Hi! Life is crazy and everyone is struggling right now to make ends meet. But pets can be the silver lining to the dark storm clouds of survival. At least, for me they are.

My cat, Hans, is sometimes the only thing that keeps me going on dark days. He is the weirdest cat I've ever known and he keeps me laughing. Hans was so scared when I rescued him in 2020, he hid under my bed for two weeks. He didn't cuddle, didn't really "play", and wasn't vocal at all. He disliked soft surfaces and preferred to lie in hard floors. He was terrified of people in shoes, especially tall people.

Cut to 4.5 years later, Hans is loving, social, and extremely vocal (he serenades us all each day.) He follows me wherever I go in the house. He is still shy around strangers but will at least come investigate before running back to his sanctuary (my room.) I love him so much. When I lost my job last year, I paid his pet insurance far longer than I paid for my own health insurance. I had to drop it in July of this year as I just could not afford it any more. I'm currently DoorDashing to make ends meet as I apply for most sustainable work.

Hans is 9 years old now and his joints have never been good. On December 2nd, I came home from Doordashing to find he could barely walk. He wasn't put weight on his back legs and was in pain. I rushed him to an Vetinary Urgent Care, scared he had broken his leg. After examination him, the vet believed he was experiencing a severe arthritic "wind up" pain attack that was causing his rear leg joints to seize up. They gave him some temporary pain relief and advised I take him to his primary vet.

And this is where I need some help. I simply cannot afford to take him in right now along with all my own bills and rent. The guilt of not being able to give him everything is killing me but seeing my baby hobble in trying to follow me room to room is worse. I have been giving him extra Dasuquin and he has been getting some relief from a heating pad.

After speaking with Paces Ferry Vetinary Clinic, the estimate for the initial visit (examination, x-rays, etc.) Is about $610. This does not include the cost for treating (medication, procedures, etc.) So I'm putting a general $1000 as my starting point, though hopefully it will not be as expensive as that. I do know I need to probably buy a ramp/steps for him to easily reach my bed which can run around $60-$90. I also need to switch him back to his prescription diet food (I had to change it for cost efficiency unfortunately) to try to lower his weight to put less strain on his joints. He has always been a big fat cat. He was 21 lbs when I rescued him. I got him to 15 lbs before I had to switch cat foods. He is now 17lbs.

I will be updating everyone throughout Hans healing journey with bill receipts for full transparency as well his progress.

Thank you so much for taking the time to review Hans' story. Please donate if you can and share to others. Any help is appreciated.