Bodi Campbell 2006-2011
Bodi was born in Kenosha, WI. I met Bodi in January of 2007 when he was about three months old. It was a cold January day and I went to the Humane Society to look at cats that needed a home. Bodi beat me to the Humane Society by about an hour. He had been playing by a dumpster in the snow. He was just a tiny malnourished kitten, but was amazingly cute.
Not long after seeing Bodi, I was filling out the adoption papers. I didn't want to adopt just one cat. I wanted to bring home a playmate for Bodi, and I also wanted a mature cat that was having a harder time finding a home. The staff recommended a cat that I named Utah. He and Bodi were fast friends. They came home to me a few days later and the three of us were together through thick and thin for the next four years.
Bodi and Utah had a bad case of kennel cough that took some time to get over, but worse than that, Bodi acquired the corona virus, possibly while at the Humane Society. Utah is also likely to have it as 90 percent of shelter cats have the corona virus. The vast majority live their entire lives with it and the virus stays dormant and does not effect them. It takes a perfect storm in order for the virus to get active and when it does it mutates into feline infectious peritonitis, a fatal feline illness.
Bodi was a happy kitten. He was extremely playful and very sweet. He trotted everywhere. He would rarely actually walk, or break into a run in a full sprint, but always trotted around the house. Bodi also was diagnosed with a heart problem after a heart murmer did not go away as he aged. We took Bodi to a specialist in Northern Illinois where Bodi had an echo cardiogram. Bodi was placed on a beta blocker pill twice daily, which worked well in improving his heart function.
Bodi and Utah moved a few times and ended up moving down to Tampa, Florida in August of 2008. Bodi had a scare in December of 2008 with a lump on his neck. It had to be surgically removed but fortunately was not cancerous. After that incident Bodi had almost two years of good health. In the summer of 2010 Bodi and Utah got a new brother, a kitten by the name of Seamus.
Bodi was such a sweet cat. He enjoyed treats of dairy products like milk, yogurt, cream cheese, and ice cream. He loved hanging out in the loft of one of our apartments and lounging on the spiral stair case that overlooked the living room. Bodi would always join Daddy during workouts in the loft and would purr and roll on his stomach while getting brushed with Daddy's work out gloves. At night Bodi would cuddle and wake Daddy up for snacks, which he always got. Bodi was the prince of the house.
In July of 2010 Bodi became a big brother as we adopted a homeless little red kitten. We named him Seamus. Bodi and Utah were not big fans of Seamus because Seamus always was trying to get them to play and wrestle, so they mainly thought he was a pest. Bodi did like the kitten chow that Seamus was the catalyst for bringing into the house. Gradually they got used to Seamus and they all became buddies.
In December of 2010 Bodi became ill. He wasn't eating well and he quickly lost weight. He generally weighed 10 pounds or slightly more, and by January of 2011 he was approaching eight pounds. After numerous doctor visits Bodi was taken to specialists at Blu Pearl, who determined that Bodi's corona virus had mutated into FIP. Bodi was placed on steroids to help prolong his life and the quality of life. The specialists followed the book of treating FIP which always yields death. FIP attacks the body and is vicious. Bodi's stomach was not able to absorb the food he ate due to the FIP and as result he lost all his fat and muscle mass.
Bodi's original doctor, Dr. Bill Carlisle of Kenosha Animal Hospital, got involved. He recommended looking into Dr. Al Plechner, a revolutionary doctor in California. We reached out to Dr. Plechner and he immediately got involved to try and save Bodi. Dr. Plechner and Dr. Carlisle came up with a new treatment plan and Bodi showed some signs of progress, but it was too late. The FIP was too advanced in the attack on his body. Bodi was getting medicines every few hours along with homemade food, and IV's of fluids from his Mother.
It became clear on a Sunday morning. Bodi was cuddling Daddy when we woke up. It was evident that the end was near. We spent the day together filled with cuddles and kisses. Daddy stayed up all night with Bodi and he passed away at 4:45 AM on March 14, 2011.
Like his parents, Utah and Seamus were extremely depressed. They would look at the pantry door and howl for him. That was where Bodi went to eat and get medicine in his final months. We all miss him terribly.
We decided though not to let Bodi pass away and have us grieve and move on with our lives. We wanted Bodi's name to live on and to be a source of help for other cats. We learned the hard way that unfortunately not enough research is done on FIP, feline AIDS, and feline leukemia. The vast majority of pet medical research dollars are devoted to dogs. We love dogs as well, but right now cats need our help. We need to generate more money to fund the research that is being done. Bodi's legacy as a blessing to all will live on in this charity as we raise money to help other cats. Please join us in donating to Bodi's Kitty Cause.
