Exciting news is on the horizon for our feline friends! A once-incurable disease, FIP, now has a new ray of hope. This breakthrough is particularly significant for those in the kitten and cat rescue community, who will soon have a new treatment option to discuss with their veterinarians.
New Treatments Are Coming for FIP!
What is FIP? It’s feline infectious peritonitis, not to be confused with FIV+ cats. As our followers know, Marmalade is FIV+ and doing great.
FIP is an uncommon mutation of the common and generally harmless and common feline coronavirus. Important note: It doesn’t affect people!
Sadly, in the past, there wasn’t much hope for cats that were diagnosed with this nasty mutation of the viral disease.
But then, starting in February 2023, we shared the story about Raphie, a rescued kitten who beat FIP with new treatment protocols following clinical trials in 2022. Early cases like Ralphie’s helped pave the way for making the treatment more widely available to other cats.
Note: This information is for educational purposes only. Please consult your veterinarian as always.
Ralphie the FIP survivor with his sweetheart Trixie (front). Image via Forgotten Felines Rescue in Denver
In January 2024, we were thrilled to share the story of Clara, a Siamese who celebrated beating FIP after 168 difficult days. It wasn’t easy, but she made it and is living her best life in Florida.
Image via Instagram/missy_n_elliot.
At the time, the treatment from FIP Global CATS wasn’t widely available in the United States yet. But that’s about to change thanks to success stories like Clara’s.
“I said pose, [Clara] delivered
,” shared missy_n_elliot.
Clara the FIP survivor via Instagram/missy_n_elliot.
U.S. Veterinarians to Prescribe FIP Treatments Soon
The group shared that the groundbreaking treatments will be legally available through veterinarians starting in June 2024. They explained that the same compound formulation, called GS-441524, is already in use in the UK and Australia. US-based Stokes Pharmacy is partnering with veterinary pharmaceutical company London-based BOVA to make it widely available in the States for the first time.
Now, more than ever, there’s real hope. Simply talk to your veterinarian about the possibility of this prescription.
There’s also vastly more information about the new FIP treatments on BOVA’s pages and website.
Cat Survivors Celebrate!
In the rescue world, people are super-excited to see this happening! Clara’s family was thrilled that the same treatments that saved her will now be an option for everyone in the United States.
“This has been the goal all along! Thank you, Dr. Pedersen!”
Image via Instagram/missy_n_elliot
Another survivor, Noey, a blind kitty, is making extra biscuits after hearing the news!
“FIP is what Noey had and was treated for. I couldn’t be more thrilled
,” shared Heather, a foster mom from Ohio.
Video via Instagram/fost.er_kittens
