On Monday our sweet cat Mijo disappeared for most of the day. When he finally came home that evening, something wasn’t right. He wouldn’t eat and his breathing was fast and erratic. We called our vet that night, but by the next morning his symptoms still hadn’t improved, so we rushed him in.

They performed X-rays and suspect that Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) may be the cause, but they can’t say for certain yet. Because Mijo’s breathing was so irregular, they weren’t able to safely complete a heart ultrasound. For now, he’s been started on medication for HCM and we were told to come back in a month. (f he’s strong enough to make it that long.)

Our vet also recommended additional testing to figure out what’s really going on, including blood work to rule out thyroid issues and a heart ultrasound once he’s stable. Without these tests, we’re left guessing and hoping the medication he’s on is the right one.

Like many people right now, the cost is overwhelming. So far the X-ray and exam have been $450, the blood test is $200, and the heart ultrasound will be $650. We just want answers so we can give Mijo the right treatment and the best chance to recover.

Mijo isn’t just a pet, he’s family. He’s the little shadow that follows us around the house, the one who curls up next to us at night, and the one who always knows when we need comfort.

If you’re able to help in any way, even a small amount, it would mean the world to us and to our little kitty boy. And if you can’t donate, sharing this post would help more than you know.

Thank you for taking the time to read Mijo’s story and for caring about a little life that means everything to us. ❤️