Hyperfixed: Bonus Episode Unlocked: Catman and Robin
Host: Alex Goldman (Hyperfixed)
Date: August 21, 2025
Episode Overview
In this special bonus episode, Alex Goldman of Hyperfixed shares an in-depth, nearly uncut interview with Robin Kintz, founder of the influential FIP Warriors Facebook group. This conversation serves as an unofficial epilogue to the show’s Cat Drug Black Market series, exploring the challenges and controversies surrounding community-led procurement of black market medication to treat feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The episode delves into the group’s origins, logistical processes, ethical challenges, and persistent criticism, with Goldman pressing Kintz on issues of transparency, commissions, and group management.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introduction to FIP Warriors and Robin Kintz (06:58 – 09:00)
- Robin’s Background
- Lifetime cat lover; first cat at age 5 (06:58).
- “Cats have kind of come into focus as one of the main passions for me since this whole FIP journey began.” (07:17)
- Personal Experience with FIP
- Treated two of her own kittens with FIP, the catalyst for founding FIP Warriors (07:58).
- Her Cats
- Currently has eight cats, including two who survived FIP due to experimental treatment from China (08:54–10:08).
2. Founding and Evolution of FIP Warriors (10:25 – 15:12)
- Founding Story
- Started as a grassroots effort with a small group of fellow cat owners (10:25).
- The need arose because mainstream groups were “very anti bringing in the treatment via the black market from China. So it was quite discouraging.” (10:30)
- Early admins were simply experienced owners helping one another (10:30–13:42).
- Growth and Structure
- Has grown to almost 100,000 members; forced a more organized intake process (13:42–15:12).
3. How the Group Functions: Intake and Drug Procurement (11:31 – 20:20)
- Intake Process
- Newcomers post for help, then are assigned a “care team” that includes admins and moderators (11:46–13:28).
- Team analyzes the situation, helps confirm diagnosis, assigns local help for immediate treatment (13:28).
- Drug Sourcing
- FIP Warriors refers to a handful of trusted suppliers, all now US-based (15:15–16:33).
- Volunteer med-holders often redistribute medication locally for emergencies (18:52–20:20).
- All “treatment we recommend, it's a fixed price set by the suppliers and always has been” (34:47).
4. The Black Market Nature and Quality Control Concerns (20:25 – 23:26)
- Nontraditional, High-risk Approach
- “This is not your standard medicine procurement process…” (20:53).
- Reliance on volunteer verification, independent US labs for random drug testing (21:41).
- Past Failures
- Recounts a supplier disaster that led to ineffective drugs and some cat deaths (22:05).
- “Cats did die, and it was absolutely awful... but since then we've been much more on top of trying to ensure a safe product...” (22:05).
5. The Gray Area: Legal & Ethical Complexities (23:26 – 29:20)
- Recognition by Veterinarians
- Some vets have directly directed clients to FIP Warriors out of necessity: “…their hands were tied for so long.” (25:53).
- Commissions and Transparency
- Persistent criticism that admins make commissions; Robin offers a nuanced (and evasive) answer.
- “I feel that it's too much of a gray area and there's too much inherent risk to really speak to that.” (27:16)
- Confirms that money was made previously but says it’s less relevant now (27:16–29:20).
- “I can just tell you that we are almost 100% volunteer in warriors and that things have changed so, so much over the years…” (28:20).
6. Controversies: Pricing, Service, Admin Conflicts (29:20 – 42:58)
- Price Drops
- Treatment today often under $1,000, down from “$450 per vial” Robin once paid (30:13).
- “The falsehood that it cost thousands of dollars…to treat this disease are just wildly outdated at this point.” (30:18)
- Commissions Today
- Some commissions may exist but are not common and often built into supplier pricing, not controlled by admins (31:13–34:47).
- Preferential Treatment, Service Complaints
- Strongly denies suppliers get preference for pay, labels rumors as “Reddit” misinformation (32:58).
- Public criticism by former admins, accusations of bullying and lack of transparency, are described by Robin as “a lot of misinformation” (40:15).
Notable Exchange on Past Mismanagement
Alex Goldman [39:24]: “They were also saying…whenever I asked a question, my admin would stop responding… I felt bullied, I felt pressured to spend money…” Robin Kintz [39:53]: “That's not something we hear much of because we tend to give people almost 24/7 support… If there are a few outliers who had issues, I would need a lot more detailed information to be able to properly address those concerns.”
- Past Admin Infighting
- Robin claims some removed admins who exposed problems were themselves engaging in rule-breaking or profiteering (40:15–42:42).
7. Conflict of Interest and Reflections (42:58 – 46:29)
- FIP Warriors and Robin’s Business "Healthy Cat"
- Directs group members to her for-profit pet supply business; denies conflict of interest, says she has not taken a paycheck (43:13).
- On Leadership Regrets
- Wishes she had “been more careful about vetting the people that were brought in to the leadership team.” (43:33)
- Open Door for Complaints
- "Anybody who has a problem can reach out to me directly." (44:15)
- Admits:
- “Never anticipated” becoming so central to an international black market for cat meds (45:11).
- Group is now better managed than in the past (45:41).
- Dismisses lingering criticism as “ancient history” and “often inaccurate” (45:52).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Why the Group Exists:
“Without gray area activities, there's no way that the hundreds of thousands of cats that have been saved by the work of this group could have ever happened ever.”
— Robin (37:47) -
On Old Criticisms:
“Most of the stuff you're mentioning is ancient history for the group.”
— Robin (44:15) -
On Her Leadership Regret:
“Probably been more careful about vetting the people that were brought in to the leadership team.”
— Robin (43:33) -
On the Cost of Treatment:
"People are treating and curing their cats for under $1,000 most of the time now because of our group. The prices have come down exponentially since I treated my first two kittens."
— Robin (30:18) -
On Admin Profits:
"I am not stocking or selling or shipping anything. So that doesn't apply to me personally."
— Robin (33:52) -
On Addressing Problems:
"Anybody who has a problem can reach out to me directly... I simply haven't been contacted with the problems that you are bringing up."
— Robin (44:15)
Key Timestamps
- 06:58 – Robin introduces herself and discusses her lifelong love of cats.
- 07:58 – Robin shares her experience with FIP and founding the group.
- 10:25–13:42 – Group’s grassroots early days and evolution of its process.
- 15:15–16:33 – Explanation of medication procurement and trusted suppliers.
- 20:25–22:05 – Challenges of black market drug quality, recalls cases of bad product.
- 25:53 – Vets referring clients to FIP Warriors out of necessity.
- 27:16–28:20 – Goldman presses on commissions, transparency.
- 30:13–31:00 – Major treatment cost drops attributed to group’s influence.
- 34:47 – Robin describes how pricing and commission structures are set by suppliers.
- 39:24–40:15 – Criticism about support, bullying, and service issues discussed.
- 43:07–43:26 – Robin addresses (and rejects) conflict of interest claims with her own cat supply store.
- 44:15 – Robin on opportunities for direct complaint and dismissing historical problems.
- 45:41 – Admits improved management in current group versus earlier times.
Tone & Style
The episode is a candid, sometimes uncomfortable conversation. Goldman acts as a persistent, fair-minded investigator, directly raising community concerns and allowing Kintz to respond in her own words. Kintz’s responses are often measured but defensive, acknowledging some past mistakes while denying or downplaying the scope of criticism. The tone is earnest and at moments tense, particularly when discussing administration, commissions, and accusations of profiteering.
This summary covers the main content and provides insights for listeners unfamiliar with the controversies and complexities of FIP Warriors and the underground world of lifesaving cat medications.