This GoFundMe is being started for Simba, our beloved 9-year-old cat who is currently in significant, undiagnosed pain. He has been a source of immense comfort and joy in our lives for nearly a decade. Now, he desperately needs our help, and my greatest fear is not being able to provide him the same support he has given us all these years.
Recently, Simba’s behavior shifted dramatically. He went from a happy, normal cat to one in constant, visible agony.
Simba is suffering, and the signs are heartbreaking to watch:
- He walks with a constantly hunched back, a clear sign of severe spinal distress.
- His tail hangs low and limp, showing no signs of life.
- He struggles to get comfortable, laying with his back legs splayed awkwardly away from his body.
- The most painful change: He no longer climbs onto the bed to nap beside me like he used to do every single night. Instead, he hides under the bed day and night.
- He is unable to reach his food or water bowls on his own; I have to personally bring them to him under the bed just to ensure he stays hydrated and fed.
- When I gently pet his lower back or near his tail, he cries out in pain.
The Situation So Far:
On Thursday night (January 22nd, 2026), I returned from work to find Simba in this state. I immediately rushed him to the emergency vet without even switching out of my work uniform. We spent hours there while they performed examinations, bloodwork, and X-rays.
As I write this now, it is well past midnight on Friday. Rather than improving, Simba’s symptoms have worsened.
We have already spent approximately $1,000 on his initial emergency care. This was the money allocated for our rent, which is now nearly a month past due. I am willing to spend every penny I have, and I have, to guarantee Simba’s health, but I have quite literally run out of funds.
The Diagnostic Hurdle:
The emergency vet ruled out broken bones, blockages, or obvious diseases, but the X-rays and bloodwork could not show the root cause. Soft tissue injuries, nerve damage, and conditions like IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) are invisible on standard X-rays.
I have an appointment at BluePearl Animal Hospital for February 3rd, but every minute that passes increases my fear for him. If his pain continues to trend this way, I worry he will stop eating altogether before we can even get him through the door.
Why We Need Your Help:
The likely next step is an MRI or CT scan to find the source of his agony. Based on my research and phone consultations with multiple vets, these scans alone cost between $1,000 and $4,000, with potential surgery adding thousands more.
I take great pride in being self-sufficient, and asking for help like this is my absolute last resort. But this is money I simply do not have. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to a diagnosis and a treatment plan that can give Simba a second chance at a happy, pain-free life.
Please help me fight for my best friend. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing our story.
Any donations will be put into a savings immediately until they are used exclusively for Simba, and nothing else. Taking care of Simba is beyond our top priority right now.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Joe, Kialynn, & Simba
