My wonderful cat, Solo, needs surgery.

This is my little boy: Solo.

Last year, Solo was diagnosed with a bladder stone. It caused a urinary tract infection which left him with a catheter and diapers, and medication that was difficult to administer on my own.

The antiobiotics, anti-inflammatory and PH regulation meds worked well enough to treat the infection (grueling and scary weeks watching my cat in visible pain though they were), but the stone remained.

I was given two options: try to erode the stone via a dietary change, or go straight for surgery.

I'm poor, so I chose to try the new diet. Truthfully the diet would cost more even in the short run, but I was given to understand that even after this stone was dissolved, Solo's propensity for forming them would mean a permanent change would be required anyway.

He has been eating Royal Canin's High Dilution Urinary Tract prescription diet since then. We followed the progress of the stone which at first seemed promising (20% reduction in 2 months time) but unfortunately after nearly a year it hasn't reduced past that.



Now Solo came down with another infection. I'm colorblind so it's hard to spot blood in urine if they go in the litter box, but when I saw dark specs in my tile floor I didn't take any chances and took him back to the vet. It was worse than I thought. They showed me a syringe with his urine and even I could tell it was much darker than it should be. An ultrasound and urine test confirmed their suspicions that the stone remained and that it was causing constant damage to his bladder.

Surgery is the only option, past which they intend to analyze the stone to determined the best diet to prevent them from forming again.

His prescription diet is expensive as it is (70 euros per bag) and I live alone in a studio apartment in portugal on low income with two cats whom I can't keep from eating from each other's bowls, so in essence they both have been having food that's more than I could reasonably afford. I have cut every non-vital monthly expense out of my life and still bleed money. But we make it work somehow. We're still here.


I've spent just under 80 euros in this recent visit to the vet, and I will be spending another 75 in a panel prior to the surgery, which they estimate will be 350 euros or more.

This surgery is too much. I need help. I don't have facebook or a social media presence anywhere, nor anyone else to turn to.

Solo is the sweetest cat you'll ever meet.


His only goal in life is to get as much contact and affection as he can muster out of anyone he meets. He purrs the moment you pet him. He enjoys being picked up and hanging out in my arms or shoulders. He loves playing with small objects and throwing things to the ground.


Solo is 12 years old. He has been with me for nearly half of my entire life, and certainly most of my adult life.


When I moved out of my mom's place, he and Leia (the other cat you might spot in some photos) moved out with me.

Did you know Solo once made the front page of /r/overwatch? :) 

They mean everything to me.

If you're reading this, and can't help financially, I completely understand. I know what it's like being unable to spare what little you have. It would mean the world to me if you could pass it around, though.

Every little bit helps. I'll sell my possessions to cover the rest if I have to.

To anyone who donates: please know I will be forever grateful. I haven't much to offer in return but I promise you if you ever at any point want pictures or a video with his progress or just to check on him, no matter how long after the fact, I will deliver.

I'll also post any test results and receipts, basically whatever the vets give me in paper.

Again, thank you so much for sparing your time.

UPDATE, May 7th 2019:


Surgery was successful!

The bad news is that they found growths in his bladder, beyond just the stone which we knew was present from previous ultrasounds.

In 8-15 days we will find out if the masses were cancerous or just a byproduct of prolonged irritation. Fingers crossed!


This is his current round of meds. He will be taking them all every day for the next two weeks, for the most part.



I'm glad you guys donated more than I asked for because I've spent over 900€ so far. I'm miffed that they low balled the projected expenses this much, but the campaign still funded most of it so THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

All that's left now is to hope the biopsy results come back negative.