Mad Eye(s) Moody no more

Three years ago I made a rather important decision to adopt a cat, [HA1] but I didn’t realize how special this cat would be. Having grown up with over 30 cats over my life time, I knew I could handle the problems of a cat that needed a little more love. So when I came to the Independence SPCA center and said I wanted to see the “problem” cats, I was serious. I was hoping to find a black cat who was considered “senior” given that they are adopted less than other cats. And I found one that has “been in the wars” as the saying goes.

 “Blackie” as he was named, is the epitome of that cat. He was 7 years old and partially blind in one eye. One ear is torn up from fights and the other ear is shriveled from extensive ear mite damage over the years (which has also led to partial balding around his ears). He is FIV positive, which means that he does not have the immune system that an average cat does. When he gets sick, he gets sick. He also has all but 2 of his teeth removed, only his very back ones remain. I spoke with the shelter assistant who knew a little bit of his back story. He was a stray found in the wild of Missouri and who had been adopted & abandoned twice in his life. His FIV was definitely transferred during his survival in the wild. Given his background I figured he would not be affectionate but melted in my hand. Both he and I decided that “Blackie” didn’t fit and given my love of Harry Potter, “Alastor Mad Eye Moody” or “Moody” was mine. 
 

I know that every pet owner believes their pet is the best and special but he is special in every word and to me. He’s adjusted well to flying back and forth between Boston & MO over the years as I moved between apartments as a graduate student. He’s brought a lot of calm to a lot of stressed out Simmons students through the last years. But right now, we need some calm brought to us.

 

When I got him, the adoption center warned that the blindness in his eye might progress so I was not worried when about 2 years ago he started to bump into walls. However, within the last year he has gone completely blind and his eyes went from cloudy blue to concerning red. After several vet visits, we went to a cat eye specialist in Boston. Mad Eye Moody needs to have his eyes removed. He has severe Uveitis and glaucoma in both of his eyes. They are swollen and causing him pain. It is also possible that one eye has either a blood clot mass or a tumor behind the eye but his condition is so advance that she cannot test it until it is removed. We also discovered in this process he has toxoplasmosis and bartonella, both treatable infections but are also affecting his eye pain management. His eye retina has also completely disintegrated in one eye.  I was prepared to handle having a problematic cat but as a recent graduate having to deal with Boston living costs, I’m not able to afford the full surgery.

 

Without the surgery, Moody’s eyes will continue to cause him pain for the rest of his life and begin to lead to over infections. If that is a tumor behind his eye, it will eventually kill him if it malignant which they cannot test unless the eye is removed. His eyes are completely blind, there is no reversal and are useless to him at this point. There are concerns given that he is FIV, senior, and a tad overweight but the vet has given a favorable prognosis for surgery.  I do not like having to remove his eyes let alone ask for assistance but I cannot continue to have him be in pain. Any donation would be greatly appreciated if addresses are given you will receive a thank you card from Moody himself.

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