Hi, my name is Lauren and my partner is Drew. I’m reaching out with a heart that’s completely overwhelmed.

Recently, we lost our beloved cat Rey—suddenly and tragically. She had a history of suspected asthma, but this time, her usual treatments didn’t help. Steroids, steam therapy, and even a humidifier made her breathing worse. When she was placed in an oxygen chamber, her respiratory rate was 90 breaths per minute—alarming and exhausting. Despite everything we tried, including antibiotics (Clavamox), she declined quickly and began sounding congested. With heavy hearts, we made the painful decision to let her go.

We are shattered. And now, our three remaining cats are showing eerily similar symptoms:

• Clicking/snoring sounds while breathing—even at rest

• Lip licking after eating and at random

• Frequent yawning and possible sighing

• Occasional sneezing

• Twitchy, itchy ears and occasional head shaking

• Sudden intense grooming, especially after waking like itchiness awoke them

• Short episodes of chest/abdominal breathing, usually during sleep (I am terrified of this progressing as Rey got too bad to be saved)

• Lethargy (though I am grieving in bed and they often stay by my side)

They’re still eating, drinking, and using the litter box—but so was Rey, right up until the end. All of them shared litter, bowls, and living space. We’re terrified this could be contagious—something like a respiratory virus, bacteria, or even mold exposure.

We need urgent help getting them to the vet for:

• Exams

• Respiratory testing (PCR panel)

• Chest X-rays

• Any treatment to keep them safe and stabilize their health

We also need help covering Rey’s euthanasia and private cremation, which we still haven’t been able to pay for. The vet is holding her remains until Monday, giving us time to come up with the funds.

We’re emotionally and financially broken.

We exhausted our single unemployment income on Rey’s emergency care, and now we’re unsure how we’ll pay rent. I’m chronically ill and unable to work, though “not sick enough” for help. My partner is on unemployment while searching for a job. We try to do DoorDash when our car is functioning, but we often make less than $30 after hours of driving.

To make things worse, there’s a possible mold issue in our new home. We moved in at the end of December, and the symptoms in our cats seem to have started since. Noticeably so at the beginning of this month. We’ve noticed odd coincidences, and we’re concerned about potential mold in the carpets or air ducts—but we don’t have the funds for testing, remediation, or even a temporary place to go if we need to leave.

Rey’s favorite place to lay was at the air duct in the living room. She loved feeling the heat on her belly. Though recently we noticed that this was triggering more and more “asthma attacks” so we covered the duct with a table hoping this would prevent her from getting too close to it. She still got as close as possible anyways and it seemed there was no way to stop her- she was determined. My other cats didnt get along with Rey so they weren’t often near this particular air duct, though they have been exposed to whatever could be in them. That is, until Rey’s passing, now they spend a lot of time in that room. The back end of the house is where the suspicious carpet is, so there really is no place safest.

We don’t know if mold contributed to Rey’s decline, but we’re terrified it could be affecting all of us now—pets and people alike.

We are asking for help to:

• Pay for Rey’s private cremation and euthanasia (due by Monday)

• Get urgent vet care for our three remaining cats

• Investigate possible mold or environmental causes in our home

• Help us avoid eviction and ensure safety for our pets and ourselves

These cats are my world. As someone who is homebound due to chronic illness, they are my light, my comfort, and my daily lifeline. I’ve already lost my soulmate cat, Sebastian, just last year—tragically—and that same week, my cat Vine had a FIC/FLUTD flare-up, urinating blood and needing emergency care. Sebastian himself had survived a deadly urinary blockage thanks to emergency PU surgery in the past.

Emergency after emergency has left us in emotional and financial freefall.

If you can donate, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you can’t, please consider sharing our story. It could save our cats’ lives.

We don’t want to lose another. We just want a chance to save them—before it’s too late again.

With love and deep gratitude,

Lauren and Drew