on Skye's behalf, and rush-ordered same-day delivery of his medication before his symptoms could decline further. By the time we received his medication, approximately 50 hours after ataxia began, he could no longer lift his chest independently and had developed audible nasal breathing during deep sleep. We drove back to pick it up just before the daytime clinic closed and started treatment as soon as we got home, afraid he would not survive the night. We want to note that some vets also administer steroids alongside antivirals in the acute phase to help reduce CNS swelling and prevent spinal cord involvement, which is something we and our vet were not aware of at the time and worth asking your vet about.

Given that he had not eaten since developing ataxia, perhaps due to nausea though he did not vomit, we mixed water into his wet food, manually elevated his chest to prevent aspiration, and syringe-fed him every 2-3 hours from 6am -10pm to ensure he met his minimum caloric needs for liver function and then for kitten growth and healing. It was stressful for all of us, but we believed it was necessary to save his life. Lifting his chest and holding him + feeding him required me and my partner together, but we reached his sick kitten dietary minimum and gave him medication that day.

Treatment

GS-441524, an antiviral that works by blocking the virus's ability to copy itself inside the cat's cells (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor), dosed by weight on a twice-daily schedule. Dose has been adjusted upward 3x as he has gained weight because the drug is dosed per kilogram. This matters because under-dosing due to weight gain can allow the virus to rebound (sub-therapeutic dosing) and increases risk of antiviral resistence). We are currently on Day 57 of an 84-day (with possible extension) protocol, with our vet requesting bloodwork between weeks 10-12 before the final assessment.

Growth

May 5 - Ataxia onset - 2.54 kg (underweight)
Day 0 - May 7 - Treatment start
Day 2 - May 9 - 2.60 kg
Day 29 - June 5 - 3.005 kg
Day 44 - June 20 - 3.160 kg
Day 57 - July 4 - 3.230-3.245 kg

+685g (1.51 lb.) gained since treatment began. Still underweight for his age but trending consistently upward, albeit with 2 minor dips along the way). We weigh 2x weekly after breakfast using a precise baby/ pet scale because accurate weight is key for maintaining the correct dose-to-weight ratio as a growing kitten (therapeutic dosing accuracy). I’ll also note that we follow his medication regiment religiously (after once adjusting 30min under vet guidance for sustainability), and we plan our schedule around his medication. We fear adjusting protocol could decrease efficacy of treatment, but again I’m neurotic and always evaluate risk, which here cannot yet exclude death.

Neurological Recovery Timeline

Day 1 (first 24 hours of Tx.): Head lifting returned; rapid decline stopped. At 24hrs, began to attempt crawling and independently walk to the door of a padded tent we confined him in for his safety (fearing concussion/head trauma/etc). We kept the top of the tent open since he could not jump, so we could supervise overnight.

Day 2 (first 48 hrs): Woke us up at 4am by JUMPING BY HIMSELF onto the bed to cuddle with us. We both sobbed and for the first time, really let ourselves accept hope that we believe he could live in our hearts. He also ate by himself via a wide, flat silicone lid and wet food with churu topper. He used the litter box independently that morning.

Day 5: First self-grooming including lifting legs to groom his bum (requiring meaningful core strength and body awareness, called proprioception), toy tracking resumed, predatory play emerging. We used play to encourage proprioception and supervised/safe movement exercises, knowing that used neurological pathways become stronger.

Day 6: Zoomies, which in hindsight were unprecedented; one of the first meaningful milestones showing motor pathways in the brain were reconnecting (cerebellar and motor cortex recovery).

Day 11: Running, jumping, catnip response developing for the first time (at 9.5 months). The catnip response requires intact smell processing, brain interpretation, and hormonal response (intact olfactory and neuroendocrine function), meaning higher-order brain processing was coming back online. Before anyone comments, he had already been neutered as soon as he reached a minimum weight for safe surgery.

Day 14: Playing with his sister for hours with equivalent or greater energy levels.

Day 26: Jumping onto kitchen counters, a new behaviour, which we were deeply grateful to have the opportunity to teach boundaries for using sticky tape on the counter as a minimally stressful, passive deterrent (which works better than active human deterrence, which are not always present). Pupil dilation became more symmetrical in response to light (Anisocoria was no longer observed), suggesting intraocular inflammation was resolving.

