Last week, my cat--the love of my life and my precious baby who's been with me for 16 of her 18 1/2 years--showed signs of what I'd thought was a leg injury. We'd already gone to the emergency hospital due to her possibly licking a toxic substance, but when it rains it pours because, a week before my birthday and with homework piling up and rent due, she wasn't walking right.

But what I thought was a leg injury caused by old age and arthritis was actually much worse: it was a neurological issue.

When her primary vet saw her, immediately she was concerned and told me to go to the local animal hospital the following day. So on Wednesday, April 1st, we went and after an exam the vets confirmed there is something wrong in her lower back along the spine causing her back legs not to work quite right. She is still able to walk, but she's exhibiting lameness and is clearly struggling, uncomfortable, and after examination confirmed, painful. She's been given pain medication and bed rest (as much as a cat can be on bed rest), but she isn't out of the woods and neither am I financially.

The bills have piled up in a short couple weeks and there's more to come as she also has a cardiology appointment towards the end of the month (with an estimated cost of $600 on top of the $1432 I've already had to place on credit cards I cannot pay off without help). Between the Ubers to the vets, the exam fees and prescriptions, and buying rugs, pet steps, and organizational furniture to make my bedroom more accessible to her, it's all stacking up. And her being a geriatric cat with comorbidities and without pet insurance, the question of what I can afford to do in order to help keep my baby happy, comfortable, and as healthy as possible looms before me. If the worst comes to pass, if she is absolutely in too much pain, I wouldn't selfishly hold onto her. But right now, I know she's not there and I need help to have the financial capacity to ensure she can keep getting the care she needs and we don't fall further into the hole with these bills.

Times are difficult for all of us and I hate having to ask for help, but Miss Kitty is so important to me and I do not want her to be in pain or to keep waiting on necessary medical exams that can help me take the best care of her possible. I've already had to push back her cardiology appointment mulitple times and, after the ER visit last Wednesday and the concerns the vets there had about her heart, I cannot keep pushing it back even with all these other bills.

But Miss Kitty is still so bright and full of life, she is the most loving, clingy baby girl and she has given me more joy, comfort, and love for over a decade and a half than I can ever quantify. I will do all in my power to ensure she continues to live comfortably, but the bills are insurmountable and with so much in the air about her health, I'm scared of what the next emergency might bring to both of us and our finances.

If anyone has any disposable income, whether that's $5, $10, or more, we would be forever grateful. I truly cannot put into words how difficult this past week has been watching my cat struggle, talking with vet after vet, and wondering "will this be the moment they tell me I can't help her?"

[Receipt from Angell Animal Medical Center from 4/1/26 listing procedures performed on Miss Kitty and the total cost of $615.72]

[Two receipts from the emergency vet, one cut off dated for March 21 and the second visible date March 22 wherein Miss Kitty was brought in for follow up blood work to ensure the fluids administered the previous night impacted her positively. The top bill shows a total of $460.89 and the bottom shows a bill of $173.89]

[Invoice from Miss Kitty's primary vet for 3/31 exam with a total cost of $96]

[Invoice from Miss Kitty's primary vet from Saturday 4/4 with a total cost of $85.50]

The total goal includes the cardiologist appointment that is coming up on April 23rd. I was only given a verbal estimate of the cost when we first went to the cardiologist back in October. This goal does not include the Ubers I took to get her to appointments nor the extraneous things I've had to purchase for her comfort (steps, rugs, organizers, a surplus of kitty gogurt to mix her meds in). This is ONLY for the vet bills. Though I do not anticipate this, any surplus money raised will be set aside for a Miss Kitty emergency fund in order to ensure I can get her any necessary emergency medical care in the event she needs it either related to the issue with her back, her heart, or something else.

[Image of a tortoiseshell calico cat, Miss Kitty-Fantastico, partially out of her carrier to lick a kitty-gogurt. Taken at the emergency vets March 21st.]

Thank you so much for your time, shares, and donations. From the bottom of my heart and Miss Kitty's.