Help Pillbug Get Surgery

Pillbug needs your help! After over a year of medical visits it has been determined by a team of specialists that effectively the only course of treatment left for him is the removal of both eyes. This is heartbreaking to us, as I am sure it is for those who have followed his story. The quotes we have gotten for this procedure are incredibly expensive, and we are humbly asking for your assistance.

Many of you already know my story, but for those who don’t here goes. Pillbug was born in July of 2019 as part of a litter of at least 4. He was notably smaller than his siblings. When brought into the rescue he was so small he fit in the palm of your hand. For weeks he was syringe fed and taken everywhere by his

human caretakers. After much work Pillbug became healthy and independent.

Pillbug has congenital dwarfism which means he is significantly smaller than the average cat. In the fall of 2019 Pillbug, and his sister came to our home as a guest while his foster mom was out of town. During the short stay with us we knew immediately this cat was coming home with us for good. He's the most loving little guy who just wanted to snuggle up on your chest and give you drooly purring

kisses. When he finally came home with us permanently certain things became apparent, he cannot jump (like not even over a shoe) and cannot meow. We had to build a mini staircase for him to get into his litter box, and another little staircase so that he could sit in the window and bask in the sun. Pillbug has always been the most loving and special cat in the world. He was the one thing that kept our sanity

together in the beginning throws of COVID.

In the spring of 2022, we noticed that he had an issue with his eye. Immediately he was taken to the vet and found to have a corneal ulcer. After a round of drops he seemed better, until his symptoms came back. This time he had inflammation in his eye which appeared viral, and we started him on another round of drops, and a referral to a cat ophthalmologist. It was learned from the specialist that he likely has feline herpes (which is apparently very common in cats with congenital dwarfism) and that his eye pressures were very high, meaning he has glaucoma. He started on drops for both eyes. Over the course of the next year, we have tried every possible combination of dorzolamide, demecarium bromide, dorzolamide and timolol, and latanoprost, as well as lubricating drops and a round of anti-viral drops. All these drugs are intended for humans. At times he was getting drops as many as three times a day, and as many as three separate drops at a time. After each new combination of drops, he had to go back in to have his eye pressures checked. Pillbug has no insurance as we could not find an affordable one who

would insure a cat with preexisting conditions. This whole process has been very expensive (as well as an emergency de-obstipation surgery thrown in there), and unfortunately has not borne fruit.

At times his eye pressure would go down, but then would spike again.

It is our belief, and the sincere belief of his eye doctor, that Pillbug is blind. Glaucoma is very painful for both humans and cats, and the last thing we would ever want is for him to be in pain. If the drops were effective, we would continue them forever, but unfortunately the last realistic option we have is surgery. Numerous surgical treatments were researched, but his specialist believes that they would be ineffective in his case and would likely lead to the same result.

We knew Pillbug would be a challenge when we adopted him, but never thought he would have eye problems. This process has cost us hundreds of dollars a month between drops and vet visits, and that is why Pillbug humbly asks for your assistance to solve his eye problems once and for all. Estimates for his surgery are around $4,500. Thank you for your support.

To read more about Pillbug and to follow his story he can if found at #pillbugkitten on Instagram as well

as the two following articles:

https://www.lovemeow.com/rescuers-kittens-tabby-small-happy 2641612402.html

https://www.lovemeow.com/kitten-half-size-happy-rescue-2645231345.html