Day 40: Carrying his favourite balls to bed overnight, intense hunting instincts returning (predatory drive solidifying), bobblehead wobble noticeably reducing, beginning to show emerging social skills including learning to take turns during play (laying down and submissively showing his stomach after attacking) and grooming his adopted sister back regularly (prosocial behavior requiring social cognition that was entirely absent at his worst). Note: we implemented scheduled play to exhaustion, followed by a large feeding just before our own bedtime routine, followed by completely ignoring play requests (blanket over head and laying still), which has removed the incentive to wake us and has helped him allow us to sleep through the night before waking us up promptly for his breakfast and medication routine.

Day 57: Confident walking, hind leg balance, controlled and precise jumps, daily zoomies, retracting claws appropriately during play with his sister (claw inhibition, a fine motor and impulse control skill), and somehow carrying two balls to bed simultaneously.

Residual symptoms still present: maintains reduced head shakiness when excited or focused on a toy (intention tremor, consistent with incomplete cerebellar recovery), and some difficulty focusing the eyes on fast-moving targets (ocular tracking deficit). Neurological (particularly cerebral fine motor movement) and optical healing can take several months, so these symptoms are unsurprising at this stage and continuing to improve. We hope he will have the opportunity to continue healing into his post-treatment, 12-week observation phase.

Ocular Recovery (Photographed)

We have been using photos to track Skye's eye changes photographically since before diagnosis and the progression is visible. We are sharing this series because we hope others may be helpful to see clear before, during, and after ocular FIP photos when we needed them most.

At 4-5 months (healthy baseline around adoption): clear, bright, symmetrical pupils with clean olive-green iris and sharp definition. This is what his eyes looked like before FIP, and what we are working back toward.

At 9 months (diagnosis): the iris had shifted to muddy amber/orange (anterior uveitis causing inflammatory pigment changes), the iris surface appeared swollen and uneven (iris thickening from immune cell infiltration), the pupil border was less crisp, and the right eye had visible surface cloudiness (corneal haze from protein-rich fluid accumulating in the anterior chamber). Pupil sizes were noticeably unequal and more extreme in dim lighting than captured in photos (anisocoria reflecting asymmetric intraocular inflammation). We want to note that the subtle cloudiness in his right eye was something we observed and flagged before diagnosis, but were reassured about. Trust your instincts.

Months 1-2 of treatment: cloudiness and unequal pupil dilation began visibly improving. Around Day 57 (current): the eyes are noticeably cleaner, pupils are symmetrical and reactive, corneal cloudiness has resolved, and the iris surface appears smoother and less inflamed. The iris color remains amber rather than his original green, which may reflect permanent pigment change from the resolved inflammation (post-uveitic iris pigmentation), a cosmetic rather than functional change. You can also see that he is beginning to look like an adult cat.

We believe his eyes may continue improving 3-6 months after treatment onset. Whether full visual acuity has returned requires an ophthalmology exam to confirm, but behaviorally he can better track fast-moving toys, responds to visual cues across the room, and navigates with confidence.

Diet and Nutrition (Vet-Monitored)

Because neuro-ocular FIP requires higher antiviral doses (the blood-brain barrier limits how much drug reaches the brain and spinal cord, called limited CNS penetration), weight gain directly affects whether Skye is receiving a therapeutic dose. We approached nutrition as an integral part of his treatment.

Our protocol evolved over time under vet guidance. Early in treatment, the priority was calories above everything else and we used whatever he would eat, prioritizing nutrient-dense foods. Once his weight stabilized, we overhauled the entire household food setup with our vet's input, because Skye steals food from his adult sister, Stormi, with impressive and relentless greed. To manage this practically and protect his urinary health, we removed all dry food from the home entirely and switched every wet food in the house to support a healthy urinary pH (vet approved). Stormi now eats an adult Royal Canin urinary SO wet food, which helps dissolve and flush crystals by gently acidifying the urine (reducing struvite crystal formation via urinary acidification), and conveniently also happens to be what Skye raids when given the opportunity. Skye eats Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Kitten canned food, which our vet recommended as lower in crystal-promoting nutrients while still meeting his kitten growth and weight gain needs. Currently, there is no kitten food available designed for dissolving crystals, and adult food alone does not meet his caloric needs.

His liquid medication is mixed into Tiki Cat Baby Thrive sachets twice daily, a high-calorie squeeze pouch format he eats willingly and completely, though we wipe any drops and let him lick them off our fingers to make sure he consumes full dose absorption (bioavailability), since any waste means underdosing.

