“I needed him, too” – Arty’s Happy Tail
June 2nd, 2025
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –
Alexandria thought she was adopting a cat for her cat’s sake, but who could have a kitten in their home without growing to love him themselves? Certainly not her.
“When I got Artorius aka Arty, I had just uprooted myself and my cat Nefarious (Neffie) and started a new life. Our previous household had other pets, and since moving and being on our own, Neffie would walk around carrying his toy and crying. I decided he needed a little brother. He has been the best brother to this little kitty and vice versa. They bonded instantly, and are never far from each other. What I didn’t realize was that I needed Arty, too. When I got him, he was just off the bottle and still needed quite a bit of care. Getting him made me completely change my lifestyle and routines. He helped me work through and begin healing from the situation I had just left. He brought love into my home when we needed it most and gave me something to look forward to and a reason to get up in the morning on days I didn’t want to. He’s just such a little ball of joy that both Neffie and I needed.”
Even though little Arty was just four months old, he wasn’t acting like the spunky kitten he should have been. Alexandria knew that something must be wrong with her and Neffie’s baby boy.
“Arty was diagnosed with FIP. FIP is a fatal disease in cats caused by a coronavirus. The symptoms can go one of two ways: either dry, where it attacks and shuts down an organ, or wet, where it causes proteins to leak from the blood vessels, filling the chest cavity and abdomen with fluid, and causing the cat to slowly suffocate. This is the type of FIP that Arty has. Within a week, Arty began looking like he was a pregnant cat. Acting completely normal, but completely swollen as well. I took him to the veterinarian, and they told me that it had progressed so quickly that I needed to put him down. I regrettably made an appointment to do so three days later. In that time, he continued to act just like a normal kitty, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it. So I asked what our other options were, and they told me about this medicine that had just recently been released in the United States, GS-441524. They warned me it was expensive, but that it had promising results. With Arty being the fighter he was, I couldn’t not give him the chance. Within 24 hours of receiving his first dose, his swelling decreased dramatically, and within two days, he was back to looking like a completely normal cat.”
It may as well have been a miracle. Even though the veterinarian had warned that this lifesaving medication would be expensive, Alexandria felt that any cost would be worth it if she could give Arty the full course of treatment. Now, knowing how much of a difference just one dose had made, she was committed to making it happen.
“The problem is that the dosage is based on his weight, and since he is a kitten and still growing, his weight changes every week, and it will cost more and more each week. Right now, the medicine costs $100 a week on average and has to be shipped to me from out of state. Because it is being shipped, I am unable to use CareCredit to pay unless I pay an extra fee to the veterinarian. Fortunately, he will only need to take this medicine for a total of 12 weeks. He has taken it for three weeks so far, and only needs enough for nine more. We just have to find a way to afford the medicine until then.”
With the help of a RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant, Alexandria could continue Arty’s treatment, giving her more time to save for the later weeks. After three long but rewarding months of watching him grow stronger and healthier every day, he had completed his full course of treatment and was cleared for little brother duty.
“Arty had his last check-up since being off the medication, and he is doing amazing! The veterinarian and I are just so shocked at how healthy he is! He’s at the correct weight for his age, his coat is shiny, he’s muscular, and he’s such a happy boy! He acts like he was never even sick. I appreciate you so much for helping me give Arty this chance! Of course, it’s always possible for it to come back, but for now, he is happy and healthy just as he should be! He turned seven months recently, and they thought he wouldn’t live three days past three months. That’s awesome! And to think that his trying this medication and doing so well will help to save even more kitties with FIP that would otherwise have no chance. Again, I can’t thank you enough for being the reason I still have my little guy.”
Your generous support of RedRover has helped countless families hold on to their little guys and girls, while your compassion protects the bonds between them during a veterinary emergency. Thank you for keeping families like Arty, Neffie, and Alexandria together through crisis!
