Meet Mulchy — a sweet 4-year-old brown tabby.

In July of 2020, while at my job at the local animal shelter, a week-old kitten arrived at our doorstep. He had been abandoned by his mother and found, screaming in a mulch pile, by a worker at a nearby landscaping company. My coworker gave the kitten the name 'Mulchy', but the question was posed to me: "Do you want to foster him?"

I said "Yes".

I still remember the first photo I took of him that day. He looked so rough. His little body, so exhausted.

I then fostered him for the next couple months, watching him grow from that tired, little bottle baby into a rambunctious mischief-maker. When he was a bottle baby, he required feedings every few hours - even during the night. I usually don’t take on bottle babies, but Mulchy was an exception. I fell in love with him the moment I first saw him.

In October of 2020, I officially welcomed Mulchy into our family. I tried to think of new names for him, but Mulchy stuck. Luckily, too! You wouldn't believe all the fun, silly, goofy ways that you can pronounce it!

Over our years together, Mulchy has continued to flourish! He loves to burrow under blankets — under the dishwasher door when it's open — under your legs when you squat down. He loves to lay in a good sun spot and clean his toes in the goofiest manner. He follows me around the house and has conversations with me. He’ll steal my spot in bed when I get up because he knows it’s warm. He even has a favorite toy — a plush macaroni — and a favorite color — yellow!

However, despite his young age and vivacious personality, in October of 2024, I noticed him limping on occasion and lashing out — as if in pain. I took him to my veterinarian where he was diagnosed with stage 3 luxating patella in both of his back knees. I saw various specialists and gathered multiple veterinary opinions, and all agreed that his only option for a long, healthy life is surgery on both knees. If he does not get surgery, not only will his luxating patella remain and get worse — he will also quickly develop arthritis and his quality of life will decline.

I have pet insurance, but they are unwilling to cover the cost of the needed surgery. He will need to have the surgery twice and each surgery is $3.3k.

Would you please consider donating to help my Mighty Mulch get his knee surgeries?