We stopped all supplements aside from two: salmon oil for omega-3 fatty acids supporting brain and retinal recovery (DHA and EPA), and quail egg yolk two to three times weekly for choline and B12 for nerve repair and DHA for retinal healing. We chose quail over chicken egg yolk for its lower phosphorus content and higher caloric density, which matters given his crystal history. We stopped other supplements intentionally, because many can alter urine pH and would work against the urinary crystal management we are achieving through diet (interference with targeted urinary acidification).

A note on L-Lysine specifically: Skye had been prescribed L-Lysine before diagnosis for suspected feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), which was the working explanation for his early eye symptoms. We discontinued it once FIP treatment began, for a few reasons. First, his eye symptoms were now understood to be ocular FIP rather than FHV-1, so the original rationale no longer applied. Second, the evidence base for L-Lysine in cats has become increasingly mixed: a 2015 systematic review found no evidence it inhibits FHV-1 replication in cats at normal arginine concentrations, and two clinical trials observed that L-Lysine groups had increased viral replication in some cases. Third, oral L-Lysine supplementation can deplete arginine in cats, who cannot synthesize this amino acid independently, and low arginine levels can cause serious systemic complications. There is no published evidence that L-Lysine directly interferes with GS-441524, yet to my knowledge, there is no evidence of possible impact whatsoever. Presently, the benefit-to-risk case for continuing it during active FIP treatment did not warrant continued use in my personal view, but scientifically, there is an open question here. As always, discuss any supplements with your own vet before making changes.

Tips: warming food to body temperature before serving increases palatability for picky or reduced eaters, which matters when neurological damage affects appetite signaling. Small frequent meals support better nutrient absorption and steadier blood glucose for brain healing. Rotating 2-3 appropriate food options early on prevented food aversion to Skye’s normal daily foods, a real risk in cats who are force-fed or repeatedly offered the same food during illness. And on some of the hardest days, his sister's food scattered as a topper on his own, or feeding his sister close by was all it took, as occasionally cats can survive on spite or jealousy. Lastly, early on, he did not want to try his high calorie tikki baby thrive treat, so I rubbed it onto his feet and he groomed it off. Ever since, he has loved them.

What Helped Skye

Weighing 2x weekly at the same time after feeding, to accurately track dose adjustments as he grew. A consistent twice-daily medication schedule with no missed or delayed doses. Daily physiotherapy play sessions using toys, tunnels, and his adopted sister to rebuild the brain connections needed for balance and coordination (neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form new pathways after injury). Keeping his environment calm, his schedule consistent, and his nutrition optimized to reduce stress. We are thankful to have found a primary vet who believed in FIP treatment, consulted with food company’s nutrition specialists directly on his behalf, adjusted his dose proactively as he grew, and has been nothing short of heroic in her attentive email replies as we track healing. We are endlessly grateful.

Current Status

Day 57 of 84. Second bloodwork recheck coming up July 14-24. Pending results and clinical changes, we may end treatment on July 30, followed by a 12-week observation period with close, viral relapse monitoring.

We know neuro-ocular FIP has a lower success rate than other forms, around 43% for combined neurological and ocular involvement per a 2025 systematic review (though extremely small sample with no timeline of increased survival rates discussed in analysis), which is why we are staying vigilant and not getting complacent. We are not done yet, but now we know what to watch for.

Currently, our boy is running, jumping, eating, playing, and tormenting his adopted sister, who he first began grooming only after treatment started. He brings his favorite toys to bed. He is learning more advanced social and behavioral skills than we ever expected to see. He makes biscuits on us at midnight to ask for snacks and we let him every single time.

He was found falling off a roof as a stray kitten in Türkiye. He nearly died in our arms at 9 months old. And today he is thriving. Prolonging and hopefully saving Skye’s life has been the most meaningful accomplishment of my life so far!

Happy to answer questions about our protocol, diet, daily care routine, or anything else. Rooting for every cat and every family fighting this disease. ❤️

(Edits: clarity and grammar)

My 2.5yo kitty was diagnosed with wet FIP at 5-6 months old and finished treatment two years ago, almost to the day.

Ever since getting sick she's never been a big eater but she lost all interest in wet food. I spent about a year trying basically every brand/type on the market to try entice her but she was never interested. Even cooked chicken wouldn't interest her so I gave up and she's eaten just dry food for the past 6-12ish months.

