Gracie Arlene Needs Our Help!

Five weeks ago my dad’s neighbor said there was a tiny gray kitty seeking shelter on his porch. He began setting out food on occasion in hopes of filling its belly and making friends.

Cut to my arrival to town: I set out food in hopes of meeting her. By day three, there she was - just waiting for me like we’d always known each other. Tiny and frail she shook and whined while she ate. She was starving. Her bones protruded while she wrapped her perfect little tail tight around her to eat.

After that, I scooped her into my arms. She nestled in with so much love and adoration, it was unlike anything I’ve experienced. A storm was rolling in. She was the same color as the road and frankly, there was no way I was leaving her there. My old bedroom was not in use so I took her there to safely quarantine her from my two babies Elton and Rosie (who always travel with us)

She entered the house curled in my arms with no fear. She was elated. I set her down in my room and she was instantly home. She ate and ate, took giant gulps of fresh cold water, and even used her litter box. She fell asleep smiling that night in a heap of blankets and old clothes on my bed.

The next day was much the same- happy, hungry, playful, and grateful. I had already scheduled her for blood work to ensure it was safe to bring her back to NYC. Then suddenly by midnight, she was weak, violently vomiting and wailing in pain. This cycle continued for ten straight hours and 11 bouts of vomit leading into her vet appointment. At one point around 5 AM, I thought I had lost her.

She had no chip. No spay mark. She’s estimated at a year old. It’s assumed she’s been in survival mode alone since she was a baby.

We ran extensive blood work, did IV fluids, anti nausea meds, and learned she was running a dangerous fever of 103.4.

The rapid blood work revealed while she did not have feline leukemia, she had practically no red or white blood cells nor was her body making more. He sent me home with prednisone as a last-ditch attempt to push her body to make more cells- he said if she makes it through the next two days perhaps a blood transfusion could offer a chance of prolonging her life.

I sobbed in the car- this angel that literally came to our doorstep begging for love and somewhere to belong was going to slip through my fingers. The extreme otherworldly affection she showed me would leave me as quickly as it came. I was gutted.

Five hours later the vet called. He was so taken with her little spirit he felt he didn’t do enough to explore her prognosis. He did some deeper research and decided we needed a second blood panel and trial therapy with an anti-parasitic. We return Monday for the meds and Tuesday for the blood work. The transfusion has now moved to further steps as we investigate other avenues. We pray she holds on.

If you know me even a little, you know a huge part of my calling and purpose is to love, care for and be a voice for these innocent beings. Her love and will to live is SO massive it would be devastating not to give her every chance to live now that she finally found her way to the people who would help her.

I ask you from the bottom of my heart to spare even a dollar towards her care. It’s going to be a long road but she wants to be here. She wants to show love to every person she meets. Ahead of us is more extensive blood work, meds, follow-ups, possible blood transfusion, and exploratory care.

Please help Gracie Arlene Slick (affectionally named Gracie by my dad with the R&R edge of Arlene’s grocery and nod to Jefferson Airplane) to seek treatment to survive. Help us achieve the goal of celebrating her survival at Arlene’s Grocery with all that have shown her love. We’ve needed a mascot for a while and she’s just the cat for the job.

With all my love and appreciation,

Danielle (and Gracie Arlene)