Hi friends and family! Last night we had to rush our family cat, Phil, to the emergency vet. He was acting very strangely, repeatedly going into his litter box but not eliminating, laying on the ground and not moving for long periods of time. It was when I noticed he had urinated on himself and the pillow he was laying on that we decided a vet appointment couldn’t wait.

Phil has FLUTD Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease and is in extreme kidney failure. The options we had to make were extremely limited. Hospitalization or bring him home to pass away in pain. At first it was a no brainer, there is a treatment that could be administered and has proven to be successful with FLUTD. Of course we want to do whatever we can for Phil, he is Emerson’s best friend after all. We got the call with the quote for hospitalization and treatment, $5,950 - $7,150.

As we waited for the e-mail to come through for payment we talked about how we were going to pay the bill we knew we didn’t have the money for. For now, an emergency Credit Card has paid the initial bill with the potential for an additional bill depending on how many injections he will need. To be honest, we live paycheck to paycheck, like most average people in Orange County. In order to pay this off one of us will have to get a second job (or at least a different job). It will take some time and could not even be possible. With two small kids at home and the holidays coming up, that’s a tough pill to swallow.

What I can swallow is my pride and as for help. Phil is such a special cat. He’s always been so affectionate and loving. He was the protector of my pregnant belly bump and provider of many dead and alive rodents and small creatures. He is my baby girl’s best friend, always tolerant of her hugs and kisses. He is so special to us in so many ways.

It’s never easy to ask for help. But here I am asking… If you are able and willing, our family would greatly appreciate any help.