One down, eight to go: Dave survives FIP

“I actually had a cat when I was younger that had FIP, and it got put down straight away,” Racheal said.

“Vets always say there’s no cure, but maybe there just isn’t enough information about it.

“As soon as I saw Dave lying down with a bloated belly, dirty, separated fur and unable to clean himself – I just knew he had it.”

Blood tests the next day confirmed that Dave had FIP, and the vet suggested euthanasia straight away.

However, faced with an incredibly difficult decision, Racheal remembered a friend whose cat had survived FIP — so she left the vet clinic and reached out to her.

“She connected me with the FIP Paws of Hope Support Network — they were wonderful,” she said.

“They offered so much support and guided me through treatment options, all while working alongside a vet and checking in every weekend. It was a long shot, but it was a chance I was willing to take.”

FIP is an elusive disease with multiple forms and varying symptoms, such as neurological issues, vision impairment, seizures, or — in Dave’s case — Wet FIP, which causes fluid buildup in the abdomen and laboured breathing.

The treatment? An 84-day course of human antiviral tablets, administered twice daily at the exact same time each day, with dosages carefully calculated based on Dave’s weight.

“All cats carry a form of coronavirus, passed on from their mothers or through shared litter use,” Racheal explained.

“But in about 5 to 10 per cent of cats, it mutates into FIP — usually due to stress or a weakened immune system, sometimes from early illness as kittens.

“We’re not sure why Dave got it but he did and we had to look forward not back.”

Relapse was a real risk at any point during the 84 days, particularly in the first four weeks if the medication stopped working.

But milestone after milestone, Dave kept improving. By week four, he was a whole new cat.

The fluid was gone, he was eating and playing again — Racheal said no-one would have even known he had FIP.

At day 42, follow-up blood tests showed continued progress, and on day 84, Dave was finally given the all-clear.

Now FIP-free, but still under observation, the one-year-old Maine Coon is back to his playful self, enjoying life with his brother Benson — perhaps one life down, but many more to go.

“I owe so much to my mentor from FIP Paws of Hope,” Racheal said.

“There’s not a lot of literature out there, so it’s still considered a death sentence, but this is definitely a survival story.

“All I know is the treatment worked. It was tough — getting him to eat the tablets and keeping to the exact schedule every day — but it was all worth it.

“The idea of only having him for a few months and then losing him was heartbreaking — they’re family.”

Dave’s treatment cost about $1200 over the 84 days. Racheal’s friend paid about $8000 for a similar treatment nearly a decade ago.

Rachael now hopes to raise more awareness about FIP and the vital work of the FIP Paws of Hope Support Network through Dave’s incredible survival story.

“You have to fight for them. And I told my husband Chris, no matter what it costs, he deserves a chance at life.”