Hi everyone

This is Cheese — our 4-year-old girl, our baby, and truly the sweetest cat we’ve ever known. Anyone who’s met her loves her instantly. She’s cuddly, silly, extroverted, and has been part of every adventure with us — hiking, camping, picnics, roadtrips, and everything in between. We truly thought she would be the cat our future kids would grow up with.

During the week of Christmas, while we were out of town, Cheese became suddenly very sick. When we got home, something felt very wrong. Our normally ravenous, food-obsessed girl (who will eat anything she can get into) stopped eating, stopped moving, and began hiding — completely out of character for her.

After multiple emergency vet visits, extensive bloodwork, X-rays, and imaging, Cheese was unexpectedly diagnosed with severe heart disease leading to heart failure, including an enlarged heart and fluid around her lungs and heart. This condition is genetic, often shows no symptoms, and can progress suddenly.

She is currently stable and not in pain, but she is now on multiple lifelong medications, requires close respiratory monitoring, strict medication schedules, and ongoing specialty care. She will need to see a veterinary cardiologist as soon as possible to determine the best long-term treatment plan.

So far, we’ve already spent a few thousand dollars in just one week, and this will be a lifelong medical expense. With the right treatment and a good cardiologist, some cats can live months to years longer with good quality of life, and because Cheese is so young, we are doing everything we can to give her that chance.

This has been completely unexpected and financially overwhelming. Between work schedules, medications, monitoring, and follow-up care, our lives are changing quickly — but we will do whatever it takes for her.

We don’t expect anything, but if you’re able to help in any way — donating, sharing, or even just sending love — it truly means more than we can say. Cheese is our first baby, and we’re fighting for as much time with her as possible.

Thank you for reading, supporting, and loving her with us