Tornado is our beloved office cat, and she’s become a cherished part of our work family. We’re raising funds to get her spayed and repair a diaphragmatic hernia, both of which are crucial for her health and happiness.

Tornado was a stray cat I first saw out of my office window. My co-worker and I tried to interact with her but understandably she was very scared and would run across the street anytime we were outside. We started to leave cat food out and she slowly began to eat it once we left and went inside (although at first if she saw us watching her eat from the windows she’d run away.) She began to stay nearby the door when we’d step outside (with a

bag full of treats) from there she began to let us pet her, and eventually she felt safe enough to come inside the office where she now spends much of her day! As we got to know Tornado better we saw that she has a heavy breathing issue. We took her to the vet and learned that she has a diaphragmatic hernia (her organs shift around.) Since we started caring for her, Tornado has already had two miscarriages because her breathing issues make it impossible for her to carry kittens. The vet explained that spaying a cat with a diaphragmatic hernia is a delicate and complex procedure due to the special care required under anesthesia.

We tried to help Tornado by bringing her to my apartment, hoping she could adjust to being an indoor cat. Unfortunately, unspayed indoor cats go into heat, and Tornado became distressed, meowing for hours and clearly uncomfortable. We don’t want her to mate because she can’t safely handle a pregnancy, but we also want her to enjoy the freedom and comfort she deserves.

Thank you to anyone who reads about Tornado or is able to donate. Please don’t feel any guilt if you can’t donate—her life has already improved so much! We fondly call her our spoiled stray. Looking back through old pictures it is heartwarming to see how much she has improved by gaining some weight and her coat has become much thicker and shinier. She is not only fed cat food but is regularly treated to clam chowder!