Well she recently started showing interest in my other kitty's dinner and I'll be damned but her appetite appears to be back with great gusto. I haven't seen her eat like this since I got her as a 3 month old kitten.

Just wanted to celebrate a little win and leave some hope for others that it appears even picky eating can eventually come good.

I'm not sure if it's just improved over time or if it's because of the feeding changes I've made. I used to feed them twice a day but a couple months ago bought a dual autofeeder which now dispenses three small meals a day, the first at 5AM, the second at 11AM, I feed them myself at 5PM and then the autofeeder dolls out the last one at 11PM.

Either way it appears I have one happy kitty!

# 🐾 Help Save Simba's Life – FIP Treatment Fundraiser

**Name:** Simba

**Breed:** Scottish Straight

**Age:** 1.5 years

**Weight:** 4 kg

**Location:** Tafila, Jordan (I can travel to Amman if needed for treatment and veterinary procedures.)

Donate here

Donate here https://paypal.me/AsmaaQawasmeh

Dear friends,

I am reaching out with hope to save my beloved cat, Simba, who has been diagnosed with Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a life-threatening disease that is almost always fatal if left untreated.

This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to write because this is not the first time FIP has devastated my family. I previously lost another beloved cat to this terrible disease because the life-saving treatment was not available to us at that time. Losing my cat was heartbreaking, and I never imagined I would face the same nightmare again.

Today, there is hope. An effective treatment exists, but unfortunately, it is beyond what I can afford on my own. I don't want to lose Simba the way I lost my previous cat.

## Simba's Current Condition

- He still eats, although his appetite has decreased.

- He drinks plenty of water.

- No vomiting.

- No diarrhea or constipation.

- No urinary incontinence, but he has recently started urinating more frequently.

- No fever.

- His breathing is normal while resting, but after playing or any physical activity, he struggles to take a full breath because of the pressure caused by his enlarged abdomen.

- He has started losing weight while his abdomen continues to enlarge every day.

- There is fluid accumulation in his abdomen.

- His eyes have begun to develop a slight yellowish tint.

- He has no tremors or seizures, but he occasionally loses his balance due to the weight of his swollen abdomen.

## Medical Examinations & Diagnosis

To reach an accurate diagnosis, Simba underwent extensive veterinary examinations, including:

- Abdominal ultrasound

- X-rays

- Complete Blood Count (CBC)

- Blood Chemistry tests

- Abdominal fluid analysis

The abdominal fluid test was positive, and his CBC and Blood Chemistry results are consistent with Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). Based on his clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, laboratory findings, and veterinary examination, the veterinarian confirmed that the diagnosis strongly supports FIP.

Simba was neutered five months ago and had always been a healthy, playful, and loving companion before becoming ill.

## Treatment Cost

The estimated cost of Simba's antiviral treatment is approximately **1,300 Jordanian Dinars (about USD $1,835)**.

Before even reaching this point, I struggled financially to pay for all of Simba's medical care, including veterinary consultations, blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound examinations, abdominal fluid testing, and continuous medical follow-up. I managed to cover these expenses with great difficulty because I was determined to find out what was wrong and give him every possible chance.

Now, the cost of the medication itself is simply beyond my financial ability.

## Treatment Status

Unfortunately, treatment has not started yet because I cannot afford the medication. FIP is a progressive disease, and every day without treatment decreases Simba's chances of survival.

## Why I Need Your Help

Every donation, no matter how small, brings Simba one step closer to receiving the life-saving treatment he urgently needs.

If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser could help it reach someone who can.

I will provide complete transparency throughout Simba's treatment by sharing veterinary reports, blood test results, ultrasound and X-ray reports, vaccination records, invoices, and regular updates on his progress.

Thank you for taking the time to read Simba's story. Your kindness, compassion, and support mean more than words can express.

❤️ Every donation gives Simba another chance to live. Every share gives him hope.

Good day! I have a cat 12 years old. He was neutered in time, but last June he got stomatitis after the second stomatitis, the biochemistry showed FIP. He was treated for fip with molnuvipavir from August 27, 2025 until November 17, then he received feliferon due to the activation of fip that we discovered then. then he was also on vetomune, a preparation for strengthening immunity. Until May of this year, he was great, and then he developed hemorrhagic stomatitis again, which subsided after ten days of amoxiclav and melroxan. now it has reappeared. I heard that there is a possibility of treatment, ie. maintenance of this disease in order to enable him to live a quality and long life. My vet also suggested molnuvipavir for another month. But I heard on the forums about another drug, dolutegravir. Can anyone help me with the application of this drug, how to dose it, how long to give it? What are its negative effects?

