Koda's End-Of-Life Care Fund

Koda's Adoption Story

On June 4th, I walked into the Sacramento SPCA hoping to find a companion for my cat, Louis. I had been considering adopting another cat for a while, but it wasn’t until I learned—through a mutual contact—that Louis had initially come to the shelter with another cat when I adopted him 5 years ago. The timing felt fated, and right.

While scrolling through the SPCA’s website, one cat had immediately caught my eye. "Jasper" had scraggly fur and the most soulful, sad, but sweet eyes. His description said he liked to "sit next to you and put his head on your shoulder," and I was intrigued. Even though he was in the sick bay with a "cold", he was on the mend and ready to be adopted. When I arrived at the shelter, I was led to Jasper’s enclosure. The moment I picked him up, he melted into my arms. When I put him down, he stood on his hind legs, put his paws on my chest, silently asking to be picked up again. I couldn’t say no--it was as if he had chosen me. I named him Koda, after the character in Disney’s Brother Bear. In Sioux, "Koda" means "friend," which felt very fitting given the circumstances.

An Unlikely, Beautiful Brotherhood

I was nervous about bringing Koda home. Louis had never shown any interest in other cats—only apathy or, at worst, aggression. But to my surprise, Louis was curious about Koda from the moment he entered our house. I kept Koda in the bathroom to adjust, but by the second night, the two of them were curled up together on my bed, eating from the same food bowl, and playfully tussling like old friends. Louis, who had always been unassuming and very sedentary, transformed overnight into a kitten again—playful, affectionate, and happier than I had ever seen him. And more than that, he became Koda’s caretaker: following him everywhere, grooming him constantly, and never leaving his side. Their bond was immediate, surprising, and beautiful. Watching them together brought me so much joy, knowing they had found each other.

Koda and Louis together only two days after meeting

Koda's Health

Two weeks ago, Koda’s symptoms—similar to the cold he came home with—returned, but worse. He was more lethargic, his breath sounds were gurgly, he was coughing and having sneeze attacks, and his eyes were weepy. Concerned, I took him to the animal ER. After some tests, the vet looked at me with a heavy heart. She believed Koda had end-stage lymphoma, and her recommendation was euthanasia. I was stunned and devastated. I had expected some antivirals, maybe some rest, but not this. I couldn’t believe the vibrant, loving cat who had so quickly become part of our family might not come home with me. After 6 hours of tears and phone calls, I decided to take him home for the night. I wanted Koda to spend his potential final moments/nights in his own space, surrounded by the love he had come to know. I even cracked my window in the even that he passed and had to release his spirit.

The next morning, Koda was swollen and weak, but still alive. Thankfully, our usual vet was able to get us in for an emergency appointment that day. Dr. McFarlane from Broadway Veterinary Hospital examined Koda. Though his lymph nodes were indeed very swollen, she stated that Koda really was not exhibiting any other signs of cancer. He was prescribed antibiotics and steroids, and Koda perked up a bit, more himself than he had been that past week. It felt like a miracle. The ER vet had not sent us home with any medication, even palliative ones. At least, for now, Koda was more comfortable.

A Bigger Story

Wanting to better understand Koda’s journey, I reached out to Heather Anderson, an intuitive animal communicator I have been working with for years. Through her, Koda shared his past: that he has always been the “sick cat,” and that he has been passed from person to person, with his home situation never being stable enough to be on a path toward healing or comfort. She then asked me to confirm if Koda’s arrival to my house was “untraditional” in a way, like him being accepted or “fitting in” quickly. As we know, that is exactly what happened. She communicated that Louis is very aware that Koda is sick, and that he knows his time here on earth is quite limited. When Koda arrived, she says Louis and Koda made a “deal:” that Louis understood the situation where Koda was coming from, and that he wants to give Koda the space to relax and feel like he "belongs" somewhere. Louis communicated: "I just want to make sure [Koda] knows he was loved...because he's a real cat too." Louis also communicated that he feels it is an important part of his own journey on earth to be a caretaker for Koda. He understands that he is a "surrogate parent:" that he knows that this is not long-term, but that he wants to help Koda fulfill his "dream." That their journeys are beautifully intertwined.

When I inquired about Koda’s needs and wishes around his end-of-life care, he communicated that the "most important thing for him has already been achieved: that he was not only loved by another human, but by another cat. That the last three months have been "extraordinary," that he never expected to be given this "bonus chance" at life. He also communicated that he does not want anything “drastic:” no surgeries, no extensive therapies, just "patience" and “simple” things like medicine, nutrition, and fluids if needed. He communicated that when I feel it is time for him to “go,” to let both Louis and Phoebe know ahead of time so that he can properly thank them.

Unanswered Questions

In the following days, further blood tests revealed that Koda has Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), a permanent virus similar to HIV in humans. This has weakened his immune system, making him more susceptible to infections and illnesses like the parasitic bacteria that has also been found in his blood. Though he tested negative at the shelter, the FIV likely began replicating just before his arrival, undetected at first. While Koda’s cancer diagnosis remains uncertain, what is clear is that his condition requires ongoing care to keep him comfortable. Just this week, his health has unfortunately deteriorated further. Essentially, Koda is in hospice. Louis has been extra-attentive lately--he truly is Koda's guardian angel.

The cost of the two emergency vet visits, blood and cytology tests, and treatment has been both significant and unexpected. Unfortunately, Koda’s FIV status makes him ineligible for many pet insurance options. I have shared this story and created this page in the hope of offsetting some of the front-end costs we have already incurred so that I can best care for Koda moving forward with the time he has left (including a humane at-home euthanasia in his favorite chair at our home). Whether it’s a donation or simply sharing this story and sending good wishes, everything helps. Koda may not have a long life ahead, but it is my greatest desire that the time he has left can be filled with comfort, care, and, most of all, love.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts—mine, Louis's, Phoebe's and Koda’s.