December 28th, 2025
Everything Changed Overnight
Gopher arrived at SAFe as a tiny kitten with a big future. But just one day later, Gopher’s journey took an unexpected turn.
He developed a fever and was moved into isolation, where he received fluids and round-the-clock care while our medical team searched for answers. After days of testing, Gopher was diagnosed with FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).
FIP is caused by a mutation of the common feline coronavirus, and in some kitties, it can lead to serious illness – including fever, lethargy, and fluid buildup. For years, an FIP diagnosis meant heartbreak, it was once considered almost always fatal.
A New Path Forward
“The new FIP medication has been a game changer,” says Michelle, SAFe’s Foster Manager. “This disease used to be a certain death sentence. Now it’s just a stopover on the way to a normal life and a new home.”
Treating FIP does take time, resources, and commitment. Cats receive medication for about three months in foster care, and the treatment is costly. But the results are extraordinary.
Today, Gopher looks like a normal, happy kitten again – you’d never guess what he was facing just weeks ago. He is spending the holidays in a home filled with love, attention, and a life-saving medication that, thankfully, tastes like tuna!
Because of you, a kitten who once faced impossible odds is now on his way to a healthy, joyful future.
This short video captures what “helping us help them” truly looks like – and the community that makes it possible.
