Help Us Care for Cheeto, Our Beloved UC Davis & Physics & Astronomy Fur Child

If you have spent any time around the UC Davis Physics & Astronomy community, there is a good chance you know Cheeto.

Cheeto is much more than a campus cat. Over the years, he has become a beloved part of not only our Physics & Astronomy family, but all of the UC Davis community—known and loved by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors alike. He has a special way of appearing just when someone needs a little comfort, a reason to smile, or simply a friendly face during a long day on campus.

For many of us, Cheeto represents something very special about our community. He belongs to all of us in spirit, and the love people have for him is truly remarkable.

Recently, Cheeto experienced a frightening health scare that required significant veterinary care. We are incredibly grateful to share that he is going to be okay, but his treatment came with a substantial and unexpected cost.

Until now, the responsibility for Cheeto’s veterinary care, food, and other needs has largely been covered personally by just two to four members of the Physics & Astronomy community. We have been happy to care for him because we love him dearly. However, as Cheeto gets older, we know his medical and everyday care needs are likely to increase.

That is why we are creating Cheeto’s Care Fund.

Rather than waiting for the next emergency, our hope is to build a dedicated fund that will allow us to provide Cheeto with the care he needs throughout his senior years without having to worry about whether the resources will be available when he needs them most.

Donations will help support Cheeto’s:

* Veterinary visits and routine senior wellness care

* Emergency and unexpected medical treatment

* Medications, testing, and other veterinary needs

* Food and nutritional needs

* Continued comfort, health, and quality of life as he ages

Most importantly, this fund will give us peace of mind knowing that when Cheeto needs care, the decision can simply be, “Let’s take care of Cheeto,” rather than wondering how the expense will be covered.

We know that Cheeto has touched an extraordinary number of people during his years on campus. Some know him as the cat who waits nearby while they study. Some have stopped to pet him on difficult days. Some have taken photos with him (and OF him daily! https://www.instagram.com/cheetodaily?stkn=MWEzb3E3a3E1dXIxbA==), checked on him, brought him treats, or simply smiled when they saw him lounging comfortably in one of his favorite places.

To Cheeto, these may seem like ordinary days.

To us, they have become part of the story of our department and our community.

If Cheeto has ever made you smile, kept you company, helped make campus feel a little more like home, or simply brought a little orange-cat joy into your day, we hope you will consider contributing to his care.

No donation is too small. Every contribution will go toward helping ensure that this very loved senior gentleman can continue receiving the food, medical attention, comfort, and care he deserves.

And if you are unable to donate, please know your love and visits are enough! Also, sharing Cheeto’s fundraiser with fellow students, colleagues, friends, and alumni would mean just as much.

Thank you for loving Cheeto.

Thank you for looking out for him.

And thank you for helping us make sure that, after all the happiness he has brought to our community, Cheeto will always be cared for too.

With love and gratitude,

Cheeto’s Physics & Astronomy Family