It all started last weekend. I came home for the weekend to find that my cat was acting funny.

Me and my boyfriend have raised Riley since he was born. He was actually born four days before me and my boyfriend actually got together and raising him was like raising a child together. He kept us up at night as a kitten and is grouchy as a teen. He will be two years in two days. It is not going to be a happy one though.

Anyways, I came home and I noticed that he looked out of breath, so I figured he had just chased one of my mom’s cats like he usually did. Something seemed just different about him the next day and by that night I never would have realized we would be rushing him to the hospital as he was gasping for air. He was suffering and he has always been the healthiest of our three cats and very active. The vet pulled 100 mls of fluid off the lining of the lungs and told us that she believed it was the heart and we needed to take him to a heart specialist. It wasn’t really an option because we had already spent quite a sum of money on him and she basically said whatever it was, was fatal.

We wanted a second opinion so we took him to another vet today and this is when learned of the virus known as “FIP.” Riley had developed another symptom by today which was swollen lymph nodes the size of large gumballs. He said that he had the “wet” form of the virus and fluid will accumulate within the cavity of his body causing his organs to fail. He said that there is no cure or treatment. He still put him on anti-biotics, but to hear this is devastating.

I look forward to seeing him when I come down from college because I’m not allowed to have him in my apartment. I’m on Spring Break and I’m glad I can be here and comfort him, but I hate to see him suffer. He is fine now, but we watch him deteriorate everyday helplessly. He is a symbol of me and my boyfriends relationship and for him to die is absolutely awful.

When it gets time, we will put him down, but until then we are letting him run around outside like he loves to do. Its when he can’t do that anymore that we will know it is time. It is sad and hard to grasp because it has all happened in two weeks.

I write this to those who have cats who have this illness to know that you are not alone. I also write to those whose cats don’t have this illness to encourage them to get the vaccine, so you or your cat does not have to go through this. It is painful to watch and to go through. You might not think that this will happen to you, but I thought the same thing.

It is also very contagious to other cats, so now we must worry about our two other cats. Please, don’t hesitate, because it comes fast and without warning. I’m absolutely devastated, but he will always be remembered and in our hearts. I love him and am going to miss him so much.