Azu, a six-year-old stray cat cat who has FIP needs your help.
My name is Tamara, and I am asking for help for Azu, a six-year-old stray cat who has FIP.
I currently cannot make Fundraiser campaign as paypall payments are not available in Montenegro.
Azu is a stray cat who was regularly fed by kind ladies from the neighborhood. However, they are not used to taking sick stray animals to the vet, mainly because of the lack of financial resources and, unfortunately, because of the mindset that many people have when it comes to stray animals.
This is a situation that is common throughout Montenegro (Europe). There are so many sick and abandoned animals, many people do not sterilize their pets, and animals are often simply left behind. Animal welfare in Montenegro is at a really low level and relies heavily on volunteers and people who care deeply about animals.
Over time, Azu started losing weight, she did not clear herself and gradually became weaker. Because I am someone who cares deeply about animals and is profoundly affected by their suffering, the ladies who had been feeding her asked me to take Azu to the vet.
I took her to the vet, where she was initially treated for severe diarrhea for a few months. At that time, she did not show the other symptoms that would later raise suspicion of FIP. She was tested for multiple diseases, viruses, and bacterial infections, and all of the tests came back negative.Unfortunately, her condition eventually worsened. She stopped eating properly, developed vomiting, and became noticeably less active. At her lowest point, she weighed only 2.09 kg and Azu is a naturally larger cat. Seeing her become so weak was heartbreaking. She was on the brink of death.Toward the end of this period, her veterinary examinations and laboratory results raised a strong suspicion of FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), a serious and potentially fatal disease. Her results included very high globulin levels, low albumin, and a very low A/G ratio, together with anemia and enlarged lymph nodes around the intestines. After discussing her case with veterinarians and people experienced with FIP, we decided that we could not afford to wait.
Azu began antiviral treatment first with molnupiravir while we urgently searched for GS-441524, the standard treatment recommended.
Getting this medication is not easy. GS-441524 is not available and it is also very expensive to get. But the start of the treatmant has given us hope.
Azu started GS-441524 treatment on August 14, 2026. Since starting antiviral treatment and supportive care, she has gone from barely eating and feeling extremely unwell to eating enthusiastically, having formed stools, grooming herself again after a long time, and becoming noticeably brighter and more active.
She has even reached 2.6 kg again in just one week.
But her treatment is far from over.
FIP treatment requires a consistent course of medication and regular monitoring. Cure is expensive, and I currently have only a limited supply. At the moment, I have approximately 25 ml available, which will not be enough to continue her treatment for even a month, especially as her medication requirements will increase as she gains weight.
Her treatment course is expected to continue for 84 days, so we urgently need to secure enough medication to give her the best possible chance of recovery.
This is why I am asking for your help.
Every donation will go directly toward Azu’s FIP treatment, medication, veterinary monitoring, blood tests, and any supportive care she needs during her recovery.
It is not easy for me to ask for help. I am usually the person donating to others and paying veterinary bills myself. But these expenses quickly add up, especially when long-term medication and regular veterinary care are required.
I have already gone beyond my means because helping animals is something very close to my heart. But I cannot save every animal on my own, and now I need help to save Azu.
Azu is fighting. She is responding to treatment. She is eating, grooming herself, gaining weight, and showing us that she still wants to live.
want to give her the chance to keep fighting and, hopefully, return to the happy, healthy cat she deserves to be.
I would be incredibly grateful for any contribution, no matter how small. Every bit of help brings Azu one step closer to completing her treatment. And if you are unable to donate, sharing Azu’s story can help just as much.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read Azu’s story and for helping us give her a chance.
If you would like to reach me personally for more information about Azu, her condition or how you can help Azu and me, please feel free to contact me at:
thank you in advance,
- Tamara & Azu