Hi, my name is Kate-lyn. I’m 17, and I’m trying to save my cat, Simba.

Simba isn’t just a pet to me. He’s my therapy cat, my emotional support, and honestly, the only thing keeping me grounded right now.

Late October, I lost my mum to a rare and aggressive cancer. She was my only real support system. Since then, my entire life has been turned upside down. I lost my home, my safe space, even my sensory room that helped me cope with my autism. I’m now living with my boyfriend, trying to navigate grief, instability, and daily life without the one person who held everything together for me.

Through all of this, Simba has been there. Every breakdown, every sleepless night, every moment where things felt too heavy—he’s been the one constant I could rely on.

Now he’s the one suffering.

Simba has multiple polyps in his left ear, including one dangerously close to his eardrum. We already tried surgery once, and it was unsuccessful. Our vets have told us that the best option now is a TECA + VBO surgery, which costs around £3,000–£3,500.

I don’t have that kind of money. I’m 17, with no financial safety net, trying to survive after losing everything.

I feel like I’m about to lose the one thing I have left.

I can’t explain how much Simba means to me. He’s not just my cat—he’s carried me through the worst time of my life. The thought of losing him, or watching him stay in pain because I can’t afford to help him, is something I genuinely don’t know how to cope with.

If you can donate, even a small amount, it would mean more than I can ever put into words. And if you can’t, sharing this would help more than you know.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for giving me even a small bit of hope.

— Kate-lyn