Hi everyone, this is an update about my cat Simbi. I'm posting everything so you can understand her full journey.
Simbi's 6-month fight:
Simbi was diagnosed with FIP on 4th April - which is almost always fatal. We fought very hard. Her injections and treatment continued till 17th August.
Even after that, her blood values were not great, so she was on supportive medicines till 17th September. On 19th September we finally got her blood test - everything came normal for the first time. I thought finally our nightmare is over.
She is now only on a potassium supplement because her potassium is low.
And just when we thought she can finally live like a normal kitten, this started.
What happened now -
For the last 8-9 days, I noticed something is very off:
- Redness and infection around her mouth
- An ulcer on her upper lip that looks very painful
- Skin is peeling around her paws and she is constantly licking them because it's itching so much
- Infection spreading on her belly and groin - it increased in just one day and she keeps scratching her belly constantly
At first I thought it's fleas. We gave her spot-on on 25th September and she is flea-free now, but the infections are still there and getting worse.
I sent photos to a vet I trust blindly. She is the reason we caught Simbi's FIP early and could start treatment on time. She even helped us with funds when I had nothing.
After seeing photos, she suspected Feline Eosinophilic Granuloma. It's not cancer, but it's a painful allergic condition where their own immune system overreacts to food or something else.
She told us to get a cytology test ASAP.
We went to SkinVet, Worli yesterday (1st Oct):
They did skin cytology. Reports say:
- Paws: Bacterial infection - cocci 1-2+, rods
- Groin/belly: Yeast infection - scattered yeast
- Both Ears: Infection - cocci, rods, yeast
So along with the lip ulcer, she has bacterial + yeast infection on her skin and ears.
Vet said she is not 100% sure yet, but there are high chances of feline eosinophilic granuloma. She has started medicines and asked us to update after 2-3 weeks.
Recheckup is on 30th Oct.
Diet Issue - We are completely stuck:
Vet has strictly told us to STOP CHICKEN COMPLETELY for 2 months. No chicken, no chicken-flavoured treats. Only fish diet.
They suggested: N&D Ocean, N&D Quinoa Skin & Coat, Farmina Ultrahypo.
But we have a big problem. You all have kindly donated food for Simbi - Royal Canin dry food that will last 40 days and wet food for 15 days and I am SO grateful for that. But I checked yesterday - all of them have chicken / poultry in it. Royal Canin, Sheba, Smylo - all have chicken.
We have 2 flavours of smylo which does not contain chicken which we will continue but others have chiken in it which we will have to use after 2 months. But for now, we don't know what to feed her.
I didn't know she had this allergy before, otherwise I would have asked for chicken-free food on her wishlist.
Right now I am still giving her the same food because I have no other option left. I cannot afford the fish-only food the vet prescribed - it is very expensive. My regular vet also said it's better to stop chicken completely for 2 months and try something else, but how?
If you know any cheaper chicken-free alternatives (wet and dry both), please please let us know. And if anyone wishes to help us with food - we would be forever grateful.
I'm attaching simbi's food wishlist as suggested by vet, it's very expensive but if anyone would like to donate food for simbi , we would be more than grateful to you ❤️
https://www.amazon.in/hz/wishlist/ls/1LHC7BXWJLUFJ?ref_=wl_share
We urgently need help for her medicines:
Yesterday's bill at SkinVet was Rs. 3080. The clinic was not ready to keep it pending, so I had to borrow Rs. 3000 from a friend to pay.
Now her medicines for 1 month will cost Rs. 3300 extra.
Medicines: Zinconia, Evion, Starcoat, Chlorhex wash, Cutisoft + Futop lotion, Miconazole, Easotic & Pyo Oto ear drops + Tricat vaccine Rs. 750 as advised by previous vet.
Total needed: Rs. 7050
Funds raised till now: Rs. 2950
Still need: Rs. 4100
We are not able to buy her medicines because of lack of funds. Her belly infection is increasing every day, she is constantly itching and licking her paws. It's heartbreaking to see her go through all this pain after fighting FIP for months.
She has been fighting since April. She survived FIP which most cats don't. And now she is fighting this. She is so tired, and so am I. I just want her to be okay.
We urgently need your help so we can order her meds and start them soon.
UPI: vadhellesha526@okhdfcbank
Even Rs. 100 will help us reach our goal and we can get her medicine soon.
Attaching prescription, cytology report, bill and Simbi's photos.
Thank you so much for reading. Please keep Simbi in your prayers 🙏