Hello everyone! My one and a half year old cat, Lou, somehow managed to swallow a screw. Unfortunately, a friend was watching her and it wasn't until three-ish days later that I was really aware of what was happening and able to take her to the vet. She had been vomiting and hadn't been eating, and while I had assumed she'd eaten something she shouldn't have, I really had NO idea it would be an entire screw. 

Here's where it gets tough. There were two options. One was she would board at the animal hospital and we'd wait it out to see if she could pass it. X-rays made it seem like it there would be a small chance, but if she couldn't pass it, and it ruptured/perforated her intestines overnight while no one was there, she'd most likely die a really painful death all alone.  So hell no. Not an option I really considered. Option two was emergency surgery - the estimated cost would be ~$5000, if she had any infections and would need some unhealthy intestine cut out. I chose surgery. 

Fortunately, they were able to cut the screw out of her smaller intestine! It had barely passed through her stomach. Here it is covered in bile and hair. She's currently still at the vet, recovering from surgery and being in a safe place where she'll have a solid eye kept on her and her immediate recovery. 


I was able to be in the room for the whole surgery, which was awesome and I'm really thankful for that. Here's a cute lil picture I took of her during. If you really want to see some of her intestines, let me know and I'll send you more graphic pictures! 

All in all, I'm kind of screwed. I've worked it out with Carefirst Animal Hospital at Oberlin, where I used to work, which was also one of the only hospitals open for surgery on this wonderful Saturday before Easter, so that I can maybe be able to pay the final bill in installments. I don't have Care Credit. The final estimate for everything, so far, is around $3700. That includes boarding, all of her antibiotics, all of the sutures, medicine, time, x-rays, and experience that it took to figure all of this out quickly.

I don't have this money. I don't know how I will get this money, especially considering I am currently out of work due to Covid-19.

I recognize that this is my cat and this is my problem, and I don't like asking for money.  That being said.. I need help badly enough to make a GoFundMe. I need to pay this bill somehow, and fast. I'm going back on Monday morning to see how many installments I can pay it in, and if there would be any interest rates, or what, so I'll continue to update this page as this all goes on. 

If you, or a friend, or your cat are lucky enough to still be working, or you have cash set aside to help strangers in need, I'd be really thankful right now. 

To anyone who donates, or shares, send me your email and I'll keep you updated with cute pics or gnarly surgery pics if that's what you're into! I'm sure I have plenty. She's a really sweet girl, she's helped me through a lot, and she just happens to be stupid enough to eat a Screw. 

Thank you in advance. Lou loves you all.