hello! my name is mick, I am 19 years old and this is my kitty leo, he's almost 2! i got him in 2019, i have been on my own since i was 16, and he kinda just came in at the most wrong yet right time for me. we were homeless in SF together, he was with me when i got my first apartment, and he was with me as my mental health declined. he truthfully kept me going, i needed to live to make sure he was okay, and over time that's helped me live for myself and him. i was hospitalized in december of 2019 and he was watched by a close friend for around 6/7 months. we were finally reunited after 2 rounds of inpatient residential for me to better myself. (we had frequent visits until covid and my transfer to socal) he made the long trip from the bay area to southern california to meet me at the sober living i currently live at (9 months sober so far!). he is an absolute angel and i know taking him on while so unstable was a risk, however i put everything for him first always, i wasn't even a cat person until i got him. but our bond is so strong and i recently was able to afford his first big boy vet visit and i was so proud he was doing so well. until unfortunately, it turns out his bladder got blocked (common in male cats), he has to have emergency surgery and might even need to go on anxiety medication (prozac which is kinda funny because i've been on that) depending on what caused it. i have figured out a way to make payments for now, however if he needs to stay longer than 2 days i will need to spot an extra 1,500 almost immediately. if i am unable to do this i have no choice other than to surrender him. essentially the breakdown is this: if it is only 2 nights it will cost roughly $2,367.56, 3 nights will be $3,203.15. all proceeds will go directly to him and his care, in addition to his overnight care, he requires a catheter, x-rays, urology exams, blood work,  etc. the extra money will go towards medication or supplements given by his vet. there are many jokes about how bonded the mentally ill girl and her cat are, and i laughed at them too, but now i realize how true that statement is to an extreme, he is a cat sure, but he is also my best friend and soulmate and i plan on him sticking around until i'm at least 32. we have too many things to still do, try the cat backpack, get our first apartment in socal, try new types of catnip,  make new friends together. i am employed, however i'm also in school and saving up to get us out of sober living and into an apartment in a less chaotic environment. i am someone who is fiercely independent, however i can accept with this i need help. it's hard to be alone and figuring out how to fur parent, but it is so rewarding to have this little goof by my side and see him everyday. anything and everything means so much to us and we thank you sincerely for even reading a bit of our story.