Kai’s FIP Journey
FUR REPUBLIK FUND RAISING FOR KAI
As a company one of our directives is also to drive support and welfare for our cat friends and shelters around the country. This is not a CSR program but part of the DNA of our young company – to use our position to provide for those who need help. Fur Republik would like to invite all our loving and caring cat people to support our cat friend in the time of need. From the 23rd July to the 15th of August, we will donate 5% of all sales for the following products below to raise funds for the Kai recovery fund. To start the fund rolling Fur Republik will donate RM500 first. A daily tracker on our main page will be included to track our journey to RM9000 that Kai needs for his medication.
Kai is a long-haired tuxedo cat who is currently 11 months old. Kai has always been an active, playful cat. He is the rare type of cat that enjoys physical affection with humans – he asks to be picked up and cradled, makes biscuits on you (kneading) and loves sleeping on his humans.
In May 2021 Kai suddenly became withdrawn and lethargic. Did not play much, and slept all day. We thought he was just going through a growth spurt, and shrugged it off as kittens getting their beauty sleep. One morning we noticed one of Kai’s eyes suddenly went red and upon bringing him to the vet he was misdiagnosed with Herpesvirus.
We treated him with the eye drops prescribed, but his eyes got worse day by day. From redness, it started to get cloudy, and then his pupils would become more and more dilated. In June 2021, Kai suddenly started running into walls and missing his steps. He was suddenly blind in both eyes, and was seriously depressed by the sudden loss in vision.
We were referred to an ophthalmologist and the results of his bloodwork told us that Kai:
- Was highly anemic (HCT at 22%)
- Had very high total protein (TP) levels, implying inflammation in his internal organs
- Tested positive for FCoV (the original form of the virus, which mutated into FIP
- Tested negative for FIV/FeLV
Clinically Kai was unable to see, lethargic, ate small servings, and did not respond to play. From his clinical observation of Kai, the vet was 95% sure Kai had dry FIP, with ocular symptoms. We were told that there was no cure for FIP and that all we could do is provide him supportive medication and given that FIP is a progressive disease, put him down before it gets too bad. We were told Kai would have months at best.
The ophthalmologist was only 95% sure because there is no definitive test for FIP, and were told to try the medication first and see how Kai responds.
Kai was on a cocktail of medications – immunosuppressants, folic acid, gastric tablets, eye drops and medicinal pastes. Miraculously, we saw improvement in Kai in the first 2 weeks. He was able to see on and off, and even had curiosity to play. But it was short lived.
On the third week of supportive medication, Kai deteriorated. He stopped playing again, stopped seeing, and slept all day. I knew this was not a good sign and needed an urgent vet visit. A part of me wondered if it was already his time to go.
The devastation fueled my research into FIP, and I discovered that FIP was no longer a death sentence. There exists a potential cure for FIP using an experimental antiviral drug called GS. However due to it’s similarity to a potential cure for human Ebola, the GS drug was never commercialised, and for that reason GS is extremely pricey. With Kai having dry FIP with ocular symptoms, and being the large cat that he is, Kai’s treatment is expected to cost at least RM 14,800. The treatment itself is a a long and expensive journey requiring 84 days of daily painful shots, with no result guarantees.
I was referred to a vet clinic that is familiar with FIP and GS treatment and visited them in early July. Upon checking Kai’s bloodwork, it was evident that his condition deteriorated significantly. He was now severely anemic with HCT counts half of what it was (potentially requiring a transfusion), white blood cell counts plummeting, and inflammation becoming more severe. I was told that if I wanted to save Kai, I need to start him on GS immediately. My partner and I argued on cost because we knew we couldn’t afford it, but I knew I had to try to save Kai. So on the 9th of July 2021, we started Kai’s FIP journey.
The day after Kai’s first injection, we saw immediate improvement in Kai’s mannerisms. He was eating, and walking around the house (despite constantly bumping into things). He was no longer withdrawn. Kai’s improvement in the first day itself confirmed to me that Kai definitely has FIP.
We are now 14 days in out of Kai’s 84 day journey against FIP. Kai is clinically so much
better – he has regained some vision, he is asking for food constantly, and has gained 400g in two weeks. Every morning I find Kai having the zoomies with his sister Coco, running and jumping off of the walls of our apartment. Kai still has some other issues (some sniffles, nausea, dry coughs, and daily battle of injecting Kai) but we hope these issues will resolve themselves as we continue with GS treatment.
Kai has shown promising response to GS treatment, and that means we will need to raise the funds to ensure Kai is able to complete the 84 days required. To raise funds for Kai’s treatment we are partnering with Fur Republik under their Fur Republik Cares program which looks to give back to the cat community. Under this initiative, a percentage of sales made will contribute to Kai’s treatment, and any additional contributions in the form of donations will fully go into Kai’s fund.
As Kai’s parents we are leaning on the community to help Kai become a happy and healthy cat once again. Any support, big or small, is highly appreciated.
To follow Kai’s journey, please follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocokaicat/
Love,
Coco, Kai, Nanda & Ferry