The short version? I adopted a cat from the SPCA who turned out to be diabetic. I wasn't about to take her back, because who'd adopt a cat with diabetes? She'd be there for years. I can afford her food and insulin, with careful budgeting. We test her once yearly, a $250 test that includes blood, urine, and fructosamine levels that let us track how her diabetes is doing. Knowing this test is coming, I can save up for it. This year, her diabetes is worse. So I have to up her insulin levels, then get her tested again in two weeks. I don't have the budget for that, so I'm asking for help.

The longer version: So I go to the SPCA, right? I want a kitten. While I'm waiting for the staff to show me this one kitten, I'm leaning against a row of kennels. This cat by my head comes out of her little kitty cave thing and starts rubbing all over the kennel door. The staff tells me that she's been there three days and hasn't come out once while people are around.

They let me meet her, and she rubbed all over me, purred, even drooled a little. I was sold. I named her Niobe and took her home. Two days later, I call the SPCA clinic and talk to the vet there, who happens to be a vet I worked with a few years prior. I tell her Niobe is drinking and peeing up a storm, and she either has diabetes or a kidney issue. "No way!" the vet says. "She's only 6." But I take her in and test her, and sure enough, she has diabetes.

We start her on insulin and a prescription diet that cost $90 a bag. The insulin and syringes cost $80. The food does last a couple of months and the insulin generally lasts just over a month, so despite being on a disability income, I can manage.

Last week, I took Niobe in for her annual visit. Knowing it was coming, I budgeted the $250 for her bloodwork and urinalysis. Today, I got the results. Her blood sugar is elevated, there's sugar in her urine, and her fructosamine level is elevated. Which means I have to increase her insulin injection amount from 3 units to 3.5, then re-test her in two weeks.

That, I don't have the budget for. So I'm asking for help.