Gator is a peppy little rescue kitten that we adopted from a shelter in Florida. We named him Gator because from the day we brought him home, he loved playing in the water! When he would hear us turning on the shower or a faucet, he would come running to put his little paws in the water! He even puts his paw in his water bowl every time before he drinks.

He took my heart in the shelter because he was meowing like crazy trying to get out of his cage, and as soon as I opened it, he jumped into my arms and purred himself to sleep! I also read in his history that he was found alone in a parking lot a couple weeks earlier as a young stray kitten. I couldn't let him go after that!

Gator moved in with us and quickly adapted to life as an indoor condo kitten! He was energetic and smart and played fetch with his favorite toy (a duck). As I said earlier he loved getting his little paws in the water. He loved to relax on the lanai watching the birds outside too. We were in the process of leash training and toilet training him when he got sick.

On 12/04/2019, Gator turned 5 months old and our lives were turned upside down when he received the devastating diagnosis of Wet FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). His only symptom at first was a swollen belly (ascites) that we figured was worms. His energy level was normal as well as his eating, so we never suspected anything was seriously wrong with him. The vet wanted to euthanize him right then and there, but I just didn't have the heart to do it yet since he was still eating. We agreed that we never want to prolong any pain, so we would bring him back in when he stops eating to put him to sleep.

We immediately started researching FIP and the first things that came up were the Pedersen studies of GS441524 and zenbycat.org... When we realized there is not only a treatment but a cure, we were so happy we started crying again. We figured for as long as Gator is still eating, we would try and do everything we could for him.

That night we ordered his first round of Mutian pills, but Gator started to go downhill quickly. His fever got worse and he became more lethargic than I had ever seen him. His belly seemed like it doubled in size overnight, and he only got up once the next day to eat. I knew he needed the medicine asap and we couldn't wait on the mail, and thankfully we found a helpful woman in Miami who gave Gator his first dose of medicine! By the end of that day his fever was gone!

Gator is now on day 10 of medicine and is nearly back to his old self again. It is like a miracle drug! His belly is almost back to normal size, and he is jumping and playing again. He has lost over 1lb of weight already from the fluid going down!

The problem is that we cannot afford the 3-month course of treatment at over $5000.00. We hate asking for money but we don't know what else to do- This is Gator's only chance at survival.

We do not have the funds to complete his treatment. This is our desperate plea and last-resort. One day of medicine is $64.00, and Gator needs daily treatments for 84 days plus vet bills. Any small amount will help!

Gator is our little boy. I don't even like the word "pet" because any animal-lover knows that our "pets" are our "children"!

Please help in any way you are able. If you cannot donate, please share!

--Stephanie, Stephen, and Gator

Gator's Pages:

GoFundMe