Frankey was shot twice. Now he's dying from FIP.

This cat was shot twice - now he is dying of FIP.

Meet Frankey. Frankey currently has two bullets lodged in his abdomen.

Frankey arrived in our recent transport of kitties on February 9. Before he left Saskatchewan, our rescue partners recorded that he was a normal weight, normal energy and all around sweet and unremarkable cat.

He is a grey and white domestic shorthair cat, just under 2 years old, with a rumbly purr and big green eyes.

When we first took him out of his carrier, one of our cat attendants said “this cat is really bloated.” Our cat manager Allee noticed you could feel his spine along the top of his back.

Unlike all the other kitties who burst straight out of their carriers, Frankey didn’t want to come out of his. And usually, the cats are super hungry after transport and scarf their first meal down. Frankie had absolutely no interest in eating. He didn’t eat or use the litterbox the first day he arrived, which isn’t super out of the ordinary, but on the second day, we started to get concerned.

In cats, signs of illness can be subtle. But our cat attendants handle hundreds of cats each year. They are very attuned to cat behaviour- especially anything that is outside the norm or cause for concern.

Frankey definitely seemed uncomfortable- his big, distended belly prevented him from laying down easily. He felt frail and was having a hard time getting around. He was wobbly and unsteady, and that made us worried.

We took Frankey to the vet, which is where we found out how sick he was. Our vet confirmed he had a large amount of fluid built up in his abdomen. We also got bloodwork done. The results came back very similar to another cat (Tintin) with FIP. Just to be safe, we did some x-rays.

None of us were expecting what we saw in his x-rays: two .22 calibre BB gun pellets lodged in Frankey’s abdomen.

We don’t know who shot Frankey, or when. We don’t even know that much about his background. Frankey was found on a farm in Saskatchewan. Our rescue partner took him into their care in November 2023. At that time, he wasn’t showing any signs of illness (or bullet injuries). He was a healthy, normal-looking cat and he was described as “happy-go-lucky”.

Our rescue partners, who are extremely experienced themselves, saw no signs that Frankey was unwell in any way. In January, they brought him to an adoption event in Regina, but unfortunately, no one fell in love with him there. On February 8, he was loaded into a van with other cats bound for their new adventures on the west coast.

The transport arrived at Catoro on the morning of February 9. Our working hypothesis is that the stress of the trip triggered FIP, which can lay dormant in cats for years before actually making a cat ill. FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) happens when a cat gets a specific type of viral infection. In some cats, the virus can mutate, which can cause FIP. The symptoms of FIP are varied, and diagnostics can be tricky.

ABOUT FIP

Up until a few years ago, FIP was fatal. There was no cure. The recommendation for cats who were diagnosed was euthanasia.

Recently, we have seen many advances in viral research in cats. A treatment for FIP has been developed, but because it is so new, it’s not approved for use in Canada. This means that vets can’t access it, and pet owners are stuck looking for alternative methods to try and save their very ill cats.

We are so happy to share that Frankey has been accepted into a new Canadian study of FIP treatment for cats. The goal of the study is to research one specific treatment. Since the medication used to treat cats for FIP is only available for scientific use, this study qualifies as such. We were able to work with the researchers and lead veterinarian to enroll Frankey in this study, and this gives us access to the medication that could potentially save his life. The study also offers the medication at a much lower price, and they have generously extended us a rescue discount.

While this is all very hopeful, we still have some large hurdles to face for Frankey. The main one is financial: our budget for cat care at Catoro is quite limited. The total cost of FIP treatment for Tintin last year, including medication, veterinary bills, staffing, and care essentials like food, litter and enrichment, was around $20,000. This put a significant strain on our finances, and some have said it was a poor business decision.

Unfortunately, animal rescue and savvy business decisions don’t exactly go hand-in-hand. When Dan and I bought Catoro, we promised each other we would try our best for every cat that comes through our doors - even if some people think it’s stupid to spend so much money on a cat. We can’t justify giving up on an animal when there’s a chance to fight for them. It’s our mission to ensure that each cat at Catoro is loved, cared for, and cherished, regardless of the cost.

The other main hurdle, and the question you might be asking right now, is... what about the bullets?

The short answer is - we don't know. We don't know if treating Frankey's FIP will fix all his problems, or if the lead pellets are leaching into his blood and slowly poisoning him from the inside out. We don't know if he needs surgery to remove them. We know that right now, he's too sick for surgery. In a few months, if we can get him stable, it might be an option. For now, the bullets hang in the air above me. They're in the back of my mind, and Dan's, and in the minds of our whole team at Catoro. It's a road we will have to cross eventually, and we'll keep you updated.

Frankey’s Treatment

We estimate that the total cost of treatment for Frankey will be around $10,000.

Vet Bills - $6500

Staff Labour - $2500

Medication - $1200

Food & Litter - $300

If you can help by donating or even just sharing this fundraiser, we would be so grateful. Our community has helped rescue our business, helped us find loving homes for over 1000 cats, and now you can help one more cat in desperate need of a second chance.

With love, light, and gratitude,

Annah van Eeghen