Help us to raise $5,000 to contribute to the cost of Tilly the kitten's emergency hospitalization, diagnostics, and life-saving treatment!
Tilly’s journey with us began in 2025, when she was adopted from our shelter as a young, seemingly healthy kitten into a loving home. For a time, she was thriving - cherished, safe, and finally part of a family of her own. Heartbreakingly, just a couple of months after adoption, her story took a sudden and frightening turn. Tilly began showing concerning symptoms, including weakness in her back legs, fever, decreased appetite, and increasing difficulty moving.
Her family did everything they could, pursuing diagnostics and veterinary care while showering her with love. When referral to a specialist in Calgary for extensive neurological testing was recommended, they were faced with an incredibly difficult decision. Unable to pursue further care on their own, they made the choice to return Tilly to our shelter.
When Tilly arrived back in our care, her condition had rapidly deteriorated. She could no longer walk, stand, or sit up, and she had complete paresis of her hind legs. Recognizing the urgency of her quick decline, we rushed her immediately to an emergency veterinary centre in Calgary, where she was hospitalized right away. She underwent intensive supportive care and advanced testing, including a cerebrospinal fluid collection to determine the cause of her sudden paralysis. The suspected diagnosis - non‑effusive Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) - was devastating, but testing confirmed it.
Not long ago, an FIP diagnosis was considered a death sentence, but thankfully a treatment option has now been approved in Canada. We were able to start Tilly immediately on this incredible, lifesaving medication, and she responded quickly. Within a short time, she began regaining partial function in her legs. After several days in hospital, Tilly was discharged to a dedicated foster home, where she is now doing wobbly laps around the living room, growing stronger and more determined each day. Through it all, she hasn’t stopped purring.
Treatment for FIP must be given over a 12‑week period and comes at a significant cost. So far, Tilly’s emergency hospitalization and advanced diagnostics have already exceeded $5,000. Her ongoing medication is expected to cost an additional $1,000+ over the full treatment course. We are hoping to raise $5,000 to help cover the cost of her hospitalization and ensure we can continue giving Tilly the very best chance at a full recovery.
While FIP treatment is not guaranteed to be successful, Tilly’s strong and encouraging response fills us with hope. As a no‑kill shelter, cases like Tilly’s are why your support matters so deeply. Without donations like yours, we would not be able to provide urgent, advanced medical care without hesitation or delay.
Please consider donating, sharing Tilly’s story, or keeping her in your thoughts as she continues her journey to healing. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings her one step closer to the life she deserves.
