I am starting this fundraiser for Smudge, my sweet 7-month-old kitten, who is currently in the ICU fighting for her life against Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV).

Smudge is a tiny, beautiful tortoiseshell girl who had a rough start to life on the streets of Philadelphia. Some wonderful people took her in and brought her to a local rescue, where she got spayed, and on September 16th, I was lucky enough to adopt her and bring her home.

In the brief time we’ve had together, Smudge showed me what an extraordinary, gentle soul she is. Despite everything she had been through as a stray, she was full of warmth, quiet curiosity, and so so much love. She has a way of melting your heart in seconds, and all I wanted was to give her the safe, warm, and happy life she has always deserved. She has so much more life left to live.

Almost immediately after coming home, Smudge was inappetent. At first, the veterinary team suspected it was the compounded stress of a new environment mixed with normal postoperative soreness from her spay. But as the days passed, her condition deteriorated rapidly. Over the course of three urgent care visits and extensive testing, her pain and lethargy deepened until we found out the devastating diagnosis on September 22nd: Feline Panleukopenia, an aggressive and often fatal virus which she contracted before I got her.

Faced with a heartbreaking choice between euthanasia or hospitalization, I couldn’t give up on her. Smudge has fought through so much already, and she deserves every possible fighting chance. I brought her to an in-patient veterinary hospital for around-the-clock intensive care.

Because this happened during her first week home, the pet insurance policy I purchased is still within its mandatory 15-day waiting period, meaning none of these emergency costs are covered. Between multiple urgent care evaluations and her current in-patient ICU stay, her medical bills have rapidly climbed to over $11,000.

Watching such a young, tender kitten suffer through this is completely heartbreaking, but I am doing everything in my power to stand by her side and give her more time while she fights.

Any contribution, no matter the size, will 100% directly support Smudge’s medical care bills. If you are unable to donate, simply sharing this link with friends, family, or animal lovers would mean the world.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading Smudge’s story, for your kindness, and for keeping this tiny fighter in your thoughts.