Save Our Philly Cat!

I get it, you probably aren't too happy with Philadelphia right now. Gun violence is on the rise, the Phillies lost in the World Series, and the Eagles embarrassed us in the playoffs. You may not be feeling particularly keen on donating your hard earned money to anything that has to do with this city. But I bet you’ve never met my cat, Phil. Philip A. Delphia to be exact - the best thing that has ever come from the City of Brotherly Love. He’s a cat full of grit, hardened by spending the first few years of his life on the streets of Philly, but a gentleman whose favorite time is spent loving the humans around him. He was an underdog, but I want to take a second to talk to you about underdogs.

In 2012, while attending Temple University, a large brown tabby cat confidently pranced through the open door of my apartment and flopped proudly in the center of the living room, purring louder than a motor boat and glancing around at his new friends. After cautiously checking him over, his charm won me and my four roommates over in a matter of minutes. We gave him a good meal and warm bed, but I never could have imagined that he would continue to give me the kind of companionship that turns pets into family members for another 12 years.

Phil embodies everything we love about the city of Philadelphia - and unfortunately, for the past few years, that includes….the smell…. Phil has been battling a chronic ear infection and has endured countless vet visits, two surgeries to remove polyps (small tumors) from his ear canal. These treatments have only offered temporary relief and the ear infection continues to return, and each time is worse than the last. Our only option left is to surgically remove his ear canal - a very expensive specialty surgery called a “Total Ear Canal Ablation and Bulla Osteotomy (TECA-BO).” I previously felt that this surgery was too expensive and too invasive for a 10+ year-old cat, that he is too much of an underdog. But guess what…hungry dogs run faster, and Philly cats don't quit!!

I took Phil to a new Vet Clinic last week for another opinion, and even with a fever and a very stinky ear, he had the entire staff fawning over him by the end of the appointment. Our doctor encouraged me that he is strong, and that this surgery will give him his life back. You may think it's silly to spend this kind of money on a stinky old cat, but he's my family and I need your help! So, please, reach down deep inside and find that Philly spirit, and help SAVE PHIL!!