Hi! My name is Charlie :)

I’m 24 and live in New York City. I write this with my best friend snuggled up next to me wearing a cone around her neck… More on that later.

As living in big cities goes, sometimes you end up with an interesting roommate story. I had a roommate who had two amazing cats. One named Yuki! Yuki and I quickly fell in love. As they say, cats choose their owners. Every moment in the house she chose to stay by my side, sleep next to my head, and chat with me (she’s very talkative). I began to hope and pray that somehow I could make her mine.

Her original owner didn’t seem to care too much about her cats anyway … overfeeding them, letting mold and roaches get all over their food, and never cleaning the stinky litter box, and letting her cats’ fur become matted. Then one day she told me she had zero desire to live in New York anymore and that she would be moving to Europe. Confused about the cats, I asked what would happen to them. I knew I couldn’t take on two cats, but Yuki and I had become so close that I got nervous and said I would watch Yuki while she was gone.

I later found out she gave the other cat to some unknown person. Yuki noticed her old owner and friend were gone and became very, very anxious. She never left my side. Eventually, I moved into a new apartment with Yuki.

Her old owner allegedly came back to New York after a while, but I never saw her, nor did she ask about Yuki ever again. And I didn’t want her to. Yuki was in much better hands with me.

Now realizing this was my cat, I decided to schedule her a grooming appointment.

“Is she caught up on all her shots?” the woman on the phone asked.

“Hmm, I’m not sure. Can I call you back?”

I texted my former roommate asking for Yuki’s vet records.

She had never once taken her to the vet. Yuki is four years old and has none of her shots, other than the ones kittens get automatically before being homed with their owners (who are supposed to take them to the vet yearly).

So I took her to the vet, where I found out my baby has a heart murmur :’(. The vet bills started adding up higher than I could imagine because I didn’t even realize how behind we were, and on top of that she has heart problems. Then she got into a little accident while grooming and wound up with a wound… A wound that’s now infected and that I am currently treating. She’s wearing her cone of shame right now… She hates it, She also hates that I have to clean her wound and put her prescribed cream on it, I think shes ok with the anti anxiety medication though because I wrap it up in Cheeseburger flavored pill wrap (duh).

This situation has put me in quite a bit of debt. I know I can take care of her, but since I’ve newly returned to school, I definitely need some help. Trust me, I know it’s a big no-no to take on a pet when you can’t afford it. But the thing is, I could have, if Yuki wasn’t already behind on everything to begin with.

It took a lot of stress and strength for me to get to this point. I don’t usually like to ask for help. But would you please help me escape this debt? I feel honored that Yuki chose me to be her best friend, and after watching her lose her old family, I never want her to go through that ever again. She even hates when I leave for work! Luckily I have amazing roommates who act as her aunties :).

So with a heavy heart, I ask you… will you help me with my Yuki? She’s a sweet girl who loves to chirp and cuddle, and I know she would give you a finger lick if she met you :)!

Thank you so much.

Best,

Charlie

Meow,

Yuki