Simba came to me as a rescue/foster in July of 2023 at 4 months old. We bonded immediately, so I adopted him right away. I think we picked each other.
In January 2024, he developed cold-like symptoms. We went to the vet and he was treated for an upper respiratory infection. About a week later he stopped eating, was lethargic, feverish and breathing heavy. Then he started having tics. I took him to the vet right away, calling them on the way to let them know we were coming. I left with him the vet so they could assess him and run tests.
Later, I received a call that they had bad news. Simba was diagnosed with FIP and they couldn’t cure him. The choices they offered were limited. I could euthanize him, or I could (on my own) seek out expensive but effective treatment, which was only available on the black market. At the time, there was no FDA approved option available in the United States.
I had just lost my dog in February and I knew that I couldn’t handle putting Simba to sleep at 10 months of age. So I took him home with a fever and fluid in his chest, determined to find help. I was completely overwhelmed with so many different FIP groups on Facebook! My vet had shared with me that she had experienced this with her own cat and mentioned that I might want to check out a Facebook group called “FIP Warriors 5.0.”
I reached out to FIP Warriors 5.0 and the group admins immediately sent out an emergency message looking for any group members near me who had medication on hand to get him started. A young couple responded that they had the medication and supplies to get him started. They even helped give him his first injection. I knew the injection stung, but Simba was so sick he even didn’t put up a fight. He was only 6.7 lbs at 10 months old. I immediately ordered more vials and supplies with the help of the group. He started eating an hour after his first injection. My neighbor, who had worked with dogs in the military, offered to help me with the painful injections, given everyday at 6:30 pm for three weeks. He had knots and sores from the shots.
The FIP Warriors 5.0 admins guided me through his treatment, with regular blood work. They recommended blood work every 30 days and provided me with paperwork to fill out to graph his blood work so we could track his progress. They even requested pictures of his eyes, and videos of him walking and breathing to observe any changes.
After three weeks, we were able to switch Simba to an oral version of the medication. He was treated for a total of 84 days. After that, he graduated to “observation” for 84 days, with continued blood work every 30 days.
After 84 days in observation he was declared cured. Today he is over 11 lbs and a healthy, handsome, feisty but loving 17 month old cat. We were one of the lucky ones.
The treatment did became available through legal channels in US in June this year. ~Jill and Warrior/Survivor Simba
Jill Edwards is an animal lover who used to volunteer with a dog rescue. She lost her rescue dog in February of this year. She is retired and currently shares her home with Simba and another rescued cat, and one rescued grand-dog!