About the Campaign
Rescued kittens have deadly disease!
Six kittens, and their mother were stray in the alley and back yard of nice lady in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, a densely populated and urban area. Fortunately the kind woman fed them, and the kittens learned to hang around in her back yard and even go into her sewing room.
A rescue group went out and caught them all. The mother was feral, and TNR-ed (Trap, Neuter, Release), but because of the kind lady’s actions, the kittens are actually very friendly and domesticated, so the rescuers kept them to get them adopted!
Billie (top) and Dino:
Unfortunately, a few days ago, Billie a little tabby kitten got very ill. She suddenly had a fever of nearly 106 degrees. One of the rescuers, Jan, quickly tried to cool her down with cool water and and ice pack, but it was not helping. Her temperature would drop slightly for about an hour, and then climb right back up. Jan then took Billie to the vet for immediate treatment, where she got medication to control the fever and fluids (cats cannot take human medications like aspirin or Tylenol, it will kill them).
The doctor determined that Billie most likely has FIP (read more about that HERE), a viral condition that is still not well understood but effects many cats. There is a new medication, just approved last year called GS-441524, which is very effective. It is a pill, and must be give for 84 days, so the costs add up!
Over the last few days, two more of the kittens, Dino and Joey, have also been diagnosed with FIP. Generally FIP is not considered to be contagious, but there is debate about that. There is no vaccine or other way to prevent FIP.
Skinny Joey (weight loss in a kitten is a sign of FIP)
The rescuers need help! They have spent a lot on emergency care, and are administering fluids and other care at home to save money, but the pills add up!! There are three kitties, and they each need 84 days of pills, we aren’t good at math, but that is a lot of pills 🙂
Dino at the vet:
You donation goes to keep Billie, Dino and Joey (“The Cat Pack”) on their life saving medications. This medicine is having great results so far, as all three kittens have made remarkable improvements already and Billie’s temperature has been normal for a few days now. Thank you for helping support kitten rescue!