Hi, my name is Richard, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart again on behalf of my sweet Athena.

Athena has been my best friend and emotional support animal since she was a kitten. She’s my family. At just a year old, she underwent two emergency surgeries after ingesting wiry string from beneath an old couch. The ordeal nearly broke us financially, but thanks to CareCredit, the last of our savings, and the immense kindness of friends and family, we got her through it.

Since then, my husband and I have been doing our best, but we’ve been living paycheck to paycheck. Rising rent, soaring utility costs, unexpected tax hits, and being forced to move last year by a landlord who didn’t honor ESA protections have left us entirely without a safety net.

Now, Athena needs help again.

Recently, Athena coughed up what I thought was just a hairball; but after finding the chewed-up wiry padding beneath my newer couch, I know exactly what happened. She got into it again. Just like last time, she must have swallowed some of the material, and now she’s showing the same worrying signs: lethargy, excessive grooming, playing too rough with the other cats, and clinging to me like she did during her last emergency. That, and her belly is full-feeling and kinda solid. I know my girl, and I know something’s wrong. It’s tearing me apart that I can’t afford to get her in to even be seen.

I reached out to her vet, Just For Cats, but they’re unable to offer a payment plan. Pet insurance (through Embrace) only reimburses after care is paid for upfront. CareCredit is maxed out from her last surgeries and has grown to over $2,200 due to interest.

Right now, I’m out of options and time. An exam, x-rays, and basic care could cost $1,200 or more, and I simply don’t have it.

I’m doing everything I can by trying safe home remedies like olive oil and getting pumpkin in case it’s passable, but I know that’s not a substitute for real care. Athena needs help. And I need help getting her that care.

If you’ve ever loved an animal the way I love Athena, you know how helpless this feels. If you’re able to donate, even just a few dollars, it will go directly toward getting her seen, diagnosed, and on the road to recovery. And if you can’t donate, sharing this page would still mean the world.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping us through this.