Tintin needs your help now.

August 31 - An Update on Tintin

We are tentatively optimistic as we provide you with an update on Tintin's journey to recovery. Tintin's journey with FIP has been a rollercoaster of progress and challenges.

FIP used to be a death sentence for cats, but now, limited treatment options are available to those who have the resources to afford them. Luckily, thanks to your ongoing support, we have been able to purchase the life-saving medication Tintin desperately needs.

Since starting treatment on July 20, he's gained a good amount of weight. He arrived to Catoro weighing a measly 3.5kg. We were surprised when we first picked him up and could feel his ribs! He had some major issues with food aggression and was literally always hungry, so his thin body gave us cause for concern.

As you may already know, his condition deteriorated incredibly quickly. Within a week he was showing signs of being very unwell. We think the stress of his journey from Saudi Arabia to Canada impacted his immune system, allowing the disease (FIP) to overtake him.

Since his arrival at the end of May, he has gained a whopping 1.4kg and now weighs 4.9kg. Tintin has become very playful and high energy, and his sweet personality has really started to shine. It’s a big difference from the docile, lethargic kitty who arrived in May.

Tintin's daily medication regimen has been instrumental in his progress. In terms of his behaviour, he’s showing marked improvement. His resilience and strength have shone through, making us incredibly proud of his fighting spirit.

One of the most heartwarming transformations we've witnessed is Tintin's energy and playfulness. He's become a true dynamo, radiating high energy and an insatiable zest for life. His love for wand toys and balls is a sight to behold, and it's heartwarming to see him so engaged and enthralled.

Tintin's personality has truly come alive. Every time his enclosure is opened, he's ready for action, eager to explore and enjoy every moment to the fullest. He tries to dart out and explore the rest of the back room. His ability to jump astonishing heights and the adorable zoomies he gets from time to time showcase his newfound vitality and joy.

However, we've encountered a challenge in Tintin's path to recovery. The results of his 30-day bloodwork have returned, and while we were hoping for significant improvements, they haven't shown the progress we anticipated. It's disheartening, but our dedicated care team is committed to understanding and addressing every aspect of Tintin's health.

In June, an abdominal ultrasound revealed some changes in Tintin's kidneys consistent with chronic kidney disease. However, his kidney values on our most recent bloodwork panel are lower than expected. This discrepancy is likely due to a lack of muscle, which could have masked compromised kidney function.

We have also noted that Tintin is still anemic, which could be a sign of reduced liver function. Our team is collaborating closely to unravel this puzzle and provide Tintin with the best possible care. We are hoping to see improvements in his bloodwork at the 8-week mark. 

We believe in Tintin’s strength, but he needs your support more than ever. We will redo his bloodwork after 8 weeks of treatment and are hoping to see some signs of improvement.

Your donations make a real difference in his treatment and care. His treatment currently costs around $140 CAD per day - and he will need this medication for a minimum of 50 more days.

Without your generous donations, we couldn't have even thought about providing Tintin with the over $10,000 in medical treatment he requires.

Tintin's Story

Tintin was found in January 2023 by a building maintenance crew in a work camp in Saudi Arabia. It is likely that Tintin's previous family decided they no longer wanted him and dumped him on the camp for someone else to find. Luckily, the maintenance crew called our Saudi rescue partner and she scooped him up.

She had Tintin boarded along with his friend Mags and included them in a group of cats she brought to Canada at the end of May.

Tintin landed at Catoro on May 31 and has been in the loving care of our cat attendants since then.

Tintin's transition from one country to another is a testament to the power of compassion and the dedication of individuals determined to make a difference. It took a collective effort to ensure Tintin's safe journey, and we are so grateful to everyone who made it possible

Tintin is an absolute charmer, with a laid-back and relaxed personality that can only be described as horizontal.

When mealtime rolls around, Tintin's food drive is off the charts, so we've learned to keep a watchful eye.

However, our joy at meeting Tintin turned into concern as we discovered that he may be battling a serious illness. After noticing changes in his health back in June, we brought him to our veterinary partner.

At the time, they found Tintin to be already quite ill from a seemingly longstanding but undiagnosed chronic illness.

We were initially waiting for an appointment for an ultrasound, but over the past few days his condition deteriorated significantly. We noticed distension of his abdomen and a reduced appetite, which are both very concerning.

This morning (Tuesday, July 18) we brought Tintin back to our veterinary partner.  

The prognosis is bad. They let us know that he has a significant build-up of free fluid in his abdomen. This, coupled with his recent decreased appetite and significant weight loss, could mean a few things, including FIP and cancer. Both of those potential diagnoses are serious and difficult to treat.

 Our veterinary partner doesn't have the facilities to provide overnight care, so we transferred Tintin to an emergency vet so they can monitor him and keep him comfortable overnight tonight.

The emergency vet is going to perform a procedure to drain some of the fluid from his abdomen. We are also going to send that fluid off for analysis and perform bloodwork, x-rays and an ultrasound.

We want to be able to say we tried our best for Tintin, no matter the outcome.

 The cost of his veterinary care is already over $4,000. We are hoping to raise $10,000 to cover the expenses of his care.

If you can donate, we would greatly appreciate your help.

We may also need a palliative foster for Tintin - somewhere for him to spend his last days. If you are interested in opening up your home to a wonderful cat who may need a comfy spot to spend the last few days of a hard life, please let us know.