Help us save our sweet baby Pepper

Dear Friends,

On my 27th birthday in June, my amazing girlfriend Natali surprised me with the most wonderful gift of all - our beloved cat, Pepper. At just 10 months old, Pepper has been the source of endless joy and comfort in our lives. She's been my healing companion especially in my personal struggle with anxiety and depression. She’s been a source of healing for both of us. She’s a hilarious cat with endless energy who can’t go a single night without nesting between us in bed.

However, our world was recently shaken two days ago when we noticed that Pepper wasn't her usual playful self. She stopped eating, became lethargic, and her condition rapidly deteriorated as she wouldn't even open her eyes. We rushed her to the emergency vet, where we learned that Pepper was critically anemic, with a hematocrit level of just 5%. It was nothing short of a miracle that she was still alive.

The emergency vet team performed two lifesaving blood transfusions, and further imaging revealed that Pepper has an enlarged heart. They suspect she has been silently battling severe anemia for some time, despite how well cared for she’s been at home. Currently, the exact cause remains a mystery, and we have taken her to a specialist to determine whether this is congenital, infectious, or something else, as recommended by the ER vet. They have some hunches but the specialist will need to conduct some bone marrow tests to determine if Pepper's condition is treatable.

Unfortunately the burden of vet bills has been heavy. Initial ER bills totaled us at $3600, with the specialist fee in the coming days quoted at up to $10000. Sadly, although we had recently purchased pet insurance a week ago, all of this occurred in the 30 day waiting period for our insurance which deems it all a pre-existing condition. Something that absolutely no pet insurances will cover from this point on. If you’ve ever loved a pet with medical issues, you likely know the pain we’re feeling. We’re leaning on our community now.

What we do know is that Pepper is a fighter. Her resilience in functioning with such low red blood cell counts tells us that she desperately wants to live. We cannot bear the thought of not giving her every chance at life.Your love and support mean the world to us, and together, we can help save Pepper and give her the chance she deserves. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of Pepper's journey and for helping us keep this precious soul in our lives.

With immense gratitude and love, Sara and Natali