This handsome 5-year-old boy is Milo, and he's been my Dad's beloved pet since he was a tiny kitten. When Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and moved to assisted living, Milo went along with him and was his faithful companion. Unfortunately, Dad reached a point at which he was unable to give Milo the care he needed any longer.

His caretakers were trying to have Milo sent to a shelter or put to sleep, and Dad called me to ask if I could take him instead. I already had three cats in the house (my own two and my roommate's), but I couldn't say no to a request like that, and we made it work. There may not always be harmony, but we at least have begrudging tolerance.

Upon integrating him into the house, we discovered a few unexpected things about Milo. He hadn't been to a vet since he left the shelter as a kitten, so there were a lot of additional costs related to microchipping, vaccinations, and insurance. Additionally, Dad had been having difficulty figuring out feedings, and as a result, Milo was dangerously overweight, with emerging dental issues. He's been on a special medical diet to get him back to cat-shaped, and I've been trying to save enough to get his teeth fixed. They don't know if he'll need teeth pulled until they can put him under anaesthesia, so the estimate is between $2000 and $5000 for his dental work.

Shortly after taking Milo into my home, my work hours were cut back to three days a week, and no matter how much I've cut back, I have nothing left after his prescription food to go into his dental fund. I can't ask Dad for help. He'd want to, but his care is incredibly expensive, and his estate can't spare it. I've taken on two additional jobs doing freelance work, but I'm still only just breaking even.

Milo has come so far. He's gone from a hefty, frightened cat who didn't know what toys were, to an active purring machine who loves chasing cat dancers and playing with catnip fish, and he's learned to love and trust again after the trauma he went through during Dad's transition to care. I just want to give him his best shot at a long and happy life, and be able to keep sending Dad photos of his boy learning to thrive.