Hi, I'm Scarlett LaFlamme, a burlesque artist, writer, and podcaster based in Toronto. Besides that stuff, I support myself with freelance work, which has been slow for a month now.

My 15-year-old cat, Randy, after never being sick a day in her life, is now dying of intestinal cancer. She has lost a ton of weight over the past year and has started suffering, throwing up bile almost every day and becoming lethargic. She is still eating and drinking, but she isn't enjoying her life. Although she is clearly dying, she won't naturally have a quick, easy passing.

I live paycheque to (freelance) paycheque at the best of times, due to the ridiculous cost of living, and still have to pay my taxes from last year. My phone bill is overdue. As a senior cat, Randy hasn't been eligible for pet insurance for a while now.

I want to have her euthanized at home, because a) she's a shy cat and would be far less stressed than she would be in a vet's office; b) I want her bonded cat friend, Teddy, to know that she has passed on and not think she has just disappeared; and c) it's really not much of a cost difference. The cheapest quote I got was $734 with tax, which I cannot afford at all right now. So, despite feeling intense shame every time I make one of these and knowing that just about everyone has it rough economically right now, I chose to start a fundraiser rather than just helplessly watch my pet suffer.

Any amount you can give helps, and don't underestimate the power of sharing the fundraiser if you can't afford to give anything.

Thanks for reading.

XO Scarlett