We’re raising $2000 to cover Joujou's ongoing care to find the right diet, supplements, and meds that make her tummy happy. ❤️

Joujou is the sweetest, most affectionate lap kitty. Initially cared for through pet sitting, she became a foster when her owners moved permanently into nursing homes. She arrived sick — underweight, dehydrated, and battling chronic diarrhea. Instead of bringing her to the shelter where she would undoubtably be euthanized, networking efforts with rescues began. Amazingly, Gatos de la Noche rescue stepped up to save her life! We are determined to get her healthy so she can be adopted into a loving home. ❤️

After four vets, months of diagnostics, treatments, and eventually surgery to remove 60% of her diseased colon, Joujou’s overall health has improved significantly. She’s stronger, brighter, and gaining weight, though biopsies confirmed severe IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). After 8 long months and 5 Rx diets trials, we finally found Smalls fresh frozen food ($150/mo), meds and supplements ($50/mo) to stabilize her! She was stable for 5 months but has been battling a flareup for the last 3 months, so we are back to diet and supplement trials. Treatment trials quickly add up in cost, so we are raising funds to cover her ongoing care (essentially anything that isn't a vet bill). GDLN has been so generous in covering her vet bills to date, so any additional funds will go to them to help other community kitties in need. Our goal remains to get Joujou well enough to find the loving forever home she so desperately deserves! ❤️

Please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser. Every dollar helps and some employers will even match your gift. Thank you for supporting Joujou’s second chance at life! ❤️

More details of our journey below...

UPDATE 1: Thanks to The Dancing Cat rescue, Joujou had an ultrasound on 3/11. Good news is no mass was found. Bad news is lots of inflammation – small intestine, colon, pancreas and gallbladder. She’s on new meds for the next month and we all cross our fingers and toes...

UPDATE 2: Unfortunately, the meds did not help so our next step is a colonoscopy with biopsies, scheduled for 4/29, thanks to Gatos de la Noche rescue. Please send prayers and share her story with friends and rescues. We are determined to get this sweet girl healthy and adopted! ❤️

UPDATE 3: Unfortunately, the colonoscopy revealed an abnormality in her colon that requires surgery. Thanks to Gatos de la Noche rescue, Joujou will receive a partial colectomy 5/19. Please send prayers for a successful surgery, clean biopsies and a smooth postop recovery. If you can, please donate to help support her postop care and share her story with friends and rescues. ❤️

Original post:

Joujou came into my life 1/3/25 when my friend’s elderly uncle was sent to a nursing home to recover from an injury, so she asked me to board his kitty while he was away. The family doesn’t live nearby so they didn’t know Joujou was sick, but she came to me underweight and dehydrated with severe diarrhea and low appetite. Extended family has been paying for her vet care and the poor baby has remained such a love bug through “medicine torture“ several times a day for over two months! Her overall health has improved, but her diarrhea has not resolved. The vet is now recommending an internal medicine consult and ultrasound. Unfortunately, it has become clear her owner is now permanently disabled and will not return home, and his niece who was just trying to get Joujou short-term care is now overextended and not able to afford any further diagnostics. So Joujou is now homeless.

Joujou would be the most adoptable kitty if we could just resolve the diarrhea because she is so calm, friendly, gentle, and affection-seeking – a true lap cat! ❤️ This sweet girl has had such a rough go but she’s only 4 years old, so with treatment she could live a very full life.