Please Save Cheese(cake)

Please Meet Cheese(cake)

I want to introduce you to my very special boy and animal best friend, Cheesecake.

Our Story:

In 2018, I visited my Veterinary friend who worked at an animal shelter in Denver, CO. Cheesecake was dropped off shortly after birth with a bad cold. I met Cheesecake by chance while he was in after hours care at my friends home. From the moment we began to interact I knew he was destined to be my cat. He kept trying to show off, made sure I was paying attention, and would accompany me to the bathroom as my shower kitten. We had an instant bond and connection at three weeks old – but he wasn’t mine (yet). I flew back home with an empty feeling; it was clear what was in my heart. I waited for him to recover and was able to adopt him into my life at three months, and fly him home to Los Angeles.

Cheesecake has been my source of joy from the moment I saw him. He’s as sweet as they come, smart, silly. He’s outgoing but also is happy to say ‘No thank you.’ He says ‘meow’ when I sneeze, he greets me when I come home, he wakes me up, tucks me in and tries to get me to sit still as much as he can. He knows what’s best for us.

However, Cheesecake’s journey has not been without challenges. Since birth, he has battled a rare urethra condition that has required multiple hospital stays and extensive medical treatment for urinary obstructions.

What happened:

On Tuesday, November 28th, Cheesecake began to act strange. He was avoiding interaction, hiding away, frequently visiting his litter box and not eating– all of which was concerning behavior. I went to bed worried about his behavior while acknowledging that he didn’t want to come to bed. I was not prepared for what was about to happen. I woke up to find him in a pool of his own vomit, halfway laying in his water bowl, lethargic and with a low heart rate. He was barely conscious and couldn’t move. I immediately took him to the nearest hospital where he was treated for a urinary obstruction that threatened to take his life. His vitals were completely out of whack. I rushed him into emergency care where they placed a catheter to release the blockage and empty the bladder. This is now Cheesecake’s third, and most extensive hospital stay yet.

Why we need your help:

After exhausting a full coverage insurance plan, we’ve reached a point where we need support from our friends and family to bring Cheesecake home. This process has been a nightmare for the both of us, as Cheesecake struggles to remain stable and his urinary tract unblocked.

It feels very weird to ask anyone for help, especially random, lovely humans on the internet– but I am devoted to bringing my best friend home. Any amount of contribution would be incredibly meaningful to us.

After six days in the hospital, and an impending surgery on Tuesday, Cheesecake’s estimated outstanding medical bills are coming out to ~$14,000, which covers the emergency intake, stabilization, overnight stays, x-rays, sedation and of course, the actual surgical procedure. The surgery he needs will save his life. A Perineal Urethrostomy will snip the narrow, curved part of the male urethra so that he has a wider uretha opening, which will ensure he never experiences this same pain associated with urinary obstructions again. If a bladder remains blocked, it is lethal within 3 days. This surgery is about curing the condition. All donations will go directly towards covering his current, outstanding medical bills for his emergency treatment.

How you can help:

We humbly ask for your support in Cheesecake’s time of need. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a significant difference in his battle for a healthy future. By contributing to Cheesecake’s fundraiser, you will become a vital part of his journey towards wellness. Thank you so much for all the love and support. I’ll keep you all posted as well as I can. We are forever grateful for your kindness and generosity.

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