Our beautiful 12 year-old Cambodian cat Pepper dislocated her back leg after falling 4 floors from our apartment onto the ground floor, where she luckily landed on a hedge, which undoubtedly saved her life. We need help to pay for Pepper's vet bills and urgent surgery. Pepper is currently on painkillers at home with my husband Terence in Siem Reap, Cambodia, until we can raise the money for a Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO).

UPDATE: I had to adjust the amount I'm fund-raising for to US$900 / A$1,255 after Pepper's vet bills increased after a revised 'estimate' and the period of hospitalisation extending to 12 days. I've been warned that as it's only an 'estimate', it could very well increase again. The amount includes Pepper's first consultation, X-ray, bloods, and painkillers; Pepper's upcoming hospitalisation for surgery, observation and recovery; and pre- and post- surgery boarding; along with transport costs to get Pepper to/from our home to the surgery on the outskirts to Siem Reap near the airport.

As those of you who know Pepper know, she's an athletic girl and strong as an ox, so despite her age, we're confident she'll get through this. You'll also know that she has loads of personality. She's a kooky cat, who can be a little bit crazy as only Cambodian cats can be, but she's absolutely charming, incredibly affectionate - when she wants to be!

We absolutely adore her and can't imagine life without her. I've been crying constantly since Terence told me the devastating news that she'd fallen from such a height. The thought of her being in pain and dragging her little leg breaks my heart. We've been through a lot together, from saving her life after rescuing her from the Siem Reap streets through her accidental pregnancy and separation of her babies, pandemic lockdowns, you name it.

Pepper had been the runt of the litter, abandoned by her street cat mother, and Terence rescued her from beneath the wheels of a tuk tuk, one rainy monsoon night in Siem Reap. We'd been having drinks with a friend at a bar and Terence bolted out onto the street mid-conversation, returning with a damp, scrawny, smelly, pussy-eyed little 6-week-old kitten with the most enormous ears. She was so tiny I could fit her into my hand-bag. And that's exactly what we did that night, sneaking her into our rental apartment, as pets weren't allowed.

Terence and I were a busy travel/food writer and photographer team at the time, frequently bouncing all over Southeast Asia on assignments. Our plan was to get Pepper back to health then find a home for her. But we fell in love with her and couldn't part with her. Adopting a cat changed our lives, grounding us in a sense. But to be honest, after years living out of our suitcases, we didn't mind one bit. I think Pepper's been forever grateful, especially to Terence - yes, he is her favourite; she loves standing on his back giving him massages! - but I don't mind one bit. She's been a close companion to him while I've been in Australia.

Because as some of you know, I left Terence and Pepper in Siem Reap in late 2023 for Australia, with just a 7-kilo carry-on, for what I thought would be a 1-2 month trip. Mum had received an eviction notice and my plan was to help her find a new home, pack her up, move her, and settle her in. I was completely oblivious to Australia's rental housing crisis.

I spent 18 months looking for a new home for Mum (applied for 98 properties in the process!); singlehandedly sorted/cleaned/packed up her big house and moved her into a new apartment; all the while supporting Mum through diagnosis, treatment and recovery for lung cancer, and other health issues.

Devastatingly, Mum was recently diagnosed with dementia, and I'm currently waiting on approval for in-home Aged Care support for her, after which (once I can increase my income), the plan will be to travel back and forth between Australia and Cambodia.

As I've been a full-time carer for 2 years and 3 months, I've barely been able to work and earn an income, and Terence, who has suffered from peripheral neuropathy as a result of Long Covid, hasn't been able to work either. Pepper's accident and vet bills couldn't have come at a worse time.

I'm therefore swallowing my pride - as I had to when I asked for help for Mum - and asking if the cat people and animal lovers among you, especially those of you know Pepper, can help us pay these vet bills. We'll be forever grateful and happy to help you if you ever need it, when we're finally back on our feet.

Warmest

Lara xx