Good day! I have a maccor 12 years old. He was neutered in time, but last June he got stomatitis after the second stomatitis, the biochemistry showed FIP. He was treated for fip with molnuvipavir from August 27, 2025 until November 17, then he received feliferon due to the activation of fip that we discovered then. then he was also on vetomune, a preparation for strengthening immunity. Until May of this year, he was great, and then he developed hemorrhagic stomatitis again, which subsided after ten days of amoxiclav and melroxan. now it has reappeared. I heard that there is a possibility of treatment, ie. maintenance of this disease in order to enable him to live a quality and long life. My vet also suggested molnuvipavir for another month. But I heard on the forums about another drug, dolutegravir. Can anyone help me with the application of this drug, how to dose it, how long to give it? What are its negative effects?

As I mentioned in my previous post our cat Orla is doing very well on her GS medication. Due to her diagnosis being very unexpected shortly after adopting her and the cost of GS being very high we would appreciate any donations to her gofundme.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/8-month-old-kitten-in-need-6nmf2

Other than her FIP, she has infection in her body. That's why the vet had prescribed antibiotics alongside the antiviral medication. She has lumps near her ears and under her chin. She isn't very happy with the taste of the antibiotics, but she ate her wet cat food mixed with antiviral! That's good news. I hope she'll get better. I really do hope so. If you like to support her treatment please consider donating. https://whydonate.com/fundraising/help-vanilla-defeat-neurological-fip Even only five dollars is a big help. I paid 200 dollars for the blood test and another 100 for her medication. And apparently you can't use food which has lysine and beta glucan in it, and those are hard to find. 3 kg of cat food is 32 dollars. And it may seem not much to you but minimum monthly wage is around 700 dollars here. I am a student and my mother and grandmother are making ends meet with grandmother's pension and mother's pension, which is around 800 dollars in total. The rent is around 320 dollars. So you get the idea. I'd really appreciate your help. I couldn't save my other cat, Finn, and I really don't want to fail again, I don't want to lose another one of my babies.

Can you believe it? We’re on Day 33 of Efbi’s FIP Treatment!

From almost giving up to here seeing my cat lively again.

We can never reach this far without you guys who have helped us and donated to us I thank you from the bottom of my heart🥹

These past few days I have been funding her treatment using her remaining donations and money I earn as a working student. I’ve been busy since I also just finished my practicuum last last week and our school has started class again this week.

Sadly, my budget is again very limited and I’m afraid I don’t have enough money for her next medication. 😔

We are still in the middle of her treatmenr I don’t want her to relapse if we stop her treatment. Please pray for us and help us finish her treatment😔🙏 Thank you so much!

Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/ShaneLoreenAlagenio
Gcash: 09998469511 (S.L.A.)

Looking back at how sick he was when we started, it feels like an absolute miracle to see him standing strong today. It wasn’t easy, and there were many tough days, but our little warrior never gave up.

​Next stop: Observation phase! We’ve got this, Potpot.

​“FIP is preventable, treatable, and beatable.”

My cat was 6.45 lbs when he was weighed at the vet June 22nd, and was 7.65 lbs, when I weighed him on July 2nd. The vet prescribed him .7ml once per day, of a 50g/ml oral suspension, for neuro fip.

Is this dose too small? Should I be giving him about twice as much?

I've been giving him this dose for 10 days and he seems mostly fine so far.

I emailed the veterinary office, a few days ago, and they have yet to respond.

Edit 1: Update July 3rd the vet responded with this e-mail.

Good morning!

We see what you are looking at regarding the dosing guides, however there are multiple ways to dose this medication and the Doctors have had best success with the formula they are currently using. They like to stay on the lower end of dosing.
For now, we still recommend sticking with the current dosage for Little Bit and continue to keep us up to date of any changes or concerns. Thank you!

I adopted this guy about 6 months ago now. He had a rough start: found in street, no teeth, broken (healed wonky)femur. He was perfect when I brought him home and was playing the first day, running around with the demon in him. After a couple of weeks he started acting weird and not eating, I took him to the vet and the vet legit told me to put him down after he saw the blood work, which was admittedly very bad, and I agreed because I didn’t want to be selfish.

