Casper is my Siamese-mix cat, and he’s been with me for almost 10 years, ever since he was born. I knew his mom when she was pregnant with his litter, and I was one of the first people to meet them when they were born. Although I actually went in planning to adopt his sister, Casper was the runt, struggling to get enough food and eventually being ignored by his mom to make sure his siblings would get enough to eat. With the help of the owner, I bottle-fed him during those first fragile weeks, hoping he’d survive. After he was strong enough to feed from his mom with the rest of his siblings, I realized how much those two short weeks of helping him survive changed me. He left his mark on me in a way I couldn’t ignore. Even though I originally chose his sister, it felt like Casper chose me, too, and I brought them both home (even using the convenient excuse that maybe he could be my sister's cat so we could both take care of one just so I could convince my family to let me bring two kitties home with me). We’ve been together ever since.

For the last 10 years, Casper and his sister have been the only constant in my life, keeping me going through many moves, losing connection with my remaining family, facing homelessness, and navigating job changes and loss. Though stretched thin due to financial challenges and my struggling with my own health issues, my finances are always carefully budgeted to make sure Casper and his sister get a roof over their head, are fed, happy, and healthy. If I could sacrifice everything and anything else to make sure he is healthy and well, I would and have done so without hesitation. He’s been a constant source of comfort and joy for me, and I’ve always made sure he and his sister are well cared for, with plenty of food, toys, and space to play.

Last year, I noticed Casper wasn’t eating as much, a behavior that was really out of character for him, so I took him to the vet. Blood tests showed early signs of Chronic Kidney Disease, and a specialist soon confirmed the diagnosis. While his health wasn’t immediately at risk, kidney disease is a serious condition for cats, and it can only be managed, not cured. This past week, Casper suddenly started throwing up all his food, so I rushed him to the ER. Thankfully, they didn’t find anything immediately life-threatening, but his labs showed the kidney disease is progressing, and there may be a new issue with his pancreas. The ER visit was expensive, and he'll still need more labs and another ultrasound to monitor his condition. Unfortunately, pet insurance won’t cover these costs due to them being labeled pre-existing conditions. Casper is back home and eating again, but I want to make sure he gets the best care possible that he deserves. Any support you can offer will help me pay off the ER bill and ensure Casper gets the treatment and comfort he needs.

Thank you for helping me give back to a cat who’s given me so much love over the years. Casper has been my family, has given me love, and kept me grounded with something to work towards and a future worth fighting for. I'm not ready to lose him, and I need to make sure I do everything I can to make sure he lives a long, healthy life for as long as I can, because he deserves it for everything he's done for me.