My name is Erin, and I’m a recent college graduate creating this account for my sweet cat, Louie. Throughout my time living alone in college while earning my aerospace engineering degree, Louie has been my constant companion and a true emotional support animal.

I noticed early on that Louie’s legs were shorter than most cats’ and that he sometimes hopped using his back legs. Earlier this week, his back legs became shaky, and it was clear he was in pain. Yesterday, I received the difficult news that Louie has Legg-Perthes disease — a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the top of the femur bones where they connect to the hips. This lack of blood flow causes the bone to shrink and die, leading to pain and mobility issues.

Thankfully, there is a highly successful surgical treatment called Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy (FHNO), with a success rate of over 90%. In this procedure, the damaged portion of the femur is removed, relieving pain and allowing the hip joint to function again, supported by muscle and scar tissue instead of the diseased bone.

I’m incredibly grateful to have the support of my parents, grandparents, and sister in covering Louie’s veterinary expenses — including diagnosis, pain management, surgery, and follow-up care — which are expected to total around $7,200. I’m also thankful to have started a job right after graduation, but living in California as a new graduate comes with its own financial challenges.

Any help, no matter the size, would mean the world to us. Louie’s surgery is scheduled for August 18, and I’m counting down the days until he can be pain-free and on the road to recovery.