Poppy's FIP Story

Poppy is cured! My sweet girl is happy and healthy.

It’s been quite a journey. At first, the signs were subtle. She had low energy and was eating less. We brought her to the vet and were told that she probably had FIP - a death sentence. She responded well to the steroids she was prescribed, but it became even worse once that prescription was over. Poppy was sleeping all of the time. I brought her to a different vet, who decided to investigate further. Poppy’s bloodwork was terrible, and an ultrasound showed a small amount of fluid in her stomach.

When the ultrasound specialist told me Poppy very likely had FIP, I could feel tears start to well in my eyes as I thought that meant Poppy’s life was over. Not to worry, the specialist said, there’s a cure. She’s seen 40 cats with FIP, and 39 made a full recovery with this medication. The one who didn’t make it had other health complications, which may have been the cause of death. She recommended FIP Warriors as they’ve been so helpful to parents.

I reached out immediately in the parking lot. FIP Warriors responded to me the next day. Poppy’s eyes had turned cloudy, which was scary, she had ocular FIP.  We discussed her condition and what dosage she would need, and I was able to pick up medication that day (thanks Joey!).

Poppy’s eyes started to clear, and her energy slowly started to come back within a few weeks. Now at the end of treatment and observation, she has even more energy than before and has gained 2.43 kg. She’s the healthiest she’s ever been.

Treatment was a stressful 16 weeks. Every shot was difficult, and while the pills were better, it was still hard. The information shared in the chats was very helpful. I was worried Poppy would hate me for what I was putting her through, but it was worth it to save her life. In the end, I think she loves me more. She’s so incredibly cuddly and follows me around everywhere.

Thank you to Chris and Valérie, who answered my millions of questions. In the beginning, it was several questions every single day. I’m a very anxious person and shared my anxiety with them. They were so supportive and helpful and answered the same day every single time. I couldn’t have done it without them. The work FIP Warriors do is so important.

This medication turns a fatal disease into something not only survivable but allows a cat to thrive. It’s a miracle drug.

Poppy is the light of my life, and I am so, so happy that we can spend many more years together.