Help Princess Leia Through a Difficult Viral Flare
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About this campaign
Princess Leia is a sweet cat who has been living with two viruses that are unfortunately common in cats: feline herpesvirus and calicivirus. Most of the time, cats with these viruses can be managed with supportive care, but Princess Leia is currently experiencing a persistent and particularly difficult flare.
Over the weekend, she took a concerning turn. Her nose became so severely congested with mucus that she could barely smell her food. Without her sense of smell, Princess Leia stopped eating—and when you're already dealing with an illness, going without food can quickly become dangerous.
Her rescue team also believes she may have painful ulcers in her mouth related to the calicivirus. If that is the case, eating may be uncomfortable or even painful for her, making it even harder for this sweet girl to get the nutrition she needs.
Adopt a Cat Foundation is providing Princess Leia with supportive care while they work to get her feeling better. She is receiving nebulizer treatments to help with her congestion, along with supplements and the close attention she needs while she fights through this flare.
But Princess Leia needs more help. She will be seeing her veterinarian this week for a thorough evaluation to determine what additional treatment may help her recover from this stubborn flare and, importantly, develop a plan for managing her condition going forward.
For a cat living with chronic viral infections, there may not be a simple cure. But there are ways to provide supportive care, manage symptoms, and help improve quality of life. Princess Leia deserves the chance to get the treatment and ongoing care she needs to feel comfortable and enjoy her life.
Your donation can help Adopt a Cat Foundation cover Princess Leia's veterinary visit, diagnostics, medications, supportive treatments, and ongoing care.
Please consider donating today to help this sweet girl get through this difficult flare. And if you can't donate, sharing Princess Leia's story can help her reach someone who can.
Princess Leia has been fighting through this flare for long enough. Now she needs a little extra help getting back to feeling like herself. ❤️🐾
Updates
October 13, 2026
We have an update on Princess Leia, and while there are still many unanswered questions about what is happening with this sweet girl, we’re relieved to hear that she has started to perk up.
Princess Leia recently underwent a veterinary evaluation after a severe flare of her feline herpesvirus and calicivirus left her struggling with significant congestion and difficulty eating. Her examination and bloodwork revealed additional concerns, and her veterinarian is working to determine what may be contributing to her ongoing illness.
Although some of her bloodwork raised concerns about the possibility of FIP, her veterinarian does not believe that is necessarily what Princess Leia is facing. One possibility is that she previously had a Bartonella infection that may be contributing to her current struggles, especially with her immune system so compromised. More testing will be needed to better understand what is happening.
For now, Princess Leia is receiving several medications, including a small amount of gabapentin to help manage potential throat pain. Her throat was extremely red during her examination, and her rescue team is following a specialized feeding plan to help her get the nutrition she needs while reducing irritation. She is temporarily eating soft, protein-rich foods, including cooked chicken liver, sardines, baby food, and bone broth, while avoiding dry food and treats.
In two weeks, Princess Leia will return to the veterinarian for repeat bloodwork. Those results should help her team better understand whether she is responding to treatment and determine the next steps in managing her condition.
We are encouraged that she seems to be feeling a little brighter, but her journey is far from over. Between her veterinary evaluation, bloodwork, medications, and specialized supportive care, Princess Leia's medical expenses continue to add up.
Please consider donating to help cover Princess Leia's veterinary bills and ongoing treatment. Every contribution helps Adopt a Cat Foundation provide the care she needs as they work to get answers and help her feel better.
Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared her story, and kept Princess Leia in your thoughts. She deserves the chance to feel comfortable again, and your support can help make that possible.
- Location
- West Palm Beach, FL • Adopt A Cat Foundation
- Species:
- Cat
- Breed:
- Mix-Breed
- Age:
- 6 years old
- Sex:
- Female