In January of 2018 I had to say goodbye to my eldest, and first cat, Siam. He had suffered numerous health issues over the years, but he was a trooper and made it to the respectable age of 14 before his body just couldn't take it anymore. I had lost a pet before, growing up, but this was MY first pet and the heartache was unlike any before. It took me a year before I was ready to bring a new cat into the household, but in January of 2019 Aloysius was welcomed into his family.

Seven months later all those feelings of pain and helplessness came crashing back down when Aloysius was diagnosed with FIP and I was faced with the heartbreaking thought of losing him before he even made it to his 1st birthday.

Equal parts determination and dumb luck led me stumble across a FIP facebook group that Friday afternoon, and with the help of the amazing member Aloysius started treatment the very next day. The effect was nearly immediate, Aloysius fever broke within 48 hours and he began to regain his energy. Two weeks in the fluid was gone and he was behaving like a typical kitten. In hindsight I realize now he was likely sick for far longer then I knew, only during treatment did his true energy, appetite, and extreme mischievousness start to show through.

We certainly hit some road bumps. The injections were tough and only continued to get tougher as he got stronger.  The fluid, symptoms, and anemia quickly started to clear but his protein levels only slowly improved. A few weeks in his fever suddenly spiked HIGH and I was terrified. "Fortunately" it turned to be caused by an infection and an abscess forming where one of his shots had been given. He was put on an antibiotic but the sores and then immense swelling in unrelated areas continued no mater what we did. After a second round of antibiotics, half a dozen shaved spots, and an area around his shoulder that was swollen to the size of several golf balls, we realize he was just one of those cats who reacted very poorly to the subq injections. Fortunately the group continued to lend aid & advice, and I was informed of newer oral form of the medication he may responded to. 

Funny enough I was equally nervous on the thought of giving pills. Aloysius was a beast whenever I needed to give him his gabapentin and his antibiotics, I just knew multiple capsules a day was going to be a nightmare. I was SO wrong. I wish I could remember who first suggested INABA Churu treats because they also deserve a shout out here as well. A small coating of that, and the capsule process was absolutely painless. Aloysius actually comes running when the pill boxes come out, as does his sister because she knows she gets the rest of the treat tube.

After the switch a few more sores that must have been in development opened (one nearly two weeks after we stopped) but the swelling went down and within the next month you could hardly tell they had ever been there. Aloysius energy sky rocketed, as did his appetite. He even started to become less timid around guests, especially my daily shot/pill assistant. Today he is a happy content 14 month old cat who enjoys equal parts cuddling and terrorizing his sister, galloping around the condo at 2am, turning everything he can find into a game/toy, and getting into/onto places he knows he isn't supposed to be.

His latest blood work looks great so January 3rd will be the last day of his extended treatment (5 weeks on shots, 12 on oral capsules) Then the part I expect to be the hardest, the 12 week post treatment monitoring.

I can honestly say I have never witnessed a community like the one that sprang up around this disease & treatment. All over the world thousands and thousands of strangers are devoting massive amounts of time, energy, and money, to help complete strangers fight for their cats lives. These people have restored a  portion of my faith in humanity I have found dwindling in recent years.

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