Help Hannibal Get the Surgeries He Needs

Hello, friends! My name is Kat and I'm currently trying to raise funds towards helping cover my cat Hannibal's multiple surgeries/procedures.

The situations that brings me here:

I recently lost my job due to the executive order halting all federal funding, meaning our contract didn't get renewed. And job hunting has not been going great. I've been doing commissions to cover my own medical fees [and am still taking those] but this is BEYOND my scope at this point.

I've been really struggling to ask for help, with everything going on in the world. But Hannibal is like my kid, finances are a mess, and I need help at this point. The sooner I can get these surgeries for him, the less his situations have to worsen.

I'd do anything for this guy, and even like $5 helps somewhere.

This is Hannibal. He's my four year old Maine coon. He's insanely intelligent, crafty, well trained, and empathetic. He's got a very vibrant personality, and such an attitude it's hilarious -

but he's also ridiculous, and never truly outgrew being a kitten. His favorite color is orange, and he loves Hugh Dancy - I wish I was joking about that. He's a cheese snob, and will put his foot in any cup left unattended. He thinks he's very smooth, and so, so, sneaky charming. But he's clumsy and frankly, I don't think he knows how big he is. Or how spines work.

This is William, his best friend and favorite thing in the whooole world. Even if Will gets moody and mean to him sometimes. William has also been distressed as of late, with all the vet visits taking Hannibal out of the house. So this is for his well being as well honestly.

So what are these surgeries we need help affording?

Before I bought Hannibal, I tried to be as ready as possible for any health concerns he would have in the future - but just like raising a child, no matter how much research you do, you're never ready for what life brings you.

Maine coons are predisposed to spinal issues, and hip dysplasia just because of their large size. Unfortunately, my boy has some weird genetics in him, and it especially affects his bones. [Yay arthritis already.]

Hannibal is currently 18 lbs - he's a healthy weight, but we're working to lower that for sake of his joints.

At two years old, something happened when running around with Will where he snapped the ball head clean off his femur. We had to get a procedure done called an FHO - the one thing I apparently NEVER saw anyone talk about with Maine coons.

Basically they go in, take that ball out, shave down the femur a bit, and the cat as it heals will develop scar tissue that makes a false joint.

It was a rough three months, but he was mostly a wonderful patient in his healing. These days he runs around, jumping off stuff [a huge problem for us sometimes], BOWLING OVER WILLIAM, and jumping into the cat tree, onto the bed etc with no problem. He has a minor limp but, that's the 20-30% margin from the table above.

Hannibal lives an active and happy life, and I'm thankful for it.

My vet at the time of the surgery told us eventually he'd probably have to have another FHO on his other leg, but time would tell there. Not an if, but a when unfortunately.

In December I had surgery myself, and while on bed rest I noticed a clicking sound coming from him. I brushed it off at first, thinking it might be his hip from the weather - but when it continued we took him into the vet. Turns out, his other hip was coming out of the socket a bit, so we got referral for a specialist.

We got some CT scans taken, and I was going to share those here but it's a whole... process to get them out of the program I guess? But we took him in for the consultation to see if he was a candidate for a Total Hip Replacement, which is a WAY pricier option but helps with the load baring weight of Maine coons.

Unfortunately, while we got the good news he's a GREAT candidate for it, we got some bad news that took it off the table: Apparently he has some weird stuff going on with his knee - the clicking.

This is all scientific gobbledygook from their website but basically; his knee cap is going all over. He's a 2-3, not terrible, but we should consider surgery soonish.

Now, NUMBERS TIME: My goal with this Go Fund Me is OUT THERE, I know, for a cat especially. But it will cover three surgeries he has to unfortunately have. So anything we raise is helpful, appreciated, and hopefully I can pay it forward once I get my work situation stable again.

If you care about the details and numbers read on, I know some people will probably wonder what's with the high funding goal:

So that's the breakdown of the goal. I don't have a lot of reach online these days, but hopefully if people can't donate, they can at least spread the word around. I know it seems like a lot of money for a cat, but...

He's my stupid little guy. My kiddo. My little broken gremlin, my pretty boy, my brat. He's helped me get over the devastation of my 20 year old cat passing, as well as some of the roughest times I've had in my life the past four years. He's been there for every anxiety attack, and every medical thing I've had going on.

He's funny in that he keeps me on schedules, knows my patterns and bullies me into tasks he knows I should be doing. A wild little room mate, honestly.

And for as ABSOLUTELY stressful as he has been, and made my life in his own way these last four years? Expensive as he has been to maintain and take care of [thanks genetic lottery, oof] - I truly would not trade any of it for the world.

Thanks for reading any or all of that, considering, sharing or donating!! Every little bit of your time is greatly appreciated, and I thank you so much for it.

Something has to give, you know?

Take care, and be safe out there!