Help Save Gator's Life from FIP!!!
Donation protected
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 hears 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.
On 12/04/2019, our lives were turned upside down when he received the devastating diagnosis of Wet FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). I am going to go through all of his symptoms later so hopefully it can help someone. FIP is a very rare and deadly virus that had no cure until recently.
Thankfully there is a new drug for FIP that has successfully completed trials and is waiting on the FDA-approval process. It is called GS441524 and has a 95% success rate.
Gator's Story--
Gator 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 starving and 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 him when he got sick.
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. I figured for as long as Gator is still eating, I 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 14 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..
Please help!-
The problem is that we cannot afford the 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. Please consider skipping Starbucks today, and donating that $5 to Gator instead! It would mean the world to us, and we'd reach our goal in no time!
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, or like and comment on Gator's posts!
-Stephen, Stephanie, and Gator
Gator's favorite spot! He loves to be carried!
---------------------------------------------
Gator's Facebook page!!
www.facebook.com/gatorthecat
Many people have asked if we have PayPal instead, which is at:
www.paypal.me/pools/c/8kPWszi7hD
-----------------------------------------------
Gator's symptoms:
- Swollen abdomen (ascites)
- Diarrhea on and off the month before
- Lethargic- started day before diagnosis and progressed very quickly
- Fever 104.5
- Breathing 40 bpm
I will go more in-depth about his symptoms in the updates. Gator never lost his appetite or his energy so we never suspected anything was seriously wrong. Hang in there little Gator!
------
FIP treatment resources:
https://www.zenbycat.org
www.Fiptreatment.com
www.mutian.us
On 12/04/2019, our lives were turned upside down when he received the devastating diagnosis of Wet FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). I am going to go through all of his symptoms later so hopefully it can help someone. FIP is a very rare and deadly virus that had no cure until recently.
Thankfully there is a new drug for FIP that has successfully completed trials and is waiting on the FDA-approval process. It is called GS441524 and has a 95% success rate.
Gator's Story--
Gator 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 starving and 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 him when he got sick.
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. I figured for as long as Gator is still eating, I 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 14 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..
Please help!-
The problem is that we cannot afford the 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. Please consider skipping Starbucks today, and donating that $5 to Gator instead! It would mean the world to us, and we'd reach our goal in no time!
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, or like and comment on Gator's posts!
-Stephen, Stephanie, and Gator
Gator's favorite spot! He loves to be carried!---------------------------------------------
Gator's Facebook page!!
www.facebook.com/gatorthecat
Many people have asked if we have PayPal instead, which is at:
www.paypal.me/pools/c/8kPWszi7hD
-----------------------------------------------
Gator's symptoms:
- Swollen abdomen (ascites)
- Diarrhea on and off the month before
- Lethargic- started day before diagnosis and progressed very quickly
- Fever 104.5
- Breathing 40 bpm
I will go more in-depth about his symptoms in the updates. Gator never lost his appetite or his energy so we never suspected anything was seriously wrong. Hang in there little Gator!
------
FIP treatment resources:
https://www.zenbycat.org
www.Fiptreatment.com
www.mutian.us
Fundraising team (2)
Stephen Ray
Organizer
Naples, FL
Stephen Ray
Team member