Hi everyone, my name is Jessenya, and I am a third-year student at Cal State Long Beach. I work part-time as a caregiver and usually make enough to support

my own basic needs, but I am reaching out for help because I do not want to lose a cat who has slowly become part of my family.

In 2021, shortly after my childhood cat passed away, a stray tuxedo cat began showing up at my family’s house in NorCal. At the time, she was terrified of people. She was so shy and anxious that none of us could get near her. We started leaving food out on the porch for her, and she would only come eat when we were gone.

Over time, everything slowly changed. Little by little, she started trusting us. We named her Ms. Jackson, and now she waits for us to come home every day so she can be fed and spend time with us. Even though she is still very anxious, she has created a routine with us and has come to depend on our presence and care. I truly believe she knows that we are her safe people.

She is still very scared and will only come inside if the front door is clearly open. I believe she may have had a traumatic experience in the past, possibly when she was caught to be spayed, and that fear has stayed with her. Even with that fear, she has still made so much progress, and watching her slowly learn to trust has been really special to me.

Now my family has found out that they have to move out of the home we have lived in since 2019. The thought of leaving Ms. Jackson behind is honestly heartbreaking. After everything she has been through, and after the bond she has built with us, I cannot imagine just disappearing from her life and leaving her to fend for herself.

I have talked to others about whether taking her with me is the right decision, and everyone agrees that it is. I want to give Ms. Jackson the chance to finally be safe. My goal is to catch her as gently as possible, take her to the vet, make sure she is healthy and up to date on her vaccines, and bring her with me so she can start a new life indoors where she is protected, cared for, and loved.

I am asking for help covering the costs of her vet visit, vaccines, and any treatment she may need. As a college student working part-time, I can cover my essentials, but I cannot easily take on all of these extra costs alone.

Ms. Jackson came into my life during a time of loss, after I had just lost my childhood pet. What started as leaving food out for a scared stray cat turned into something so much deeper. She may have started as just a cat on the porch, but to me, she is family now.

Any donation, share, or support would mean so much to both of us. Thank you for helping me give Ms. Jackson the safe and loving home she deserves.