If you've ever had the absolute joy of meeting my sweet baby boy Salem, there's a high likelihood you love him (almost) as much as I do.

Salem is the sweetest, funniest, most loving little baby I've ever known. He has such a special ability to immediately capture the heart of truly everyone he meets. Friends, family, and strangers alike always gush over how friendly, affectionate, majestic, and hilarious he is (strong emphasis on hilarious). Even now, while he's hospitalized, the veterinary staff can't help but tell me every time I visit how much everyone there adores him.

Recently, Salem's brilliant light has inexplicably started to dull. He suddenly became very ill, and he stopped eating and drinking. His skin turned yellow seemingly overnight. After a trip to the emergency vet on Friday morning, he was admitted to emergency and critical care, where he remains hospitalized while the team works to determine the cause of a serious liver condition and anemia.

There have been some hopeful signs! His bilirubin levels have started improving, and he continues to fight every day. However, he still isn't eating on his own, and the next few days will determine whether he will need a feeding tube and additional diagnostics to give him the best chance at recovery.

His hospitalization and current treatment are expected to total approximately $8,000 by Monday. Depending on how he responds to treatment over the weekend, additional diagnostic testing may be necessary. Even if Salem continues making progress over the next 48 hours, he will still need significant nutritional support to recover from his liver condition. Because of this, his veterinary team anticipates that he will most likely still require surgery to place a feeding tube before he can safely come home. This procedure would add approximately $3,500 to his medical expenses.

We are exploring every reasonable option, including lower-cost clinics for any remaining procedures, to ensure Salem receives the care he needs while being as financially responsible as possible. Every donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward Salem's emergency veterinary care and help lessen the financial burden of giving him the best possible chance to recover.

Anyone who knows me knows Say Say isn't just a cat. He's my best friend, my "familiar", my spooky boy, and an absolutely integral part of my family. I never imagined facing medical bills of this magnitude, and despite doing everything we can, the financial burden is overwhelming.

If you're able to donate, no matter the amount, it would mean more than I can express. If donating isn't possible, sharing Salem's story would help us just as much.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my sweet baby, and thank you for keeping him in your thoughts while we hope for more good news in the days ahead.

With love,

Madison & Salem