Emergency Vet Costs for Rescued Cats

Over the years, my husband and I have rescued 10 cats that were either abandoned or mistreated, each with their own unique story and health challenges. Currently, we have two diabetic cats, one with high blood pressure and two with thyroid issues. In the last six months, we have experienced an overwhelming series of emergencies that we weren’t prepared for.

It started when we came home one day to find our diabetic cat, Buddy, completely unresponsive. We rushed him to the ER, where he was admitted for two days. After stabilizing him, we brought him home and spent the following weeks closely monitoring him. Buddy’s blood sugar dropped to dangerously low levels at least two more times, leading us to take him back to the emergency room. We ultimately changed the insulin he was taking – and came home from work multiple times a day to check on him. 

During one of those check-ins, our cat Sam collapsed while trying to greet us. We rushed him to the ER, where doctors suspected a stroke. Bloodwork showed perfect results, but Sam wasn’t improving, even with antibiotics and other treatments. The next morning, we were told to consider putting him down— but just as we arrived to say goodbye, a neurologist happened to be on site. She suspected a rare brain infection and recommended an MRI. Despite the cost, we moved forward. The MRI revealed a brain and deep inner ear infection. Thanks to the intensive treatment — including antibiotics and weekly vet visits — Sam is now recovering. However, he still needs surgery to clean out his inner ear and prevent the infection from returning.

While we were dealing with other emergencies, our cat Handsome went missing for six heartbreaking weeks. When we finally found him, he was in rough shape—severely malnourished, covered in fleas and ticks, and suffering from a painful mouth infection. At the vet, tests revealed that his red blood cell count was dangerously low, and he had a seizure. He was given an emergency blood transfusion. Although he began to show signs of improvement, he experienced another seizure. The vet is now recommending an MRI to determine what’s causing these issues.

These emergencies have maxed out our resources and credit cards. Our current bill for Handsome is $8,000. We’re reaching out to ask for your help in covering the cost of Handsome’s MRI, his continued treatment and Sam's upcoming ear surgery. Every donation, no matter the size, will help us bring Handsome home and give him the care he deserves and allow us to proceed with Sam's ear surgery to ensure this rare infection does not return.