Give Usagi the Gift of a Cure

Usagi is my soul kitty!

He was born on April 5, 2015, and is the only kitty I know his exact birthdate. He is 10 years old. I've had him for 10 years.

He has lost 2 brothers to Feline Leukemia, yet he remains free from FeLV.

He recently lost a brother to Osteosarcoma of the skull.

He has 3 siblings who all have FIV, yet he remains free from FIV.

Recently, he went in for his regular screening at his vet, and after some bloodwork where a protein called ALP was elevated, alongside some noticeable weight loss, we decided to check his thyroid levels, which came back elevated as well.

He was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism. This, unlike the other diseases we have experienced with our fur babies, IS CURABLE.

Iodine-131 (I-131) is a radioactive isotope of iodine used primarily in medical treatments, especially for thyroid conditions. It has a 95% cure rate. But it is an expensive procedure. It is a one-time injection of radiation into his thyroid, followed by up to 3 weeks of isolation, until the radiation has dissipated. The isolation will be the hardest part of this entire procedure for both him and me.

We will be performing the procedure at Mission Veterinary Emergency & Specialty, located in Mission, KS, as they are the only facility in the local area that performs this procedure. They quoted me between $3,000-$4,000.

Radioiodine i-131

We are currently attempting to manage the hormones that his thyroids are secreting with a transdermal medication prescribed by our regular vet. However, most of the time, hyperthyroidism is caused by typically noncancerous growths on the thyroid. Even with the transdermal medication, the growth will continue to remain and potentially grow, eventually likely turning cancerous.

The I-131 Treatment is the gold standard cure for this, and most kitties live healthy lives afterwards.

We do not need the treatment completed "tomorrow", but it is something I hope we can do before the end of 2025.

Of course, his diagnosis came at the point in my and my husband's life when we are the least financially stable. He recently switched jobs, switching career paths out of a laborious field of work, where he has to work his way back up to make a livable wage. Therefore, this is simply not financially obtainable for us for the foreseeable future.

My little family has gone through so much heartache, especially with our kitties. We just need a win. I want to be able to save Usagi. But we need some help. Please consider donating what you can or even sharing this to get it to people who can potentially help.