Hi, my name is Sogol and I am asking for help.

I am sure every pet owner would say this about their fur baby, but my cat Henry is more than just a pet — he’s my companion, my comfort, and my family - and I love him very deeply. He is a living, breathing teddy bear of a cat, and gives the loudest purrs the instant you pet him. He has a best friend called Julie (a beautiful norwegian forest cat) currently waiting for him to come home. Henry is a 12-year-old domestic shorthair that I have raised since he was 2 months old, with the gentlest soul, and he has been fighting for his life for the past year.

Last year, Henry almost died after developing a life-threatening urinary blockage caused by cystitis. He pulled through with so much strength, and since then I’ve been doing everything I can to keep him healthy and comfortable. Whilst his bouts of cystitis have thankfully cleared, unfortunately in the last couple of months, something far more frightening has started to happen.

Henry began to show signs of neurological deterioration. At first it was subtle — hiding under the bed, seeming confused. But then he started to lose his balance and fall over, and soil himself outside of the litter tray. In the last 48 hours, his decline has been so rapid that our usual vet urgently referred him to specialists at the Queen Mother Animal Hospital at the Royal Veterinary College. Because his case is atypical, where he does not show the classic signs of seizures and he dips in and out of conciseness, they have deemed this necessary so that he can get the best care - but sadly it comes at a huge price tag, one that I didn't plan for (as one never does).

He is currently hospitalised there, where the team is preparing him for advanced neurological testing. Henry will likely need an MRI or CT scan, along with further specialist investigations, to understand what is happening if indeed it is neurological, and how we can treat it. Without these tests, we cannot help him — and without help, he will only continue to deteriorate. The MRI does come with risk as he has to go under general anaesthesia, which is making me worried sick, but its potentially the only option we have at this stage.

I’ve been given an estimated cost of £6,000, and I’ve already paid £2,000 out of pocket, not including his initial hospitalisation fee (which I am covering myself). Henry is fully insured, but his policy only covers £2,000 per condition, and medical costs over the last year have already overwhelmed what the insurance will pay. I’ve asked for payment plans and financial support from the hospital, but they do not offer either.

This is the very first time in Henry’s entire life that I’ve ever had to ask for help. It’s heartbreaking for me to admit that I can’t shoulder this alone anymore. The last year of constant illnesses has been emotionally painful and financially draining, and now I’m facing a specialist bill far beyond my means. I am simply trying to give Henry the fighting chance he deserves.

Despite everything, Henry is still incredibly loving, and full of life. He’s not ready to give up — and neither am I. Please help me give my handsome cuddly boy a fighting chance!

If you are able to donate even £1, it genuinely makes a difference. If you can’t donate, simply sharing this page helps more than you know.

If the final costs end up being lower than expected, I will donate every penny of the excess directly to Battersea Cats & Dogs Home, so your kindness will help other animals too. I will constantly update the total as and when needed and will keep everyone informed every step of the way.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read Henry’s story. Thank you for caring. And thank you for helping me give him the chance to keep living the life he still has left to live.

With all my heart, thank you.