Update #1: After receiving news from a surgeon in Sudbury that Deluca would be receiving a Total Hip Replacement (THR) and $6,900 a hip we sought answers elsewhere and are still hopeful he is eligible for a salvageable surgery (FHO) that would resolve the issue without replacing the hips and ensure he has a long, good quality of life and a much faster recovery time.

We are still hoping to raise money and hear by the end of this week if this is an option. Thank you to everyone who has been able to donate so far, your help and support softens this process more than you know and brings us so much peace knowing how many care about our babies and our family and the difficult year we’ve had. Helping him means helping to manage our pain so we can better tend to him, and life in the meantime. Love to you all.

Meet Deluca,

Deluca is a spunky, silly and usually energetic cat who enjoys doing parkour and wiggling around on the floor by himself meowing at the wall. Over the last couple of weeks, his entire demeanour has changed dramatically. He is no longer the playful 1 year old he was. He was sleeping lots, and crying whenever he would stand up or when you would touch his feet or his legs. We booked him in for an appointment thinking his hyperactivity would have caused him to pull a muscle and hoped that it would soon heal and he would just need some anti-inflammatory medication in the meantime.

Unfortunately, the vet had other news. Deluca has a severe orthopaedic condition that is rare, but seen in male cats around his age that have been neutered. They're not sure what causes it yet, however essentially the growth plates in his hips have failed and are starting to erode and crack and cause bone loss. This means that he is in a lot of pain sleeping, walking, standing and essentially everything he does and it will only continue to get worse without surgery. This is progressive, and will only continue to get worse and in the meantime he is on pain meds and anti inflammatory but without the surgery the joints will continue to break down, and eventually fracture completely. With a crack forming, this may be sooner than later.

This means he can not jump, he can not play, and he can not be himself. He is also rapidly losing muscle in his hind legs because of not using them as much, which will slow recovery for him.

The surgery must be done on both sides, as it is both sides that have failed.

This is an emergency we never imagined facing for such a young animal, and a couple of months ago we were looking at pet insurance but life got busy and we simply forgot. I still have the pamphlet and fully regret not signing up and if I can advocate for anything for pet owners, get the insurance. It will give you peace of mind for a small monthly payment and always well worth it, don't take the risk.

Earlier this year in September we learned my eldest cat was diagnosed with cancer and untreatable and grieved the undetermined loss of this, and vet bills and ultrasounds that also equaled in the thousands $$$. When it comes to the surgery for Deluca so soon, this is harder to swallow and we certainly can't even fathom losing two cats this year on top of the family losses we are still grieving.

He is just a baby and deserves the chance to live a comfortable, long and pain free life and we are willing to do whatever it takes to get him there. In the meantime, anything donated will help to offset those costs and make what is already an overwhelming time for our family just a little bit easier as we navigate next steps and recovery for him.