***PLEASE READ ALL UPDATES, as the scope of Gus’s treatment had changed dramatically since starting this GoFundMe***

Hi friends,

We’re reaching out for help as we navigate a sudden health crisis with our beloved cat, Gus.

Gus has been a part of our family since he was just 5 months old — a hungry, skinny little kitten who’d been dumped on our old block, starving for food, safety, and attention. He turns 10 next month, and in the years preceding, he’s grown into the sweetest, most gentle companion. A little anxious, a little shy, but always down to cuddle — especially if he gets to be the little spoon.

About a month ago, we noticed that Gus’s nose looked swollen. At first, we thought one of our younger (and significantly more chaotic) cats might’ve bopped him a little too hard during play. But the swelling didn’t go down — it grew. It became more bulbous, and more concerning.

We took him in for a vet visit, where his bloodwork came back clean. Because the swelling continued to progress, a follow-up biopsy was scheduled and performed yesterday (8/7) at Philadelphia Animal Hospital.

While we won’t have the full pathology results back from Penn for another two weeks, Dr. Chapman — Gus’s vet — is confident that we’re dealing with a tumor. Whether it’s benign or malignant is still unknown, but the tumor has grown rapidly. Because of its location and how fast it’s developed, soft tissue surgery is strongly recommended, regardless of the biopsy outcome.

We have a surgical consult scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, and while we’re doing everything we can for Gus, we also have to be honest about the financial weight this carries. Based on our early research and what the vet has told us, the cost of surgery (plus possible oncology or post-op care) could range anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.

We’re setting an initial fundraising goal of $2,000, starting at the low end of that range. As we learn more and move forward with treatment, we’ll adjust the goal if needed. For the sake of transparency, we’ll share receipts and cost breakdowns in future updates, so you know exactly where your support is going. And if we end up raising more than we ultimately need, every extra dollar will be donated to Project Meow, the West Philly-based cat rescue nonprofit we've been volunteering with for the past 10 years.

Gus is our gentle boy, and he means the world to us. If you’re able to help — whether through a donation or just by sharing this page — we’re so incredibly grateful.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.