When Elin first came into our care, we expected something completely different. We were supposed to be taking in an older pregnant female cat who was due to give birth any day. But when "she" arrived, we got quite a surprise, Elin had... well, he was definitely a he.

His belly was enormous, so swollen it looked like it might burst, but there were no kittens inside. Instead, we found ourselves caring for an older tomcat, covered in scars from years of fighting to survive on the streets. His abdomen was filling with fluid, and we had to find out why.

Elin tested positive for FeLV, so one of our biggest fears was cancer. Thankfully, further examinations revealed something else instead: FIP. As we looked at this sweet, affectionate boy, it was impossible not to fall in love with him. Despite everything he was going through, Elin acted as if nothing was wrong. He still wanted cuddles. He still wanted to live.

We knew we had to give him a chance, no matter the cost.

The biggest obstacle now is the cost of his treatment. Many cat lovers know that FIP is no longer a death sentence. With the right medication, cats can recover and go on to live many happy years—perhaps even another ten.

But that hope comes with a heavy financial burden.

Elin's medication and the blood tests he will need throughout his treatment will cost around 30,000 CZK (approximately €1,200 / US$1,400). Unfortunately, this is far beyond what we can afford on our own.