A 10-month-old kitten named Sally Skellington is defying the odds after being diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness and surrendered to a shelter in need of urgent care.
Sally had been living happily in her adopted home until she suddenly lost the ability to move her legs. Her family rushed her to an emergency clinic, but after two days without answers, they made the difficult decision to return her to Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) in Texas, hoping the organization could provide the medical care she needed.
Veterinarians now believe Sally has feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a serious illness caused by a mutation of the feline coronavirus (FCoV). FIP is typically fatal, especially in severe cases. However, APA! has been a national leader in developing and providing advanced treatments for FIP. Thanks to their efforts, cats like Sally have a fighting chance.
Sally’s treatment has involved an intensive stay in the clinic, hospitalization, and continued care for neurological symptoms and incontinence. But her progress has been remarkable.
“She’s improving, so FIP symptoms should clear up if that’s what it is,” an APA! spokesperson told Newsweek. “Incontinence could improve or not.”
Despite her condition, Sally has remained affectionate and full of personality. Shelter staff say she purrs so loudly during exams that it’s difficult to hear her heartbeat.
“She’s incredibly sweet,” a staff member shared. “Even in her notes, it says she purred throughout the entire exam.”
Now on the road to recovery, Sally is expected to finish her current round of treatment by mid-April. She has already started walking again and continues to gain strength.
Sally is ready to find her forever home—ideally with a patient and compassionate family who can help her continue healing. She has shown positive interactions with other cats and even dogs, playfully engaging with her furry neighbors through the cattery doors and during supervised visits.
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