Hi friends,

 

If you know me, you know how much of an animal lover I am and just how much my furry companions are family to me. Some of you know my second eldest, a Norwegian Forest Cat named Moomkat, personally and some by reputation. She is one of the sweetest, dopiest, funniest, and most loving cats I've ever met and has developed an adoring fanbase among friends and family.

 

In early March, I found my sweet girl lying on my bedroom floor, unmoving except for big, rapid, heaving breaths.  She had been losing weight and was lethargic in the week prior and now, suddenly, seemed to be going into respiratory failure. I scooped her up and rushed her to the emergency veterinary clinic where they promptly put her on oxygen and bronchodilators, high dose steroids. and many other treatments to regulate her breathing and save her life. Thankfully (!!!) they were able to stabilize her, keeping her in an oxygen tent and monitoring her overnight. Within that time they ran a number of diagnostic scans and tests – fearing the worst, that she'd been hiding undiagnosed lung carcinoma. From the scans, they saw that her bronchi were massively inflamed, causing her to get very little oxygen to her lungs. Luckily the tests all came back negative for cancer – hallelujah.

 

It turns out all the seemingly cute snorfle sounds that had been Moomkat's trademark for years had been increasingly severe, undiagnosed asthma which had progressed to a point of massive inflammation, causing an intense attack where she was barely able to breathe. The vet said she would have most likely died had I not gotten her there when I did (!). She returned home after about 36 hours and has been on a strict regimen of daily bronchodilator and steroids since, showing much improvement, gaining her weight back and regaining her energy.

 

The vet bill for all of this, though, was astronomically high – over $2700 – and the costs of follow-up visits, scans, and medications continue to add up. Thankfully I was able to get a very generous loan and support from a couple of dear friends, but subsequent costs have cut into my funds so much that I had to use most of my rent money for the month of May. I have felt so much resistance to asking for support, as I feel like I should be able to be fully responsible for my furry kids' care, and I know that everyone I know is also strapped for cash these days, but I am in dire straits and need to finally surrender and ask for help. I was able to get an extension on May's rent, but with June fast approaching l need to figure out how to get the cash together to make up May's rent, as well as to start paying off the generous loans I received.

 

I know it's a crazy high goal (and it's not even the full amount! ), but anything you might be able to donate to help me towards it would be hugely, hugely appreciated and a massive help! It's cost a lot but worth every cent to have this sweet girl still with me.

 

Thank you so much!

 

With deep love and gratitude from Alex & Moomkat