UPDATE 1/26: We have been back to the vet more times than I care to count at this point. Flash was able to come home Wednesday (1/21) afternoon in hopes to get him eating by being in a more comfortable environment. We have done blood work almost every day and everything looks to be improving. He is now on a steroid and 2 broad spectrum antibiotics. His nerve damage from the bite is getting better, walking is easier, he is able to jump (although he probably shouldn't) and he is able to move his tail again. Right now our biggest hurdle is the many and massive wounds he now has all over his back end. I would add a picture but it is pretty gory. Some of these are due to urine scald irritating the skin and causing him to obsessively groom, some of them are abscessed bites and the vet thinks it looks like some kind of cellulitis. He will be back at Driggs Vet on Wednesday for his first debridement. Unfortunately we still have no idea what happened to him and we probably never will. But we do know that Flash is impossibly stubborn and so am I, we will do everything we can to help him get better. His personality is already coming back although it's a little dampened due to the fact that he will be a watermelon for the foreseeable future. Thank you to those who have donated. If you can, that is a huge help to us. If you can't, please please help us share Flash's story. A summery of our vet bill costs is at the bottom.

**Leukemia is no longer the most likely culprit of his rapid decline, though it certainly isn't off the table, so I did remove that from the title.

UPDATE 1/21: Flash did well with the IV overnight, had a couple Churu's (his favorite) and a teaspoon or so of recovery food. His temperature is also finally back down to normal. Unfortunately he experienced significant swelling in his front leg where the IV was due to his body leaky. They removed the IV and wrapped his foot to reduce the swelling. We are hoping he starts to eat on his own in the next few hours and maybe starts moving around a bit. We will know more this afternoon.

INITIAL POST:

Flash, our 1-year-old cat, has always been a joyful part of our family since we adopted him in October 2024. He loves chasing grasshoppers and snowflakes, and curling up by the fire with our two young kids. On Saturday, 1/17, Flash was attacked by a stray cat in our yard. We rushed him to Viking Vet Hospital when we discovered his injuries, where he was treated for punctures and given antibiotics and painkillers. Despite this care, Flash is still unable to walk normally and is experiencing significant pain, unable to eat, drink, or go to the bathroom on his own. We knew there was something else wrong.

On Tuesday, 1/20, we took him to Driggs Vet for a more thorough evaluation. After imaging and blood tests, we learned that Flash has a very low white blood cell count, low protein levels and very high bilirubin. His fever has also not subsided. The vet thinks he may have contracted Feline Leukemia at some point. The prognosis is not great right now, but we are doing everything we can to help him fight the infection. He is currently receiving IV fluids, antibiotics, and appetite stimulators, and we are hoping to see some improvement in the next 24 hours. After this, if he is showing signs of improvement he will need further blood tests and treatment.

This Saturday is our son’s 6th birthday, and it’s been especially hard for him to see Flash so sick during what should be a joyful time. We are raising funds to help cover Flash’s vet bills and ongoing treatment as he battles this serious illness. If you’re able to donate, even a small amount, it would mean more than I can express. If you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser is just as appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for any support you can offer.

Viking emergency vet 1/17 : $434 - exam, pain management, fluids, antibiotic

Driggs vet 1/20-1/21: $980* - exam, x-ray, ultrasound, blood work, urinalysis, FeLV/FIV testing, hospitalization, fluids, lots of medications.

DV 1/22: $160 - blood work, antibiotics, pain management, steroids.

DV 1/23: $270 - blood work, antibiotics and steroids.

DV 1/26: $86 - blood work, new antibiotics and steroid, cone of shame.

*PAWS MedFund has paid their maximum of $350 towards his 1/20-1/21 visit, my balance was $630.

Total roughly $1930.