Hi, my name is Sarah and this is something I never for a second thought I would do.

My wonderful cat Fred has been with me for 12 years, through thick and thin and through some very difficult times. He is a wonderful daytime grump and nighttime cuddle monster.

Yesterday evening I noticed he wasnt in. Not at all unusual for him, he loves being outside. Normally I would go to bed and think nothing of it but something told me I had to call him in.

I called out the back and he wailed! Ive never heard him cry like that before!

The noise was coming from behind my back fence in the bramble filled alley.

I went round and found him deep in the brambles, legs covered in blood and unable to move.

I rushed him to the emergency vet and he was found to have what they thought was an open fracture to his lower left leg.

He was treated for shock and stabilised in hospital overnight before being fully investigated this morning.

The vets did a full bank of tests, ultrasound of his abdomen, blood tests, multiple x rays etc.

He was found to have a complete dislocation of his ankle with ligament ruptures to all supporting ligaments and a fractured femur.

The recommendation of the vet was to amputate today with a good prognosis so thats what we did.

He is not out of the woods and he is currently very disorientated and mainly sleeping. Its going to be a long and rough few weeks.

So here's the bit where I do the unthinkable to me and ask for help!

Fred is insured, however I had always said that I wouldnt put him through any big operation at his age so he only has £1000 per condition insurance, with a £159 excess and 20% co pay due to his age.

Just the emergency admittance and stabilisation last night is somewhere between £1200 and £1500, with at least a few thousand left to be billed for the actual operation and aftercare. So his insurance money is already blown.

I couldn't in all consciousness decline this operation, the vet was positive it was the right thing to do (I have known him many years and trust him implicitly) and money couldn't be the reason for him to die needlessly.

So I am asking for help. Anything at all is hugely appreciated and I am not expecting anything. Even if you can only share this fundraiser it would mean the world to me.