Hi there! My name is Stevie Nicks, I am an orange tabby cat that was taken in off the streets after I was badly beaten up by other cats. Its been roughly three years since I went from homeless stray to indoor companion, and I've been enjoying every minute of it! That is -- until I started getting incredibly sharp pains in my mouth. At first my mom and I thought that I needed to floss better, but when I stopped eating, I was rushed to the vet (ugh!). My doctor decided that I needed to go in for surgery right away, and once he was in there, he saw a terrible sight. My mouth, throat, and stomach are currently covered in ulcers! If you're like my mom you'd might ask, what could cause these terribly painful ulcers in an otherwise healthy cat? I've gotten all my shots and have always had a clean bill of health! Intensive blood-work showed otherwise. It is then when we all found out that I have been living with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) that had been lying dormant for years. It turns out, when I was being attacked by other cats on the streets, they gave me this terrible disease. And now, my only options are to either die or undergo incredibly invasive surgery. Having this virus means that I will have to have all of my teeth pulled out ASAP and possibly be on steroids for the rest of my life so that my immune system has a chance. Cats might have nine lives, but I don't want this life to be cut so short.

My mom is currently a Ph.D. student who is living off pennies from her stipend and is under contract with the school to not hold any other jobs. The cost of my dental extractions and FIV management is estimated (by my vet) to be roughly $1500, which is something my loving mom can't afford to pay all by herself (if she wants to keep a roof over our heads). My mom and I can be stubborn at times, so we hate asking for help, but we humbly ask that other cat lovers, friends, and family members donate so that I can live to see another day. We know times are financially rough with COVID, but even small donations would be greatly appreciated. 

I mean the world to my mom. I am the one she gets to come home to after her long days of doing research. I am the one who helps her get out of bed in the morning. I massage her back and tummy when I make biscuits. I even sing her songs when she calls out my name. She took me in so that I could live a better life, so I have to stay alive to return that love back. I hate to see her so stressed, so any help would make me (and my cat mom) unbelievably grateful. Donations would mean that I wouldn't have to make my mom choose between saving my life or paying rent. 

Things I would be able to do again, once I got the surgery: 
-Watch birds and people pass by
-Feel the sun's gaze as it comes through my favorite window
-Snuggle in bed with my mom on her days off
-Chase my favorite toy around (I can't go until I catch that red dot!)
-Play in my water bowl
-Eat my favorite snack (pretty much anything tuna flavor!)


Thank you so much for taking the time to read through! Below are some pictures that will help you put a name to a (feline) face! 

Best, 
Stevie the Cat