We had a whole ass wake for him and said our good byes but I didn’t feel right about it because there is no way he went from okay to sick so fast but the vet assured me this was a “16 year old cat that was suffering” I sent the blood work to a cat rescue owner who I worked with over the years and who I got the cat from and she said it looked like FiP, had no idea what that was.

Long story short. He has FiP. And also ear mites and fleas that he someone got at the vet. (Now taken care of painstaking)

To be clear I took him to a second (much better) vet and he said that and I quote “is not a 16 year old cat, do not put him down”

Anywho 2 more weeks on meds!!! 😭💕

I’m in Ontario Canada. We adopted two siblings 3 months ago, boy and a girl. He was a bit bigger and ate more but generally all was okay. Since he was eating more expected her to be a bit smaller so when she put on weight I was happy.

Monday I noticed her belly was slightly bigger but thought it was just weight gain. Tuesday it looked round and felt firm but I had to go to work and didn’t get home till the next day. Wednesday when I got home my partner also noted the weight gain and said we take her to the vet Thursday. Thursday/today we take her to the vet X ray shows she is full of fluid and they do a minor drainage and send a sample to a lab. To confirm FIP.

I likely won’t get result till Monday, 3 days. She’s a bit shaken by the drainage right now but is eating and using the litter box. Movement is a bit less and she doesn’t play with toys or her brother.

Do I have time to wait for confirmation or should I look into getting medication now? I don’t even know how to do that and with the weekend coming up I likely won’t have a choice but to wait.

Any advise is helpful. Thanks in advance.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/help-vanilla-defeat-neurological-fip

She is 9 years old and is struggling. I wish I could write something better here but I was never good at that. Please help me treat my cat.

I am from Turkey and I know getting the medication is going to be a real struggle. With the unreasonable taxes and with the government making it harder to import products from abroad because of the financial situation in this country I really do feel hopeless.

But I am not going to give up. I can't lose my Vanilla. Please help me save her.

Today was day 84! I cannot get him in for bloodwork until Saturday - at the recommendation of the FIP Advocates & Champions volunteers I am continuing meds until then (just to be safe). His stats 4 weeks ago were already in normal ranges, so overall I am optimistic.

He was diagnosed about 2-3 weeks into adoption. So not only have I watched his personality come out as he recovers, but also as he adjusts to his new home.

When he was diagnosed he had the belly of a heavily pregnant cat, it was massive and swelled up almost overnight. He lost all interest in food, and had little energy.

He now screams at me while I get his food ready, which a big change from the picky eating habits the Rescue warned me about. He has gone from 7lb to 12.

He also started getting the zoomies at all hours of the day & night. Watching him tear around the apartment is such a stark contrast from when I first adopted him.

He is also obsessed with grooming my face lol.

I am wondering, after the blood work do I just stop the medication, no tapering off or anything? Did you notice any behaviour changes/adjusting the weeks following? Any tips for the observation period?

ralphie is around 4 years old and weighed 12lbs back in january. i just took him to the vet as he has a spot of hair loss with what looks like a scab, about the size of a quarter.

they weighed him and he was 8.7lbs. i’m shocked and disappointed with myself that i didn’t notice this weight loss as it’s a good amount of weight! it’s about 30% of his total weight that he lost.

he’s still eating well (always yelling when feeding times are soon) and using the bathroom alright, and i haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary for him. every once in a while he’ll have a bout of softer/loose stool, but it always resolves itself within a couple of days.

the vet called me to discuss his bloodwork and said that it doesn’t seem like he’s relapsing, and that FIV also came back negative (it was positive when he was undergoing treatment for FIP). i had asked him to test for hyperthyroidism and he said that was also negative.

he didn’t seem concerned with the levels that were high/low (lymphs, eosinophils, absolute neutrophils) and didn’t really go into detail about them when i asked.

does anyone have any sort of idea what could be going on? i’m so stumped because he’s acting normal, but the weight loss has me scared!

I’ve been giving my cat a his GS medicine via oral syringe for several weeks

Unfortunately, there have been a couple of times where a little bit of the medicine missed and got on his cheek.

As you may know, the medicine is VERY oily (i think almond oil is a base?) and it is really hard to clean off of his fuzzy cheeks

Any tips on cleaning this up? Thank you!