Help Ryan give his beloved stray kitty a home!

Hi! I'm Emily, and I'm organizing this fundraiser for my dear friend Ryan, and the little stray cat that has claimed him as her own. This is a fundraiser to pay for her veterinary bills, food and other important items to help meet Ryan and Shy’s special needs. ♥️

Ryan is a musician who lives in Ohio, and he's one of the kindest souls on earth. A few years ago, he became fully disabled, and is now unable to work or drive. He lives on social security, which barely covers his basic needs. He has been through a lot and has been extremely isolated because of it. I truly don't know how he has endured everything he has been through, and yet remained such a kind, positive, hopeful human who is always on the lookout for ways he can bring joy and love to others.

Here we are hanging out in the Summer of 2022 when I was able make the trip up to Ohio to see, Ryan:

Right now, Ryan needs our help, and we can make a positive difference in this wonderful human's life!

About 3 months ago, he began befriending a tiny -- very sweet, but very skittish -- stray cat, who he affectionately calls Shy. With tons of love and patience, Shy has gone from extremely fearful and seemingly feral, to making biscuits and taking cozy naps on Ryan's lap. Getting to care for, and bond with, this sweet little creature has brought Ryan SO much joy, and had a deep impact on his overall wellbeing. Just check out his instagram where he has chronicled Shy's journey to see how much joy, excitement, and love she has brought into his life lately!

I had always wished that Ryan could get a pet, because I know how much goodness and love they bring into our lives, but even a pet as low-maintenance as a cat comes with costs that had made it impossible for him. Now, however, it seems clear that he's MEANT to have the companionship of a sweet little kitty, and by covering the costs of her care, we can help make that happen!!

ANYTHING you can contribute would mean the absolute world to me, to Ryan, and will help give a sweet little stray a loving companion to look out for her for the rest of her life. Thank you so, so much! ♥️

We are raising $100 for her first vet visit, + $475 for her spay procedure, wellness exam, testing, nail trim, etc... plus an additional $800 to help Ryan pay for her microchipping, outdoor shelter, scratch pad, litter box, collar, tags, food, litter, and other essentials for her care. (If we exceed this fundraising goal, all excess will continue to help Ryan cover her food, litter, vet appointments, and other essentials in the future!)

You can read the story in Ryan's own words (and see adorable pictures of Shy) below!

A donation of any amount is so meaningful, and will directly make the world a better place for this wonderful human, and this sweet little creature. Thank you SO very much for your kindness and generosity -- it means the world!

-Emily

A LETTER FROM RYAN:

This is Shy, a sweet little feral cat that I befriended over the summer. It took a lot of time, a lot patience, and a lot treats, but we’ve come a long way. I would say she’s somewhere between semi feral and almost tame now. Over the past 3 months, she slowly went from hiding underneath cars, to sitting 5 feet away, to laying at my feet, to napping in my lap, to letting me pet her, and now, she will even snuggle next to me when I am stuck in bed and too sick to sit with her outside. It was awesome seeing the change in her on the night when she stopped being afraid of my hands and realized that being pet by a human is actually awesome. Now, she can’t get enough love and affection and is always purring. If you want to see the photos and videos of her slowly becoming tamed, you can see them on my Instagram , @stubbzzz under the hashtags #befriendingaferalcat and #shy2shy

Here are some pictures of her, as she gradually came closer over the summer. She is the sweetest.

I spend a couple hours with her every night. I give her treats, affection and a safe place to sleep. And now, I want to give her a warm and safe shelter, to help her survive the winter. Shy is also small and gets bullied by the bigger cats.

I am totally disabled and live on social security income. I can’t afford to take care of her. So, I am asking my kindest friends, with the kindest hearts to please help her survive the winter. She is a sweetheart and she needs us.

She is still afraid of the indoors unless she is in my lap, and she disappears and gets lost for days sometimes, so she has some special needs as a semi feral, indoor / outdoor cat.

Thank you so much for your help. It really means a lot to me. Taming her has been kind of therapeutic for me, and by helping her, you guys are like my emotional support friends.