Not long after seeing Bodi, I was filling out the adoption papers. I didn't want to adopt just one cat. I wanted to bring home a playmate for Bodi, and I also wanted a mature cat that was having a harder time finding a home. The staff recommended a cat that I named Utah. He and Bodi were fast friends. They came home to me a few days later and the three of us were together through thick and thin for the next four years.
Bodi and Utah had a bad case of kennel cough that took some time to get over, but worse than that, Bodi acquired the corona virus, possibly while at the Humane Society. Utah is also likely to have it as 90 percent of shelter cats have the corona virus. The vast majority live their entire lives with it and the virus stays dormant and does not effect them. It takes a perfect storm in order for the virus to get active and when it does it mutates into feline infectious peritonitis, a fatal feline illness.
Bodi was a happy kitten. He was extremely playful and very sweet. He trotted everywhere. He would rarely actually walk, or break into a run in a full sprint, but always trotted around the house. Bodi also was diagnosed with a heart problem after a heart murmer did not go away as he aged. We took Bodi to a specialist in Northern Illinois where Bodi had an echo cardiogram. Bodi was placed on a beta blocker pill twice daily, which worked well in improving his heart function.
Bodi and Utah moved a few times and ended up moving down to Tampa, Florida in August of 2008. Bodi had a scare in December of 2008 with a lump on his neck. It had to be surgically removed but fortunately was not cancerous. After that incident Bodi had almost two years of good health. In the summer of 2010 Bodi and Utah got a new brother, a kitten by the name of Seamus.
Bodi was such a sweet cat. He enjoyed treats of dairy products like milk, yogurt, cream cheese, and ice cream. He loved hanging out in the loft of one of our apartments and lounging on the spiral stair case that overlooked the living room. Bodi would always join Daddy during workouts in the loft and would purr and roll on his stomach while getting brushed with Daddy's work out gloves. At night Bodi would cuddle and wake Daddy up for snacks, which he always got. Bodi was the prince of the house.
In July of 2010 Bodi became a big brother as we adopted a homeless little red kitten. We named him Seamus. Bodi and Utah were not big fans of Seamus because Seamus always was trying to get them to play and wrestle, so they mainly thought he was a pest. Bodi did like the kitten chow that Seamus was the catalyst for bringing into the house. Gradually they got used to Seamus and they all became buddies.
In December of 2010 Bodi became ill. He wasn't eating well and he quickly lost weight. He generally weighed 10 pounds or slightly more, and by January of 2011 he was approaching eight pounds. After numerous doctor visits Bodi was taken to specialists at Blu Pearl, who determined that Bodi's corona virus had mutated into FIP. Bodi was placed on steroids to help prolong his life and the quality of life. The specialists followed the book of treating FIP which always yields death. FIP attacks the body and is vicious. Bodi's stomach was not able to absorb the food he ate due to the FIP and as result he lost all his fat and muscle mass.
Bodi's original doctor, Dr. Bill Carlisle of Kenosha Animal Hospital, got involved. He recommended looking into Dr. Al Plechner, a revolutionary doctor in California. We reached out to Dr. Plechner and he immediately got involved to try and save Bodi. Dr. Plechner and Dr. Carlisle came up with a new treatment plan and Bodi showed some signs of progress, but it was too late. The FIP was too advanced in the attack on his body. Bodi was getting medicines every few hours along with homemade food, and IV's of fluids from his Mother.
It became clear on a Sunday morning. Bodi was cuddling Daddy when we woke up. It was evident that the end was near. We spent the day together filled with cuddles and kisses. Daddy stayed up all night with Bodi and he passed away at 4:45 AM on March 14, 2011.
Like his parents, Utah and Seamus were extremely depressed. They would look at the pantry door and howl for him. That was where Bodi went to eat and get medicine in his final months. We all miss him terribly.
We decided though not to let Bodi pass away and have us grieve and move on with our lives. We wanted Bodi's name to live on and to be a source of help for other cats. We learned the hard way that unfortunately not enough research is done on FIP, feline AIDS, and feline leukemia. The vast majority of pet medical research dollars are devoted to dogs. We love dogs as well, but right now cats need our help. We need to generate more money to fund the research that is being done. Bodi's legacy as a blessing to all will live on in this charity as we raise money to help other cats. Please join us in donating to Bodi's Kitty Cause.